If we are walking with Christ in his Spirit, these “fruit” will be obvious: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23). Do you see any room for profanity on the list?

Does it seem to you that public profanity is getting worse?

If so, you’re not wrong.

Politico published an article over the weekend titled, “Frustrated Dems unleash the F-bombs.” It quotes a number of Democratic politicians using language to describe President Trump and Republicans that was once not heard in public. Republicans are not immune from this growing trend, either.

Nor is the larger culture: the film that recently won the Academy Award for Best Picture used the “f-word” 479 times, according to Oscars host Conan O’Brien.

One psychology professor attributes this trend to a growing level of casualness in all parts of life, including how we work and how we dress. But he also cites increasing levels of anger, noting that about two-thirds of swearing comes from anger and/or frustration.

Unfortunately, this trend is affecting society at large: in a recent survey, 74 percent of young adults said profanity use doesn’t bother them at all, or only a little.

But it should bother us. Christians should be different from our fallen culture. Consider these imperatives from God:

• “Put to death . . . anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth” (Colossians 3:5, 8).
• “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving” (Ephesians 5:4).
• “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:10).
• “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29).
• “Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22).

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