SPEAKING LIFE CHAPTER – aka “Cop Cussing”

Matthew 12:36-37: "But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment. For by thy words thou shall be justified, and by thy words thou shall be condemned".

Are you speaking life into everyone you see, or does your daily talk “speak death?” Though the Bible has much to say about this topic, it seems greatly overlooked by most Christians in our profession.

Proverbs 18:21 says,"Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat of the fruit thereof". James Chapter five says: "You can tame a tiger, but you can’t tame the tongue – it’s never been done!" (The Message) Unfortunately as Christians we can witness the ‘demise’ of our dreams, visions and our blessings with what we allow to come out of our mouths. Are we seriously watching the things that we say - not just about ourselves - but about our circumstances, situations and others?

Early on in my law enforcement career I was guilty of something I call, “cop cursing.” The word “curse” evokes a variety of responses:

• To many, it’s the use of foul language or profanity.
• Others think of curses as nothing more than the stuff of fairy tales, with witches casting spells and turning handsome princes into ugly toads.
• There are two Dictionary definitions for the word “Curse”
o A profane or obscene expression of anger
o An appeal to a supernatural power for harm to come to a specific person or group, etc.

“Cop cursing” is used frequently by police officers to help gain control of a situation, or to gain someone’s attention in an immediate way. Often the officer speaking the cuss word may or may not have a habit of using foul language and uses it to prove a point rather than in anger. However, as most officers know, “cop cussing” does not work with people under the influence of drugs or alcohol as they cannot comprehend it. With the average sober citizen, it can result in a citizen’s complaint.

The most effect cop cussing I have done on the job has been with young people ages 12-21 - the most impressionable group of all. Once I went into “Drill Sergeant” mode, many times these young people would end up crying. Then I would think to myself rather proudly, “Ah ha, I’ve got them so now I win.” I’m ashamed to admit it now, but my speech was in direct conflict with Scripture. In Ephesians 4:29 we are told: "When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger". In short, instead of speaking life to these young people I was speaking death.

When you “cop cuss” two things happen immediately:

First, it makes you become an ineffective witness for Christ to those standing around you, including
your fellow officer’s. They may be thinking: “See, I told you all Christians are hypocrites!”

Second, it gives satan an upper hand when you allow him to speak through you instead of God.

Instead we should remember that Christ doesn’t speak death (four lettered words) and you shouldn’t either. So, how do you speak life into someone? Really, it's simple. You, simply allow God to speak through you as if God himself were speaking. Ask yourself, what would God said in this situation? Personally, I have found a very effective line that works well and I’ll use it as an example here; “Listen, there are only two things in this world, good and evil. You cannot be both good and evil and you must choose". If you noticed, using this example, I have just spoken life in this sentence as opposed to death and it actually is a biblical principle without actually quoting scripture (just in case you are scared about quoting scripture on the job). This principle can be found in 1st Kings 18-21 “Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.".

But what about a foul joke, isn’t that harmless? After all, cops and foul jokes are common place in our job. Well, the answer to this question can be found in Ephesians 5:3-6; “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them".

It doesn’t get any plainer than that! So, stop your cop cursing and your foul jokes. For Christians, you have an even higher standard placed upon you and can be found in James 1:26; “ 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.”

Okay, but what about our jobs? Are we speaking death, or putting a curse over our jobs? Have you stopped to think that when you complain about your job, or your working conditions, your equipment, your Chief or Supervisors that you are actually speaking a curse over your job?

Ecclesiastes 10:20 “Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.”

Consider this principle, every time that you speak, you should begin to arrest your thoughts and frisk them thoroughly to see if they are carrying doubt of any kind. II Corinthians 10:5 says, "Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing captive every thought to the obedience of Christ.” In other word, if the thought in your mind is not supporting your faith, then don’t speak it!’

We have to do something with the span of time between when we have it in mind and when it tangibly becomes ours. If we don’t ‘speak’ strengthened faith to ourselves, the thoughts in our mind will keep us on endless emotional roller coaster acting on the impulse of them, intentionally or unintentionally, speaking them out loud and being influenced by negative comments of others.

As Christians, we need to stop blocking God’s blessings by speaking negatively. God wants to bless us, but we become a hindrance to ourselves in receiving Gods blessings when we speak things that are in opposition of Gods Word. Remember, we must always ‘choose’ to speak life to everything that is of a concern to us and believe what we say until complete manifestation. We must talk faith to our circumstances at all times just as it says in Romans 4:17, “…Even God, who quickens the dead, calls those things which be not as though they were.” This includes the drug dealers, prostuites, hate mongers, gang members, and others who the police are called upon to deal with.

Here are some classic examples of things that we say that may sound harmless but is actually stopping God’s blessing in your life and cursing you:

I’m poor and I’m broke; I have no money
I have (name of disease), I’ll never get healed from it.
I’m ugly
I’m fat
I’m a failure
I’ll never find love
God doesn’t love me, or hear me when I pray
My marriage is going to fail
I’m going to lose my job
I’m stupid
I’m a worrier
I’m sick and tired of _________.

You must understand that by speaking these words, you’re claiming it to be so in your life – you’re decreeing and declaring brokenness. For example, Even if you are sick, don’t go around claiming it, instead say you’re healed. Do this for every other negative thing in your life. Remember words are seeds that can yield a good or bad harvest in your life –depending on what you speak. The very essence of our being was spoken into existence by God

A Prayer - God, I pray that you will help me to be wise. Help me to hear and increase in learning, to acquire skill, and to attain to sound counsel so that I may steer my course rightly. I pray that you may arrest my thoughts and frisk my words so that I everything that I say will be pleasing unto you. From this day on I make a decision to speak your blessings upon my life and the life’s of others with whom I am in contact with. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. (Proverbs 1:5)

Small Group Questions to Ponder;

(1) Think about the times that you have either “cop cursed” or told a foul joke.
How did that make you feel afterward? What are you doing now to help curb your tongue?

(2) Have you ever considered that when you complain about your job is the same as speaking a curse over it?