#6 TEACHING OUR CHILDREN about BAD LANGUAGE

The Bible has much to say about how we speak. Bad language is described as: corrupt talk (Eph. 4:29) or obscene talk (Col. 3:7); evil tongue (1Peter 3:10); cursing and swearing (James 3:8-10; 5:12). As adults we know about bad language. But our children do not. They need to be taught.

Think about when bad language can appear in the life of a child. Even little children can begin to utter curse words or use God’s name in expressing anger or displeasure because they are mimicking what they hear. In the early years of school, a child may pick up bad language from schoolmates. In about the junior high years, a child, especially boys, may tell dirty jokes so they will be accepted by their peers. In high school, a boy or a girl may use profanity to be part of a group or to sound cool. Thus, teaching our children about bad language is a constant task for the parent.

Suggestions for the parent on teaching about bad language:

  1. Children learn to talk by mimicking their parents’ language. Thus, the first rule for teaching our children is to clean up our language as commanded by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians, chapter 4, verse 29:

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths,”

The key for parents to speak cleanly is to hear Jesus in Matthew, chapter 12, verses 34-37:

“… out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil… on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

How we speak is a reflection of what is in our hearts—a serious matter because on the judgment day, our language will be a giant factor in where we spend eternity. So, first we need to set a good example before our children.

  1. When the child can understand, teaching proper language begins with teaching our children to respect God and His word. The Apostle Paul explained that faith and respect for God’s word had been passed down to Timothy from his mother and grandmother in 2 Timothy, chapter 1, verse 5:

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”

The Apostle Paul also reminded Timothy that the Bible contained everything needed to please God in 2 Timothy, chapter 2, verses 16-17:

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Since this is true, children need to be impressed with the importance of the Bible.

Jesus also stressed the importance of love for God to an inquiring Jewish lawyer in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 22, verse 37:

“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

Once the child has learned to respect God and His word, then the Bible verses about bad language can be used to impress the young mind with the seriousness of clean language.

Note that not using ‘God’ as slang is stressed in three passages. In the Old Testament book of Exodus, chapter 20, verse 7, God gave a command about His name:

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”

This command to the Israelite nation shows how God feels about the use of His name.

Nothing changed concerning God’s attitude about His name when Jesus came. He taught respect for God’s name in the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew, chapter 6, verse 7:

“Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.””

Likewise, Mary says God’s name is holy in her prayer with Elizabeth in Luke, chapter 1, verse 49:

“for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”

Thus, the Bible teaches respect for God’s name.

  1. Finally, the parent needs to constantly monitor what the child is hearing, both from themselves, their friends, social media, and television, and speak against bad language.

Proper language by our children is a serious long-term process that needs to be stressed in teaching our children.

Passages that can be cited and read to the child during the daily Bible reading time: Ephesians 3:5-10; 4:29; Exodus 20:7; James 3:8-10; 5:12; 2 Timothy 2:5-17; 1 Peter 3:10; Luke 1:49; Matthew 6:7; 22:37.

(Each family is encouraged to have a daily Bible reading or story time.)

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