“Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way.” (v. 10)

There are more than a few ways we could approach the subject.

There’s the clear biblical impulse regarding purity in all things, to the best of our ability, as we are sanctified under grace. There’s the inborn sense that some things we could say should not be said. There’s your “I Love Jesus, But I Cuss a Little” coffee mug.

There are a lot of ways we could approach the subject, but let’s go with a question:

Aren’t you tired of the scummy, regretful, irrevocable weight of every impure word you permit?

Christians spend way too much effort trying to bend grace and twist it around their willful cursing, cussing, and lewdness. But this isn’t a “Christian freedom” issue. This is about the extent to which you choose to self-justify your sin and drag Jesus’ mercy into it.

Will any of us get it right all the time? No. But can we stop excusing our lack of discipline, our unlovely utterances, and our degraded speech?

Pray first. Then put in the work. And see if what you’ve permitted might be put to death.

— Tyler