No Such Thing As Bad Words: A Manifesto on Taming the Tongue

by Douglas Wilson

GOD FORBIDS SWEARING, CURSING, AND DIRTY WORDS
—YET THE BIBLE MAKES USE OF ALL THREE.
What do we do with scriptures that feature holy men, prophets, and apostles swearing, cursing, and even using dirty words, obscenities, and colorful slang?

And what does it mean for your fourteen-year-old son who would love to say that word?

According to Pastor Douglas Wilson, there are no stone tablets stored in heaven listing what we cannot say. Instead, taming and disciplining the tongue requires more work and maturity than just appealing to a list. This book is an invitation to that hard work.

No Such Thing As Bad Words is not a license to say whatever comes to mind when stuck in traffic or stubbing your toe. Instead, it's a call to speak with authority.
For death and life are in the power of your tongue (Prov. 18:21).

248 pages, Paperback

Published March 17, 2026

About the author

I write in order to make the little voices in my head go away. Thus far it hasn't worked.

Reviews

[Ezra Youngren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun. Relentlessly biblical and witty, as always.

[Gloriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gold for the man who knows what gold is--but for many it will seem like folly, fool's gold. If he bites it, though, he will find it true. (I don't recommend going around biting books, but you get the idea).

[Jeremy]

I've spoken about a similar topic. Veith's Reading Between the Lines also distinguishes between types of bad words. Unfavorable WORLD review here.

[Kenneth Marple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wilson presents language in an excellent fashion. What he points to is that we serve a linguistic God and so our use of language is important and powerful. Wilson does not endorse a full scale sailor mouth for the sake of colourful language. When reading this text, it is important to realize there is nuance and the reader must get that in order to get the argument. Wilson defends the idea of using satire and "biting" language, when necessary, to call out sin and unrighteousness. Jesus was known for using language with a bite at times and Wilson is trying to faithfully present the wise position of doing the same. However, he realizes that not everyone must or even should use the bite but points out that if we evaluate someone doing so and find they are doing it rightly then we should withhold judgment because it is for a just cause (i.e., honoring God). Well worth the read, just remember the nuance!

[Christian Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

insights into the tongue

Opened my eyes to a world of his Scripture uses language appropriately and a chance for Pastor Wilson to respond to accusations against him that I grew up with.

[Matthew Rawlings · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well reasoned response to critics.