Can A Christian Cuss?
- jaylawithjesus
- Nov 18, 2025
- 7 min read
Blog 1: Can A Christian Cuss?
Scripture
Quote
Basis
You may have clicked on this blog because you are either struggling with swearing, know someone who does, or are just curious. Regardless of the reason, before we dive into the topic, the first most important question to ask yourself is, 'Why is abstaining or using cuss words important to me?’ Or ‘Why does it bother me when other people cuss?’ These are very important questions to look within yourself prior to talking about “Can A Christian Cuss?” Because I will not tell you that a person who cusses is more likely to be a better christian than the one who doesn’t. The reason cussing bothers you is just as important as “can a christian cuss?”
There are so many Scriptures which emphasize abstaining from immoral behavior, edifying each other through words, and even the story of when Peter denounced the Messiah three times by cursing (Matthew 26:74 CEV). However, again to truly understand if a Christian can curse goes back to the verse “21 It is best not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that causes problems for other followers of the Lord.” (Romans 14:21 CEV). This verse is also including yourself as well. If you realize that cussing is causing you to fall back, or making another brother, or sister to stumble it is better to not cuss. Cussing is a language that can cause someone and even yourself to stumble, but it can also emphasize certain feelings that you may feel.
“Can A Christian Cuss?” Christians can indeed cuss, anyone in fact has the ability to use any language they so want. However, the question is, “should” someone who claims to follow Yeshua cuss? Well to answer this question, we have to understand that Yeshua himself did not curse, the closest he did was saying the word “fool”-- For example “17 You blind fools! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred?” (Matthew 23:17). In spite of his language he was conveying his message to his people, and if we are in a position where we can be more like Yeshua than he is the perfect example of the perfect example that we can follow with an awareness that we will never be him. And I emphasize that we will never be Yeshua because we are fallen humans, and I believe so often many Christian fear acknowledging that we can never actually be Yeshua and his holiness, but we can be LIKE him and carry his example while still striving for our worldly goals such as exercising or getting married, and that begins with the heart.
To place someone in a box and say they are more a christian than the person who does not use vulgar language is incredibly foolish. We do not know what that person may be struggling with or their environment. There are a multitude of children who grow up in a cursing household and adopted thereof, which is not an abomination when it makes scientific sense, that said child grows up cussing as well. Some people use vulgar language as they pray, or when experiencing pain. and in some countries it is normal for someone to use profanity. It is not our duty to outwardly judge that person, when people experience pain and emotions completely
different from you. We are to pray for them and encourage them in the spirit as we can, but to categorize those who cuss as not christian is not holy, and is not something Christ did. He said “.. that everyone (that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life)” (John 3:16 CEV)-- Christ did NOT say “.. that those who do not cuss who have faith in him will have eternal life.” Everyone will have different experiences in their faith, and to represent the Messiah while we do not try to change the person, we pray for the person.
While cussing is not directly related to a sin in scripture, it is one principle that can set us apart from others just as Yeshua was. If you are going deeper within your walk with Christ you may understand 1 Corinthians 8 a bit better, when Peter states “...knowledge makes us proud of ourselves, while love makes us helpful to others. 2 In fact, people who think they know so much don't know anything at all. 3 But God has no doubts about who loves him.” (1 Corinthians 8:1/2-3 CEV). Wisdom is on the tip of our fingers with Scripture and it is incredibly easy to get egocentric like what so many christians are, egocentric and uneducated about the human body. If you cuss, you are welcomed into our church regardless, and you are to be loved upon wherever you come from.
I believe that cussing can be a form of regulating your emotions, or expressing how you feel. Where I would draw the line is when swearing is directed to someone else intentionally and systematically, Or when you know that another person is struggling with swearing and it just “slips” out.
I believe we are to pray for those struggling with such, and if you find yourself stumbling (and when I say stumbling I mean you find yourself being okay with sin) around someone who does cuss, you should pray about where the Lord wants you, and communicate with the person. What I will never do is tell the person they are broken and need to be fixed, because I do as well. And if that’s the case I need to tell myself this truth first before ever telling someone else.
Science
Let's look into this scientifically. A 2012 article, a Psychological Scientist studies swearing and obtained data about swearing and then we will conclude with opening thoughts and comments. This scientist says “It is far more common to see strong offensive words used as emotionally arousing stimuli — tools to study the effect of emotion on mental processes such as attention and memory.”
We saw in Matthew 23:17, though Yeshua didn’t curse here, he not only exclaimed “You blind fools!” but he added emotion to it. I emphasis the exclamation point because in chapter 23, Yeshua was clearly endeavoring to highlight his indignation against the pharisees and teachers of the law, which Yeshua says in the beginning of the chapter
“2 The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law are experts in the Law of Moses. 3 So obey everything they teach you, but don't do as they do. After all, they say one thing and do something else. 4 They pile heavy burdens on people's shoulders and won't lift a finger to help.”
Matthew 23:17 definitely provoked some emotion within me, because I assumed that God in the flesh wouldn’t use the word “fool”. Yet that word makes me understand how indignant and upset he truly was considering the Pharisees.
“Therefore, instead of thinking of swearing as uniformly harmful or morally wrong, more meaningful information about swearing can be obtained by asking what communication goals swearing achieves. Swear words can achieve a number of outcomes, as when used positively for joking or storytelling, stress management, fitting in with the crowd, or as a substitute for physical aggression.” Swearing can indeed achieve a multitude of outcomes and that is why it is so important to understand who you are talking with, and if it will cause your brother or sister to fall, because I will do the same thing.
“The original justification for our obscenity laws was predicated on an unfounded assumption that speech can deprave or corrupt children, but there is little (if any) social-science data demonstrating that a word in and of itself causes harm. A closely related problem is the manner in which harm has been defined — harm is most commonly framed in terms of standards and sensibilities such as religious values or sexual mores.” I really like this data point, because when we are young we believe much more easily due to our development (synopsis), that is why the Lord tells us to teach our children while young (Proverbs 22:6 CEV). When you grow up in a household condemning the speech of vulgar language you are more likely to condemn the speech when older [If not corrected]. Going-forward , most of us have heard that cursing is indecent and bad behavior and according to Brainsfacts.org ““[Dropping an F-bomb] is almost like a behavior, a physical act,” Therefore, cussing words have been linked to causing a physical reaction [in your amygdala- your “flight to fight” response or your emotions].
And although “Good thing, too, since letting curse words fly has been linked to everything from intelligence and honesty to an increase in our ability to tolerate pain.” (MentalFloss) says this does not mean we should tolerate cuss words, especially when it brings another brother or sister down. If cussing is linked to honesty, and higher intelligence we should find a way to compensate for cuss words [If it brings someone down or misrepresents Christ]. Such as being honest about how you feel, and what you're thinking even if it may go out the scopes of other traditional values of "Christianity" because “... God has no doubts about who loves him” (1 Corinthians 8:3). So I say be honest with how you feel, and have discernment with who you are sharing your feelings to (rather that’s someone who is weaker or stronger in the faith).
Final Thoughts
Cussing is much more than right or wrong, when I believe Christ came to abolish what the Pharisees were doing about being hypocrites, and not focusing on the discipline which comes with loving someone else. When your cussing comes with a price that cuts another brother, sister or child down, then do not cuss and use your discernment. When you are in a heavy season, don’t curse God, but tell him how you feel honestly. There have been numerous reports that link cussing to a physical response in the brain, so rather or not a christian “can” cuss is true, but if a christian should cuss, is not true.
Bibliography
Association, Evangelistic. I’m a Christian Now. How Do I Stop Cursing?, billygraham.org/answers/im-a-christian-now-how-do-i-stop-cursing. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
Grateaway, Bible. “Bible Gateway Passage: Matthew 23 - Contemporary English Version.” Bible Gateway, www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+23&version=CEV. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
Grateaway, Bible. “Bible Gateway Passage: John 3:16 - Contemporary English Version.” Bible Gateway, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203%3A16&version=CEV. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
Grateaway, Bible. “Bible Gateway Passage: 1 Corinthians 8 - Contemporary English Version.” Bible Gateway, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%208&version=CEV. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
Grateaway, Bible. “Bible Gateway Passage: Proverbs 22:6 - Contemporary English Version.” Bible Gateway, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2022%3A6&version=CEV. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
Jay, Timothy, and Kristin Janschewitz. “The Science of Swearing.” The Science of Swearing, www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/the-science-of-swearing. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
Jones, Paul Anthony. “The Countries That Swear the Most, Mapped.” Mental Floss, Mental Floss, 4 Sept. 2024, www.mentalfloss.com/geography/maps/countries-that-swear-the-most-mapped#inline-text-3.
Wood, Charlie. “Your Cursing Cortex.” BrainFacts.Org, www.brainfacts.org/thinking-sensing-and-behaving/language/2019/your-cursing-cortex-071019. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
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