Are all "bad" words "cuss" words?

So I watch a lot of TV. I’m on social media too, but I don’t spend near as much time on that. I know there are a lot of differing opinions on whether TV is good or bad, but I say it’s where you look. I’ve always found watching TV comforting, as well as educational.

Now I’m Christian, so of course I don’t watch stuff with curse words (if at all possible). It’s funny that these “popular” and award-winning shows on platforms I’m not subscriber to (Netflix, Apple+, etc) are basically just the “F” word a bunch of times. So I will just stick with regular cable where most channels take out the curse words.

Why don’t I watch stuff with curse words? Well, I know that what goes in my ears, can easily get into my heart/mind and then come out of my mouth. And I don’t want that!!!

So what is that I DO watch on TV? In the last few years, I’ve found myself watching a lot more reality TV than I used to (which also includes news programs). And truthfully, I didn’t really feel like anything was really “wrong” or harmful with that. Plus there's lots of funny memes that come out of it, like this one below :)

Why studying 3rd John made a difference:

Sooo…the reason I bring this up: I had to teach a class on 3rd John. There was some drama because a Christian man was slandering and speaking evil about a fellow Christian brother. I know it’s wrong to do that, and I vaguely remembered some scriptures about it being wrong to lie about other people and slander them - but I couldn’t recall them specifically.

So I put together all the verses I could find for my lesson about how we speak about other people (including our Christian brothers/sisters), and I was really surprised by how much there was:

John: “Whoever claims to love God - yet hates a brother or sister, is a liar” (1 John 4:20)

.James: says not to speak evil against a brother (James 4:4) and we should not be using the same mouth that we bless God with, to curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God. (James 3)

Paul - Let no corrupt word proceed out of our mouth, but what is good for building others up, for the benefit of those who hear. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Walk in a worthy manner, put away ALL bitterness and anger and slander and all malice (Eph 4:29, 4:31-32

Peter says lay aside ALL malice and anger, envy and ALL evil speaking, (1 Peter 2)

What’s with the ALL?

I noticed that both Paul and Peter say “ALL”, so I was pondering… what’s the difference between putting away bitterness, malice and evil speaking in general, and putting away ALL evil speaking, bitterness and malice from myself?

Well, I was thinking about the things that surround me - not just the things that I say or think myself.

Do I speak evil of other people? NO. (I certainly try not to.)

BUT, I listen to it and watch people do it on TV.

Do I have malice toward anyone? NO. BUT, I listen to and watch other people speak maliciously about others on TV.

Do I have bitterness toward anyone? Well, honestly, I try not to - and ask God’s forgiveness when I do. BUT, I definitely hear and see this one THE MOST on TV, people talking bitterly, angrily or disdainfully or just negatively about other people “in general”.

So what’s going on here? I’m not doing these things myself - buuuuut….I’m watching others do it. I’m listening to others say evil, malicious, bitter things about other people. AND I THINK IT’S ENTERTAINMENT???

YIKES!!!!

Is this not what Satan wants???

The more I thought about it, I think that’s exactly what Satan wants, you know??? Because sometimes I get pulled in and sucked in to that drama, I start to feel anger or bitterness or contempt seeping into my own heart - just from watching a situation on TV. Being on a certain person’s “team” is just a fun part of pop-culture, right???

RIGHT???

Well, I have certainly observed that if Satan can’t get me involved in feeling bitter and angry toward people my own, real-life… he CAN get me to feel bitterness toward people I’ve never even met because I watch their “real-life” on TV or watch/hear people criticizing other’s political opinions…and I didn’t realize how much of this was in my heart.

As for the political stuff, yes I think it’s good to love my country…but I think I was listening too much to people speak negatively about people they disagreed with over that stuff…and we all think we are right about the political opinions we have - BUT - that doesn’t mean we have to or need to feel bitterness, hatred or malice towards people who think differently. We can still respectfully disagree with others.

The deception of “entertainment”

When Paul lists out the works of the flesh in Galatians 5, he lists out a lot of things, like adultery and idolatry (at the beginning of the list -which we think are really bad sins) then he lists hatred/hostility, quarreling, jealousy/envy, selfish ambition, division - and puts murder toward the end of the list.

Then he says people who practice these things won’t inherit the kingdom of God, DON’T BE DECEIVED!!!!

He doesn’t make a distinction, that some sins are worse than others. He’s not listing these in order - it’s all sin, these ones that seem small are not really small, are still not appropriate for God’s people to do. Any practicing any these keep us out of inheriting eternal life - so easy to get deceived about this, when listening to or watching that kind of stuff is branded as “entertainment”. (even the stuff we think is “real” is often scripted to include conflict (fighting, quarreling and arguing) to “draw in” viewers.)

I don’t know who said this, but I recently heard someone say the first 5 letters of “entertainment” are E-N-T-E-R. That’s how Satan gets in to our homes. That’s how bitterness, hostility and malice can get into our hearts. But it’s deceptive, because I never, EVER, thought my fun, pop-culture, reality TV shows were doing me any harm.

What am I watching now?

Needless to say, since becoming aware of this, I’ve been watching a lot less of what I used to watch. I’m watching a lot more weather channel and nature shows. And fast-forwarding through negative talk about other people when possible. My heart and mind feel much more peaceful.

Also, I’m not saying this to condemn anyone, of course, watch what you want to - BUT just be careful about what you see and hear. What does what you watch on TV bring into your heart? Peace and love toward others or hostility, contempt and bitterness?

Thanks for reading, hope this has been encouraging!

Peace and love.