Is Saying "Oh My Gosh" or "Oh My Goodness" a Sin? (Blasphemy)

I had a conversation like this earlier this year with my girlfriend. No cursing but discussion on how the term 'oh my God' is considered taking the Lord's name in vain. I believe it is, and always try to catch myself by using some other form of exclamation. I don't consider Oh my gosh or goodness to be blasphemous at all.

It's okay to work on controling our mouths, as they are like rudders to a boat that guide us, but this may be a bit nit-picky and reminds me of when Jesus told the Pharisees that they would strain a knat but swallow a camel. This means that being nit-picky about such things while lkiving a selfish or envious life without even realizing it can be hypoctitcal. Just discussing isn't hypocritical, but accusing others of or looking down on them for saying "gosh" or seeing in them small sins would be kinda ridiculous compared to the sins that are hidden, and I think the Lord saw that in the religious hypocrits of His day in the Pharisees.
So your comparing selfishness, covetousness, envy, anger, and pride, the more easily hidden sins to these words needs to be examined with wisdom and a load of love and mercy. The Pharisees did not, and condemned others freely for the least of sins.

Mt 23:23 "How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you ignore the important things of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things.
24 Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat; then you swallow a camel!

I agree w/nhzname and Raphe. It's commendable that you want to be aware of what words you're using. Our words are very important. But I work with people who say Oh My g-d all day long and it drives me insane. I hate it. I've never said anything, although they know I"m a Christian. You can't turn on the TV without hearing it constantly. It makes me sick.

Also, if you feel it's wrong to say oh my gosh, then don't say it. Find another phrase to express yourself. Because if you are convicted in your heart about it, then saying it will bring guilt on you. But personally, I don't feel that it's blasphemous.

I would be more offended by your mouthing swear words, but that's just me!

Here is the definition of blaphemy, maybe this will help answer your question.

Blasphemy - In the sense of speaking evil of God this word is found in Ps. 74:18; Isa. 52:5; Rom. 2:24; Rev. 13:1, 6; 16:9, 11, 21. It denotes also any kind of calumny, or evil-speaking, or abuse (1 Kings 21:10; Acts 13:45; 18:6, etc.). Our Lord was accused of blasphemy when he claimed to be the Son of God (Matt. 26:65; comp. Matt. 9:3; Mark 2:7). They who deny his Messiahship blaspheme Jesus (Luke 22:65; John 10:36).

Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (Matt. 12:31, 32; Mark 3:28, 29; Luke 12:10) is regarded by some as a continued and obstinate rejection of the gospel, and hence is an unpardonable sin, simply because as long as a sinner remains in unbelief he voluntarily excludes himself from pardon. Others regard the expression as designating the sin of attributing to the power of Satan those miracles which Christ performed, or generally those works which are the result of the Spirit's agency.

OptimalWeb said:

Is it blasphemous? Here is the situation. A coworker of mine and I have this humourous little battle going on. We are both Christians. We have very similar personalities, so sometimes we get under each others skin. When that happens, we both say things that we know the other cannot stand. I mouth swear words in the middle of sentences. I will say something like "That is total" and then I will mouth the words bullsh*t. This drives her crazy and she has asked me to stop.

She says "Oh my Gosh" and "Oh my goodness". I think it is blasphemous. We are both working to correct these things, only problem is, she doesn't think that saying that is wrong. She is getting off on a technicality because she is not taking the 'Lord's" name in vain.

I need something to support my request. She also tells me to shut up (in jest) and I am now bringing this phrase home and both my wife and I are saying it to each other (in jest). The good thing, is we are all trying to stop doing these things because they offend the other person, but a coworkers husband (who is a pastor) said that saying the above is "not bad"

I am so confused.... I would never say Oh My Gosh in front of my grandparents.

Please help....

Click to expand...

I am going to assume that since you say that you consider this blasphemous that you base it on a proper understanding of the injunction of not taking the Lord's name in vain. Which properly means using the Lord's name in an empty or meaningless way. That being said, this answer is going to sound like a copout. The answer really depends on your perspective.

You are right in that those who say things like "Darn it" are really thinking "Damn it" and don't want to seen as swearing. For all intents and purposes if they are saying one thing, but thinking another and just trying to less offensive they aren't succeeding by much and might as well say what they are thinking.

Is your coworker thinking "Oh my God" when she says "Oh my Goodness!" or "Oh My gosh!" There is nothing about the words in and of themselves that would make them blasphemous. Now, if you know that she is thinking, "Oh my God" when shes says either expression that would be a different matter. Do you know what she is thinking when she says the terms you are offended by?

Biblically, if you are the weaker brother and what she is saying is a stumbling block to you, then as the stronger believer, she would have a responsibility to stop saying this in front of you and stop tempting you to sin.

Basically, the concept of a stumbling block occurs when a believer has a problem with a sin they are trying to oveccome in their own life. As they are struggling with overcoming this sin they come across another believer who does the same thing, but in their maturity which is greater than that of the weaker brother, they don't see what their doing as a sin. By their continuing to commit the act that the weaker brother sees as a sin, without being convicted of or convinced of it really being a sin, they create a stumbling block for the weaker brother by leading them to believe that it's OK for the weaker brother to commit the act that he is convicted in his own heart is a sin.

Now, Paul uses the example of eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols. These cuts of meat were commonly sold in the temple markets at a reduced price. Knowing that the idols were merely carving of stone or wood and not gods, Paul had no problem with buying and eating the cheaper meat. However, he said that if his eating the meat offended a weaker brother, i.e. one who had just come out of idolatry and was having trouble purging the devotion and worship of idols from the idea of eating meat that had first been sacrificed to those idols, that he, Paul would rather never eat meat again than to be guilty of creating a stumbling block for the weaker brother.

I hope this helps.

1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.



Good manners. Being polite and respectful. Even with our humor.


I remember a time of extreme poverty in my life. Living in a home without electricity I used to hitch-hike to revivals at night. The alternative was looking at walls and early to bed. I went to a lot of different churches that year.


I was quite surprised that the people with the sharpest, most cutting humor were those who wore the right kind of clothes and really emphasized the outward things. But when they began to "jest" some of the things they said to one another were downright cruel sounding to me. Now of course I am not talking about everyone from this background but the actions of a few stood out to me.


Do others witness how you and your friend interact as you exchange intentional "thorns in the flesh"? Be certain that the closer you are to GOD and let it be known that you are at work the closer others will watch you. Well, they will not notice you when you are doing right but they will take note when your behavior is questionable.


Now, if you only do it when others are not around...


Why?




Ephesians 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks


Ephesians 5 starts off with instruction to love one another as dear children.


How do we love our children?


Do we intentionally say hurtful things to our precious little ones? Of course not.


Do little children say hurtful things to one another? Yes. Do they get in trouble for that? Yes. How do you suppose GOD feels when His children deliberately hurt one another with the words they speak?


Before verse 4 is verse 3. It begins the thought of not once allowing fornication, uncleanness or coveoutesness being named among them. Not once. The thought is picked up in verse 4 when other things are added by the use of the word neither.


If you were to remove filthiness, foolish talking, and jesting (clowning, laughing at others, verbal sparring) from a christian's workplace humor would they still be able to have fun? Of course.


I used to push the edges a lot with workplace humor until discovering that verse in Corinthians. It was hard early on to not participate in the same way as those I worked with. Especially when you get the perfect oppurtunity to say something funny but you know it is wrong. But with discipline and time it gets easier as you learn how to have fun without dishonoring GOD.


OptimalWeb, your actions to correct your "sin" will do more to convince your friend to change than your pointing out her "sin". And even if she does not change..."What is that to you?"...you will have pleased your heavenly Father.


.....peace.....

Dmckay said:

Biblically, if you are the weaker brother and what she is saying is a stumbling block to you, then as the stronger believer, she would have a responsibility to stop saying this in front of you and stop tempting you to sin.

Basically, the concept of a stumbling block occurs when a believer has a problem with a sin they are trying to oveccome in their own life. As they are struggling with overcoming this sin they come across another believer who does the same thing, but in their maturity which is greater than that of the weaker brother, they don't see what their doing as a sin. By their continuing to commit the act that the weaker brother sees as a sin, without being convicted of or convinced of it really being a sin, they create a stumbling block for the weaker brother by leading them to believe that it's OK for the weaker brother to commit the act that he is convicted in his own heart is a sin.

Click to expand...

Wow, this is the best description of a Biblical view of the Christian stumbling block I've ever heard. I was kind of thinking this myself, but couldn't put it into words so eloquently.

Dmckay said:

I hope this helps.

Click to expand...

It definitely helped me, not sure about the OP. Thank you!

I remember one of my elementary teachers telling us (his students) that he never allows his children to say "gosh, darn, shoot...etc." I also remember thinking how he was making such a big deal out of something so non-trivial. If you find it offensive, you have the freedom to not use them and the right to ask them not to use it around you as well. But, just because you think of "oh my God" when you say "oh my gosh" does not mean that the other person is as well. Sure, you can ask them not to say it around you...that's a mature way to handle it...but never assume that they are sinning just because it's a sin-issue for you. I really watch out that I never say the word "suck" in front of two of my girlfriends, because they find it offensive. Just because I don't find it offensive doesn't mean that they don't as well...so I need to be respectful of that, and your friends should as well. But, in return you have to realize that your friends may not mean anything more by it than just a term of expression. It's so much more...it's a heart-issue.

I see nothing wrong with gosh, goodness, darn, shoot...and I even am tolerant of some crass words when in company that doesn't mean it offensively but is just part of their vocabulary. It's a witness and encouragement to others when you ask them not to say it around you, but you don't know their heart...what they mean by it. I say "gosh" because it's an expression...and I never say it with God in mind...I say it with the shock in mind that has just inspired me to say it! I don't look at is as a substitute for "God" because it's just not for me...it's an expression. If I was going to use blasphemy...I'd right out just say God and be done with it. If people saying it around you makes you sin, then they should respect that and not say it around you...but don't judge their heart or what they mean by it just because of they way you react to it. Hope this makes sense...I can be rather jumbled sometimes!

nhzname said:

I had a conversation like this earlier this year with my girlfriend. No cursing but discussion on how the term 'oh my God' is considered taking the Lord's name in vain. I believe it is, and always try to catch myself by using some other form of exclamation.

Click to expand...

I agree.
I can't see the particular situation as english-speakers would, but the issue is the same in French.
I think it's better to replace the bad words with other one. And even if one "thinks" "Oh my God", it's better to say another word than saying this, no ? Sometimes it's difficult to renew our thoughts.

Basically, as long as we don't take the name of the Lord in vain, nor use bad language, it's OK. We don't have to speak with a pompous style !

Dmckay said:

a proper understanding of the injunction of not taking the Lord's name in vain. Which properly means using the Lord's name in an empty or meaningless way.

Click to expand...

I think it's a much more grevious offense to say "Praise the Lord" or "Hallelujah) in a sarcastic way. Clearly that is taking the name of the Lord in vain. Unfortunately, I have seen Christians do this and it seems like they usually are trying to ridicule some other Christian when they say it, like suggesting you are a bible thumper (and they are a sophisticated Christian?). It's one thing to say the phrase "Golly gee wiz" mindlessly, and it's an altogether uglier thing to say the name of the Lord irreverantly and with sarcasm. They are both bad though, in my opinion, because they are both examples of taking the Lord's name in vain.

whatseekye said:

I think it's a much more grevious offense to say "Praise the Lord" or "Hallelujah) in a sarcastic way. Clearly that is taking the name of the Lord in vain. Unfortunately, I have seen Christians do this and it seems like they usually are trying to ridicule some other Christian when they say it, like suggesting you are a bible thumper (and they are a sophisticated Christian?). It's one thing to say the phrase "Golly gee wiz" mindlessly, and it's an altogether uglier thing to say the name of the Lord irreverantly and with sarcasm. They are both bad though, in my opinion, because they are both examples of taking the Lord's name in vain.

Click to expand...

I agree with you that using "Praise the Lord" in this manner is the same as taking the Lord's name in vain. Especially when you consider that when Christians use the term, they are usually using it wrong, unknowingly.

"Praise the Lord" or "Hallelujah" is actually an imperative (a command) in Hebrew and could and probably should be translated "You, praise the Lord" or a variant of the word, "listen, while I praise the Lord". If you look at the book of Psalms (Israel's Hymn book) this is how it is used. The command is always followed by specific direct praise.

Today, most Christians, not knowing Hebrew, use the command itself as a praise and NOT as a call to praise. Let everything that has breath, Praise the Lord, Praise ye the Lord!

Well..if you feel saying "oh my gosh" is just a subsitute for "oh my god"..and replace it with some other phrase..isn't this just another subsitution? How does it solve the problem? Personally..I try to say oh my gosh..b/c I am new and have a very bad habit of saying "oh my god" or even worse things. I think if I can at least subsitute what I say that's a good start. I still have problems with what I'm thinking but this is much harder to control. At least I can control what I say. Or try to, at least. I don't think cursing is wrong if it's not taking the lord's name in vain. now I wouldn't reccomend doing it around certain people b/c it would hurt you, but I dont' think it's a sin.

Dmckay said:

I agree with you that using "Praise the Lord" in this manner is the same as taking the Lord's name in vain. Especially when you consider that when Christians use the term, they are usually using it wrong, unknowingly.

"Praise the Lord" or "Hallelujah" is actually an imperative (a command) in Hebrew and could and probably should be translated "You, praise the Lord" or a variant of the word, "listen, while I praise the Lord". If you look at the book of Psalms (Israel's Hymn book) this is how it is used. The command is always followed by specific direct praise.

Today, most Christians, not knowing Hebrew, use the command itself as a praise and NOT as a call to praise. Let everything that has breath, Praise the Lord, Praise ye the Lord!

Click to expand...

Wow! That's really interesting. Thank you for giving me something to think about. I'm going to share this with my husband. He always enjoys learning about Jewish customs and Hebrew. Reminds me of how much fun we had learning about the shofar.

whatseekye said:

Wow! That's really interesting. Thank you for giving me something to think about. I'm going to share this with my husband. He always enjoys learning about Jewish customs and Hebrew. Reminds me of how much fun we had learning about the shofar.

Click to expand...

Shofar, so good! Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Dmckay said:

Shofar, so good! Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Click to expand...

that's cute! hehe

BlessedVegan said:

Well..if you feel saying "oh my gosh" is just a subsitute for "oh my god"..and replace it with some other phrase..isn't this just another subsitution? How does it solve the problem? Personally..I try to say oh my gosh..b/c I am new and have a very bad habit of saying "oh my god" or even worse things. I think if I can at least subsitute what I say that's a good start. I still have problems with what I'm thinking but this is much harder to control. At least I can control what I say. Or try to, at least. I don't think cursing is wrong if it's not taking the lord's name in vain. now I wouldn't reccomend doing it around certain people b/c it would hurt you, but I dont' think it's a sin.

Click to expand...

Having such a bad habit may be gotten rid of easier in a step-by-step method, it's true. A lot of Christians do not understand that "Jeez" or "Gee" is just short for Jesus, and is actually not a good thing for a Christian to say. I guess it is a matter of perspective, but some words are just a lot worse than others, and the world is getting worse for all of the 4-letter words being propelled around the planet at light speed. It used to be bad manners to say such words! Another problem is hearing them so much actually makes a person forget they are so bad.

That's my 2 cents

Glisten said:

A lot of Christians do not understand that "Jeez" or "Gee" is just short for Jesus, and is actually not a good thing for a Christian to say.

Click to expand...

This discussion has provoked me to wonder about "Jiminy Cricket". That used to be an expression before it became a character in the Disney cartoon. I wonder if Jiminy Cricket was a play on the name of our Savior? I guess I'm wondering a little too much.

"The name of the conscientious little cricket was derived from the phrase "Jiminy Crickets!" whcih denotes surprise or bewilderment, and has existed since at least 1848." http://users.cwnet.com/xephyr/rich/dzone/hoozoo/jiminy.html

But think about the sounds of the expression. J-sound and then a hard C-sound, just like in the name of our Savior. Hmmm....

"6. Jiminy Crickets: has been used by many professing people, however, it is also a euphemistic expression of Jesus Christ. It is just a way to try to exchange acceptable words with which to euphemistically use our Lord's name lightly. It is an interjection."
(This web site also has a good list of so called Christian cursing:
http://bz.llano.net/baptist/christiancursing.htm)

I'm not going to keep my kids from watching Pinnochio, but it's interesting that this family friendly cartoon film has christian cursing in it (as well as Snow white, because one of the dwarves supposedly says "Jiminy Crickets" in it)

whatseekye said:

This discussion has provoked me to wonder about "Jiminy Cricket". That used to be an expression before it became a character in the Disney cartoon. I wonder if Jiminy Cricket was a play on the name of our Savior? I guess I'm wondering a little too much.

"The name of the conscientious little cricket was derived from the phrase "Jiminy Crickets!" whcih denotes surprise or bewilderment, and has existed since at least 1848." http://users.cwnet.com/xephyr/rich/dzone/hoozoo/jiminy.html

But think about the sounds of the expression. J-sound and then a hard C-sound, just like in the name of our Savior. Hmmm....

"6. Jiminy Crickets: has been used by many professing people, however, it is also a euphemistic expression of Jesus Christ. It is just a way to try to exchange acceptable words with which to euphemistically use our Lord's name lightly. It is an interjection."
(This web site also has a good list of so called Christian cursing:
http://bz.llano.net/baptist/christiancursing.htm)

I'm not going to keep my kids from watching Pinnochio, but it's interesting that this family friendly cartoon film has christian cursing in it (as well as Snow white, because one of the dwarves supposedly says "Jiminy Crickets" in it)

Click to expand...

I never heard of this explanation before, but I guess it is possible. It seems to have lost its meaning somewhere though, and I'm sure it is okay for your kids to watch Pinocchio or Snow White, as long as you don't tell them Jiminy Cricket may be a cussword!