Letter to the Brethren: Jun 26, 2025

(Pixabay illustration)

Deutsche Welle reported the following:

Americans more vulgar online than Brits, Aussies — study

20 June 2025

Almost two billion words — just under 600 of them swear words — were carefully assessed, and the United States then handed the dubious honor of being the most cursing country in the English-speaking world, at least online. …

The reason that America — viewed by some to be a more conservative and polite culture among English-speakers — is the most profane community online may be the anonymity of the screen, according to the study’s co-author Martin Schweinberger, a linguist at the University of Queensland, Australia.

“Especially when you’re not tied to what you write with your name, for example,” said Schweinberger. “There are also cultural differences on what is allowed in social situations.”

“Different cultures have different norms on when and what is permitted. It seems as if the Americans, basically, are more forgiving online,” he said. …

Americans topped the list with a curse word appearing 0.036% of the time. That is equivalent to 36 curse words in a 100,000-word text.

The British were next, with 25 curses per 100,000 words. Then the Aussies with 22, Singaporeans with 21 and New Zealanders with 20.

Bangladeshis are the politest among English-speakers — just seven vulgarities per 100,000 words. https://www.dw.com/en/americans-more-vulgar-online-than-brits-aussies-study/a-72986152Inste

Instead of being a proper example, the United States is showing itself to be offensive.

My experience is that those who use foul language on the Internet tend to be angry and often hateful. They tend to demonstrate that they do not “love their neighbor.”

Last December, a Roman Catholic asserted out there is “a growing trend among online Christians that promotes vulgarity, verbal abuse and even blasphemy” (https://www.catholic.com/audio/cot/the-problem-of-profane-christians)–I would add that those who blasphemy, etc. would tend not to be real Christians.

People, Americans or not–professing Christian or not, should not use foul language. However, the amount of foul language has been increasing over the years–and not just on the Internet. Here is an older report from the Wall Street Journal on that:

December 20, 2021

In November, Jay Rosenthal unexpectedly found himself uttering a curse word—at his children’s school. …

The old boundaries between work and home have blurred, reducing formalities and often forging foxhole bonds during difficult times.

“Artificial walls came down,” says Mr. Rosenthal, a Toronto-based founder of a media company.

Pandemic stress, the melding of personal and professional spheres, and an exhausted slide toward casualness are making many of us swear more. It is “a perfect swearing storm,” says Michael Adams, a linguist at Indiana University Bloomington.

Mentions of {curse words and their variants}, rose 41% from full-year 2019 to 2021 through the end of November on Facebook and 27% on Twitter, according to Storyful, a news and intelligence agency. Storyful is owned by News Corp, the parent company of The Wall Street Journal.

Denver-based Inversoft Inc.’s CleanSpeak profanity-filtering software, which is used by companies that host online communities and other discussion forums, says the volume of filtered words has more than tripled in the past 18 months.

“People are becoming more aggressive in their use of profane and sexually explicit terms,” says Inversoft’s Chief Executive Don Bergal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/were-cursing-more-blame-the-pandemic-11640008801

The increased use of foul language was prophesied in the New Testament:

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!  (2 Timothy 3:1-6)

As far as being despisers of good, some people think foul language is fine and even relaxing:

Dropping a curse word here and there can also demonstrate comfort with someone else. “It’s something you’re not supposed to be doing, but you trust them,” says Dr. Adams. “It’s a sign of intimacy.” He says people are seeking this type of connection as they experience tectonic life shifts while often feeling isolated from their colleagues. “We’re using what we’ve got,” he says.

Tracy Brady, a communications executive in Boston who has found herself swearing more during the pandemic, likens the relaxing of language to a parallel relaxation of how we dress now.

Cursing “is the yoga pants and Uggs of language,” says Ms. Brady. …

Yet swearing can convey a kind of grittiness, or an appealing edge, say branding experts.

“If it’s used judiciously, it can be a spotlight, an exclamation point, a way to break out and seem authentic,” says Allen Adamson, co-founder of brand-consulting firm Metaforce. Yet too much swearing can undercut the substance of the speaker’s message, he adds.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/were-cursing-more-blame-the-pandemic-11640008801

No, it should not be used at all. It is not relaxing–it shows lack of self-control and lack of respect for the word of God.

The Bible condemns foul language. Notice scriptures from the Hebrew scriptures:

11 ‘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. (Deuteronomy 5:11)

28 “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people. (Exodus 22:28)

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul wrote:

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (Romans 12:14)

33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (1 Corinthians 15:33, KJV)

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. (Ephesians 4:29)

Foul language is unnecessary and should not be used. Using ‘art’ as an excuse, does not excuse it.

Furthermore, using God’s name in vain is a prideful lie.

Jesus taught:

34 … For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (Matthew 12:34b-37)

What you speak does matter, and that is more than not bearing false witness.

We see much vulgarity and blasphemy in the world today.

The United States has long been the world leader in producing movies. Yet, because some believe that those having a ‘G’ (General Audience) rating could harm their marketing efforts or their ‘artistic’ reputation, vulgar and lust-provoking language is often included in movies.

Such things should not be done (cf. 1 Timothy 6:9-10).

Satan has influenced society (Ephesians 2:2) and many people curse using God’s name in vain.

Many are casual about it and do not know that they are doing it. The old Good News magazine had the following:

Are YOU Guilty of BLASPHEMY?

Don’t be too sure you’re not. Read this article to check up on yourself.

BLASPHEMY is a most dangerous sin. Yet many who would not think of blaspheming may be at this precise moment committing this great sin!
Blasphemy is NOT just swearing or taking God’s name in vain. There are many forms of blasphemy, and some of these ways of blasphemy bring dire consequences. Don’t be ignorant. Study this article and be sure you stop every form of blasphemy now!

Definition

Notice this Bible proof that blasphemy and swearing or cursing are not the same thing. In Lev. 24:10-16, we find the account of the Israelitish woman’s son who strode through the camp and got into a fight with one of the men of Israel. And in the fight, the son of the Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, blasphemed the name of the Eternal, “and cursed.” Notice that he did two things. He blasphemed AND cursed. For this terrible sin he was put to death. And this is the word that came from God: “Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death” (verses 15-16).

Again, in this law it is made clear that cursing and blaspheming are two separate offenses. Notice too, that blasphemy is an offense punishable by DEATH.
Webster’s dictionary defines blasphemy as “indignity offered to God in words, writing, or signs ” “Blasphemy applies strictly to any intentional utterance defying or offering indignity to the Supreme Being.” “Impious or irreverent speech” is also blasphemy. It also includes swearing and profanity.

However, the Bible definition covers much more territory than Webster’s. And the real truth as to the spirit of the law is going to surprise you.
The Hebrew word translated “blasphemy” in Leviticus 24 means to violently poke holes through, to jab at or

perforate. Other words translated “blasphemy” concur with the English definition of the word. …And even some in God’s Church today are swearing and do not realize it. And remember that swearing is a form of blasphemy! (Antion D. Are YOU Guilty of BLASPHEMY? Good News, 1969)

Satan has deceived the whole world (Revelation 12:9). Many believe that they can say versions of these curses with semi-substitutes.

The common abuses of God’s name are obvious to any true Christian, and real Christians will zealously avoid using or thinking them. But other, more subtle, vain uses of God’s name can creep into our language, and we should just as diligently guard against them. These wrong words and phrases are euphemisms substituted for blatant misuses of God’s name, but are also wrong.

Notice also:

Brethren, it is time many of you knew that such words as “Gee,” “Gosh,” “Golly,” “darn,” and various combinations of these words are actually swearword derivatives of the names of God, Jesus Christ and of the word “damn.” They are the more “polite” forms of SWEARING! And even members of God’s Church use these words in their speech. We need desperately to eradicate these words from our conversation and stop this form of blasphemy!

It is easy for us to swear or blaspheme. (Antion D. Are YOU Guilty of BLASPHEMY? Good News, 1969)

Various ones vainly make statements like, ‘Oh, my God!’ when they are not praying to God. Many use statements, like, ‘Oh, my gosh!’ or ‘good gracious’ or ‘good grief’ or ‘Oh, my goodness!’ which are essentially euphemistic ways to say the same thing. Remember Jesus said you would be judged including the idle words you use (Matthew 12:36).

In electronic communications, “OMG” is also used a lot. Such should not be done. Those may sound innocent enough at first, but think about them for a moment and it’s obvious that they really are slang expressions for God’s name. As a parent, be sure your children are aware of the double meaning of these common words.

Many, when upset, scream, ‘Jesus!,’ again not in prayer. Others do the same basic thing when they cry out, ‘Geez’ or ‘Gee whiz!’ Terms like crud (when used as a substitute for the word Christ), egad, and golly also fall into this category.

There are also other improper statements.

Now, we are not trying to teach that making unintended misstatements is something we should judge others on—but as Christians it is something that we should strive not to do.

Do not euphemistically use God’s name in vain.

Do not call yourself Christian if you will not be willing to live as Jesus wanted you to (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 John 2:6).

Perhaps it should be mentioned that the reason we in the Continuing Church of God do not say, ‘God bless you’ after someone sneezes is because that tradition is based on the unbiblical notion that an evil spirit may enter someone who sneezes and must be warded off with some type of a spell.

If someone is truly ill they can pray and others can also pray for them (James 5:13-14).

We are to be careful with our words:

26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. (James 1:26)

So, do not blame your background and claim you cannot change your words. If you keep saying things you should not, your religion is worthless–despite what you might believe and hope.

Can you blaspheme and not curse? Yes, but you should do neither:

Examples of Blasphemy

When Hezekiah was king of Judah, Sennacherib planned to invade and conquer the nation of Judah. He boasted against Judah thus: “Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you. Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria… Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? Who are they among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand? (Isa. 36:14-16, 18, 20.)

Here the king of Assyria challenged God. He tried to bring God down to the level of an idol, to that of physical things. He spoke out intentionally defying God and His power to deliver Judah and Jerusalem. God called it blasphemy.
“And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have BLASPHEMED me” (Isa. 37:6). Again in verse 10 of this same chapter the king of Assyria blasphemed God. He accused God of trying to deceive His people. God labels this accusation blasphemy in verse 23.

Do men or nations get away with blasphemy against the Most High God? God said He would defend Jerusalem and He accepted the challenge given by the king of Assyria. Who won? Notice: “Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses” (verse 36).

Notice that this was blasphemy but that the king of Assyria never did curse God’s name. But he did show irreverence and indignity to God. He did challenge God and His power.

Other Forms of Blasphemy

Here are other misdeeds that God labels blasphemy in His Word. Let us look at them and let each analyze himself in the light of God’s Word. Think over your own actions of late and see if you are blaspheming.

In Ezekiel 20:27 we read, “Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord ETERNAL; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, IN THAT THEY HAVE COMMITTED A TRESPASS AGAINST ME.” They blasphemed God by trespassing or sinning against Him. And this particular sin that they did was to pervert the way of worshipping God. They sacrificed to idols and established their own religion after God gave them the blessings of the land. This is happening today in the United States of America. (Antion D. Are YOU Guilty of BLASPHEMY? Good News, 1969)

We are also to be careful with our lives:

Blasphemy by Hypocrisy

Another form of blasphemy brought out is in Revelation 2:9. “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” Notice that God considers it blasphemy for people to say they are Jews — spiritual Jews. What is a spiritual Jew? According to Romans 2:29 it is one who has been circumcised in the heart — that is, has received the Holy Spirit and is, therefore, a Christian. There were people then saying they were Christians — true spiritual Jews — but who were not. God calls this blasphemy. Therefore to profess to do what is right and not to do it is blasphemy according to this principle. How many are doing this very thing?

Are you one who by your attendance in a local church profess to be keeping God’s commandments and Sabbaths and yet are not doing it at all? Are you claiming to be a member of God’s true Church — claiming to be a true Christian and follower of Jesus Christ; yet constantly putting up with sins that you know you have, never bothering to overcome sins and weaknesses? Are you just content with the same faults day after day — yet all the time claiming to be a spiritual Jew. THIS IS BLASPHEMY!

Another way to blaspheme God is shown in Acts 13:44-45. “And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.” Let us note right here that they were coming to hear God’s Word. Jesus said the word of God was truth in John 17:17. But notice verse 45, “But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.” When they spoke against the things spoken by the apostle Paul, they did two things. They contradicted and blasphemed!

It follows then, that when we speak against the things spoken by one of God’s ministers that we are blaspheming the very God we profess. When we speak against the doctrines of God’s Church which are truths of God’s Word, we blaspheme. Brethren, some of you are guilty of this very thing. You don’t agree with a doctrine of God’s Church and you speak out against it. Perhaps you just cannot understand it at the time. It does not say that it is blasphemy if you don’t agree or can’t understand. BUT IT IS BLASPHEMY TO SPEAK AGAINST THE WORD OF GOD, SPOKEN BY HIS MINISTERS!

When you blaspheme you border on the most dangerous sin of all. You are getting close to the cliff that will topple you into the lake of fire. If you don’t understand something spoken by a minister, then ask the minister about it. Pray about it. Search your own heart to make sure you are not deceiving yourself. But above all, don’t speak against it. To do this IS BLASPHEMY!

Causing Blasphemy

You may be one who is not blaspheming directly yourself. But you may be the cause of blasphemy to God and His Word. If you are, then you are at least 50% guilty of the sin of blasphemy. If by your actions you cause others to blaspheme the name of God perhaps you are more guilty than they of this sin.

The Apostle Paul condemned the Jews for this very thing. “You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? For, as it is written, ‘THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU'” (Rom. 2:23-24, RSV). Yes, the Jews were responsible for causing God’s name to be blasphemed. With their bad examples and sin-filled lives they caused the Gentiles to blaspheme the very name of God Almighty.

Let us look at ourselves today. How is your example in front of unconverted neighbors and relatives? What kind of example did you set the world on your way to the Feast of Tabernacles? And while you were at the feast, many of you stayed in private homes in surrounding communities. What kind of example did you set! Were you clean? Or did you leave the place dirty and filthy? Some stayed in rented trailers. When you returned your trailer was it dirty and messy inside? Did you give it back in better shape than you had taken it?

Many of those from whom you rented trailers and rooms knew that you were going to a religious festival. Some even knew the name of the Church. Did you by your example cause or give occasion for those people to blaspheme the God we worship — the only true and living God? Were you impolite to the unconverted people in nearby towns or to the merchants? Did you give occasion for them to speak against the Church of God — the very Body of Jesus Christ? If you did, YOU HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE SIN OF BLASPHEMY!

Notice what it cost King David, a man after God’s own heart, for doing what some of us have done. After being told of his terrible sin of adultery and murder, David said, “I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, the LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, because by this deed [his sins) thou hast given great occasion [opportunity] to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die” (II Sam. 12:13-14). It cost David his son because he participated in this sin of blasphemy by giving the enemies of God the opportunity to speak against the religion and way of God. What will some of us have to pay to learn this lesson?

Let us set a right and holy example before the world by keeping God’s commandments. And also by being polite, thoughtful, kind, neat, and clean in all our ways. Why do we always insist on paying a dear price to learn the consequences of sin?

Women Blaspheme

… for the women in God’s Church. Here are God’s instructions and the reason for them. God says “to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, THAT THE WORD OF GOD BE NOT BLASPHEMED” (Titus 2:5). If you disobey your husbands, if you are not discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good mothers and wives, you are causing God’s Word to be blasphemed — indeed you are blaspheming it yourself! (Antion D. Are YOU Guilty of BLASPHEMY? Good News, 1969)

Yes, our example can cause others to blaspheme.

Notice that we are to be careful about that according to Jesus:

6 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! (Matthew 18:6-7)

So, let’s live so that we do not cause the word of truth to be blasphemed!

Jesus taught:

20 What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts … blasphemy, pride, foolishness” (Mark 7:20-21).

Do not follow the American trend with foul language or euphemisms.

Here is a suggested Sabbath day service for our scattered brethren and other interested people:

• 2-3 hymns (our songbook, The Bible Hymnal, contains the materials from the 1974 Bible Hymnal from the old WCG with new covers, plus ten additional hymns; there is also some Choral Accompaniment online).
• Opening prayer.
• The suggested sermonette is titled: Iran, Israel, and Ezekiel 38? Other sermonettes are available at our Prophecy channel on BitChute https://www.bitchute.com/channel/prophecy/
• Announcements (if any; though for many it will be this letter) and one hymn.
• The suggested sermon, which for most who receive this letter via email will be: Daniel 6-8: Four Beasts and the King of the North. Other sermons are also available at the COGTube channel on BitChute https://www.bitchute.com/channel/cogtube/
• Final hymn.
• Closing prayer.