FROM THE PASTOR’S HEART
OP-ED BY DR. ROBERT KENNEDY
“God Damn it!” “Oh, My God!” I have heard these phrases and others always being used by individuals when they are enraged and feel like they want to curse those they say have offended them. The most widespread situation in which to hear the curse is road rage.
Interestingly, many of those who are using the phrases in such scandalous ways and calling down their curses are often “profane” persons. My view is that they have no reverence for God. But I have also heard people who claim to be religious do the same. One elder, seminary trained, and whom I allowed preaching in a congregation I once pastored, would shock me. In the midst of a few of his sermons, when he wanted to bring out his anger, he would say, “I call God’s curse on them.”
He felt it legitimate to say what he did. After his sermon, I would try to “take him to task,” and he would respond that what he was doing was different from people who were cursing. And would say, I know that you are thinking of the imprecatory Psalms and other passages in the Bible that talk about bringing curses down on their enemies, but that does not give any legitimacy to our self-righteous indignation. Often enough, we turn our raw emotions of using the name of God to answer our vanity of hatred and revenge. After our dialogue, we would close our conversation with an agreement that our discussion on the theological implications of cursing in the Bible needs further study.
Here what I wish to bring forth is that using the name of God to curse people might make us feel powerful but remember that using such things as our weapon of warfare is irreverent and destructive. Utilizing the name might sound religious, but it is sacrilegious and does not remove the vanity of disrespect against God. The Bible tells us how to respond when people seek to abuse us and curse us.
In Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew 5:43-48, we read: You have heard it said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Take note of the instructions in the above, and let me add a few from other parts of the Bible:
- Love your enemies
- Bless those who curse you
- Do good to them who hate you
- Pray for those who despitefully use you
- Treat people the same way that you want them to treat you – “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12)
- Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse (Romans 12:14).
- Give food to those who you might consider your enemies – (Proverbs 25:21)
- Leave revenge to God – Do not say, “I will repay evil”, Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.” (Romans 12:19)
- Quick-tempered persons exalt folly (Proverbs 14:29).
Some profound words from a non-biblical spiritual advisor that I have admired, speaks to the use of our tongues thus:
“. . . Guard your tongue. Let not your tongue run at random in jesting and joking. These are signs that your heart needs to be cleansed from its defilement….
“Our words index the state of our heart; and whether men talk much or little, their words express the character of their thoughts. The nature of his conversation may quite accurately estimate a man’s character. Sound, truthful words have the right ring in them.
“Educate yourself to carry a pleasant countenance and bring all the sweetness and melody possible into your voice. (EGW, Sons and Daughters of God, 180)
“The voice and tongue are gifts from God, and if rightly used, they are a power for God. Words mean very much. They may express love, devotion, praise, melody to God, or hatred and revenge. Words reveal the sentiments of the heart. They may be a savor of life unto life or of death unto death. The tongue is a world of blessing, or a world of iniquity.”
More might be said, about the curse words that we use, but let me cut to the chase with one last point, curses often return and returns to the person who utters them. The point is that we need to get rid of the impulsive words we use to curse, especially those in which we are so prone to use the name of God to make it seem that we are doing a righteous act.
