Last updated on August 20, 2020
Question:
Is talking dirty a sin? Let’s say you are just messing around with someone, but you are not doing it for sexual arousal. You’re just for goofing around.
Answer
“Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance. But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints; nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate; but rather giving of thanks. Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. Therefore don’t be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:1-8).
This one is straight forward to answer. Christians are not to engage in filthy talk, foolish talk, or coarse jesting because they are not appropriate. So let’s define those terms.
Filthiness: Talk that is obscene or shameful. It is talking dirty, ugly, rudely, or indecently. In other words, the type of talk heard far too often in locker rooms.
Foolish Talk: Talk that is absurd, stupid, or dull. It was used by the ancient Greeks to describe the type of talk that comes out of the mouth of someone intoxicated or stoned. It can also refer to just plain talking stupid. You often see this type of talk when one boy wants to taunt another boy.
Coarse Jesting: Vulgar, indecent, or off-color jokes. These are jokes which typically have a sexual theme to them.
The point nature of these types of speech are contrary to Christianity. The claim that you were just goofing off or you were only joking doesn’t negate the fact that the topic is inappropriate. For example, fornication is sinful behavior. So why would why would it be proper for a Christian to talk about acts done in fornication or make jokes about committing indecent sexual acts? At best you would call the person a hypocrite because they are putting on an act. They claim to act one way but they talk as if they behave a completely different way.
What if someone overheard you talking dirty with one of your friends? If that is all they happen to hear, what impression would they walk away with about you? Would they think you are a Christian who stands opposed to sexual sins or that you think sexual acts are funny? That is why Paul said, “let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints.” In other words, do not let your words associate you with behavior that is not right for a Christian to engage.
Jesus warned us, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37). God will not just judge us by the major events in our lives. We will also give an account for all the little things we do and say, even the things we blurt out when we aren’t really thinking. The reason is that it is the little things that tell you more about a man’s character than the major things.