Title
It Begins With the Mouth
Scripture
Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in deep darkness.
(Proverbs 20:20)
Devotional
To curse your father or mother is to rebel against their authority as parents. This is a violation of the fifth commandment, "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you."[11] We use the term "curse" as disrespectful language or profanity. Speaking in this tone is not only disrespectful, but the onset of rebellion. If a child is permitted to speak in a disparaging manner, he or she will inevitably fall into a life of darkness. We unfortunately live in a society that sees profanity and curt speaking as a norm. Slang, improper grammar along with on word answers should not be the accepted communications culture of youth. A child will curse his or her mother or father only if they are permitted to do so. Therefore, do not permit it. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."[12]