How Would I Approach this Situation

[YEARNING4TRUTH]

Hi everyone, I just wanted to ask for some advice on how I would approach this situation. So whenever I hear my family cuss, especially when they use God’s name in vain, I experience a range of mixed emotions of becoming disturbed and angry to being worried that if I don’t do something, they will suffer the eternal consequences of their sin. I’ve also already asked them to stop using such language, but feel as if I kept on doing that it will only push them further away from God. I need some strong arguments or another way of approaching it in order to be successful, such as helping with the conversion of their hearts in order to help them to love God more, but I don’t know what those possible options are. So to sum it up, I just want some advice on how I would convince my family that cussing is something they shouldn’t do and how would I help them overcome it. Thanks in advance.

 

[HoistedSheep]

This is a hard habit to break. It is one I struggle with. The best thing you can do is to be open and honest with them. Kindly say how it makes you feel, but don’t tell them to stop. This will allow them to see how cursing effects you and those around them, and will avoid the possible misunderstanding that you are judging them. Respond better to them when they speak without cursing. Respond with confusion and disinterest when they curse, but not in a cruel way. This will make it clear to them that what they say is more understandable and receptive when they don’t curse. Continue to speak with humility and gentleness, and this will encourage them to do the same. Most importantly, pray for them to have a change of heart.

 

[mebcb]

I don’t know that anyone can change a person’s bad language unless they want to change. I have tried for years to get my sister from using a four letter word, but it has become a second nature to her. I don’t think she is even aware of it 99% of the time. If I were close to her vicinity I would try walking about with a tape recorder and then play it back to her so that she is aware of how bad she sounds, but than I might get another earful. The only thing that might or might not work is to try to substitute other words when You get frustrated…and we all do get frustrated at times. You might say Oh Cheese! or stupidittdippity! or Oh Spit! My oldest sister would say Oh Sugar! whenever she was ticked off. Make up your own “evil” words. Eventually family members might “catch On,” but habits of a lifetime are hard to overcome. Good luck and prayers for you and your family.

 

[thankulord]

A lady of the church I grew up with said that whenever she heard someone, family member or not, taking the Lords name in vain she would offer a prayer by saying, “Hallowed be Your name.” I have followed her advice and it’s very useful to help maintain one’s peace and pray at the same time. I must admit I forget to say this when I have a lapse and commit this sin!

 

[Kingdomwalker]

The guy who used to sit next to me at my work used to say Jesus all the time as a cuss word. I would say “yes my son”. Or “I know I’m good but I’m not that good”. But I made a point of saying it to him every time. That’s all. Then one day he was saying it more than normal and I asked him if he was alright because he said Jesus 7 times already today and he must be stressed out. He said "does that offend you? " so I said "it does **** me off a little because that’s my God your talking about. I would prefer it if you said f$$$ or something else. ". He knew I was Christian because I would start talking about it sometimes and I used to give him “unusual bible facts or stories”. About When I had been reading the bible. Facts like how many people David’s 30 special soldiers had killed in one battle and stuff like that let me bring up the bible without sounding like I’m thrusting religion at them. Which also led to him asking questions about it sometimes.

Now he’s trained himself not to do it. Awesome progress for this guy personally as well. Still not converted yet though.