Maura Kelly and Rebecca Webber give us some sobering statements about speech. They were seeking to determine if cursing and slanderous speech are to be recognized as a crime or condoned as a proper privilege under the label of free speech, which is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution.¹ It is obvious there is no clear or settled conclusion in our nation. They reported that some 750 people in Pennsylvania "are arrested or summoned to court each year for cursing." Yet, in California (2001), a federal appeals court overturned the conviction of two men "who used profane language in addressing Yosemite Park rangers, calling their behavior disrespectful but not criminal." Mary Catherine Roper, an ACLU lawyer states: "Cursing at a police officer is tantamount to critizing the government, and being able to do that without going to jail is one of the most important freedoms we have in this county." Obviously there is confusion in the Camp concerning cursing, slanderous speech when addressed to another, who is a government official or otherwise. What do you think? Is cursing and slandering another a crime, an "important freedom" or to be taken lightly as a matter of indifference? What Does Scripture say? Far more important than State laws, what some ACLU lawyer says, or even a Supreme Court decision, what does the Ruler of the Universe state? The Holy Spirit, using such terms as "curse," "slander," and "blaspheme," has from days long ago expressed in sobering terms God’s rules and regulations for such speech. Note the term, curse (Heb. qalal—)..."despise, dishonor..triflings, i.e. of little account..be lightly esteemed..curse (prop. make contemptible ) ...treat with contempt."² Any speech that characterizes another by these terms is, by this definition, cursing that person. Furthernote some Scriptures related to this term. One who curses father or mother shall "surley be put to death" (Ex. 25:17; Lev. 20:9); such a one shall be stoned to death (Lev.24:11,14,23). Under Moses’ law, God was equally clear about one who slanders another (Heb. lashan— "...tongue of men..fig.of mischief, cf.Psa.10:7..of hostile speech, insolence. .Jer.18:18..as devising injuries..Prov.17:4. .oft. of lying tongue..Pro.6:17..21:6..slander, Pro.30:10" (Brown, Driver, Briggs,p546). Have you traveled this road with your tongue? If so, carefully note God’s response in Psalm 101:5: "Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him will I destroy." God surely does not take lightly such matter or label such speech one of our important freedoms! The New Testament is equally clear in warning of certain types of speech. Note the act of blasphemy (Gk. blasphemia—"...reviling, railing..slander..speech injurious to another’s good name….impious and reproachful speech injurious to the divine majesty."³ Scripture makes it clear that such speech defiles a man (Matt. 15:19), such terms are "evil things" (Mk. 7:22), should be something we "put away" (Eph. 4:31f; Col.3:8), and that such speech breeds wranglings by people who are "corrupted in mind" (I Tim.6:4f). Since by our words we will be justified or condemned (Matt. 12:36f), the foregoing truth from God’s Word should make it easy for us to know on which side of the Divine Ledger will be those who curse, slander, and blashpeme! How Does God See Your Tongue? ———————- ¹Parade Magazine, "Citizens Busted For Bad Words" June 27, 2010, p.10. ²Francis Brown, S.R. Driver, Charles A. Briggs, "A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament," Oxford at the Clarendon Press, London, 1972, p.886 ³J.H.Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. , p.102