I have seen the word profanity in the bible several times without paying attention to its meaning but when I wanted to write this teaching, I decided to search for the meaning. Online Oxford dictionary says, "not relating to that which is sacred or religious...". In other words, anything that is profane is irreverent.

Profanity can be expressed in behaviour and words. Esau was termed profane because he sold his birthright (right of firstborn son) for a morsel of meal.

"Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright"( Hebrews 12:16 KJV).

My concern in this piece is profanity in words or speaking. An unguarded mouth is prone to profanity. One expression of profanity is the use of vulgar words. Words that are not sacred.

“With [the tongue] we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. Does a spring send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?” (James 3:9-11 NASB Emphasis mine).

You cannot be a child of God and still be comfortable with cursing or vulgarity. Oftentimes, this happens when there is no restraint on the mouth. Some say these things as though it is a reflex action but we know it comes from the abundance of what is in their hearts.

I have seen people talk about what they were not witnesses to but because they want to impress their listeners, they'll back it up with "I swear to God". That is profanity.

Jesus in teachings warned against this saying: "but I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: [35] nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King" ( Matt 5:34-35).

Further, he prescribed that: "But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil"( Matt 5:35 KJV).