Are These Phrases Blasphemous?

[thisoneindividual]

"God help me." / "God help us all."

"God knows." / "Only God knows."

I hear these phrases a lot (especially on popular media). But I've always wondered whether they're blasphemous (taking God's name in vein) or not.

When I hear the first example(s), it's usually when someone is in a state of helplessness or needs something to happen (to get out of a dire situation).

And when I hear the second example(s), it's usually to emphasis how much someone doesn't know about something.

What do you think?

 

[Gregory Thompson]

"God help me." / "God help us all."

"God knows." / "Only God knows."

I hear these phrases a lot (especially on popular media). But I've always wondered whether they're blasphemous (taking God's name in vein) or not.

When I hear the first example(s), it's usually when someone is in a state of helplessness or needs something to happen (to get out of a dire situation).

And when I hear the second example(s), it's usually to emphasis how much someone doesn't know about something.

What do you think?

You know, I was thinking if I took God's name in my vein - My arm would probably explode.

Since they aren't cuss phrases, it's not really in vain per se.

 

[public hermit]

"God help me." / "God help us all."

"God knows." / "Only God knows."

I hear these phrases a lot (especially on popular media). But I've always wondered whether they're blasphemous (taking God's name in vein) or not.

When I hear the first example(s), it's usually when someone is in a state of helplessness or needs something to happen (to get out of a dire situation).

And when I hear the second example(s), it's usually to emphasis how much someone doesn't know about something.

What do you think?

Honestly, I think taking God's name in vain has more to do with how we live than with what we say. Those who claim to know God but belie the truth with their ways take God's name in vain.

 

[seeking.IAM]

I grew up in an environment where those phrases would have been considered taking God's name in vain. Now, depending upon the mindset of the speaker, I am willing to recognize them as brief prayer. When I say, "God help us all" or "God only knows" I mean it. It's not just an expression.

I watch the news or read the political forum and find myself saying "God help us all" a lot these days. I sincerely pray He will.

 

[St_Worm2]

Hello @thisoneindividual, those sayings seem ok to me (at least out of context anyway ). For instance,

Psalm 44
21 God knows the secrets of the heart.​

Psalm 109
26 Help me, O LORD my God;
Save me according to Your lovingkindness.

Psalm 139
1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You understand my thought from afar.
3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O LORD, You know it all.
5 You have enclosed me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot attain to it.
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,
And the light around me will be night,”
12 Even the darkness is not dark to You,
And the night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are alike to You.
13 For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.

Isaiah 41
10 "Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
13 For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand,
Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.'"

Isaiah 46
9 “I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done."

1 John 3
20 God ... knows all things.​

God bless you!

--David

 

[sunshineforJesus]

I believe using Gods name in vain is using it in a swear word.To say God help us is no problem.

 

[Soyeong]

"God help me." / "God help us all."

"God knows." / "Only God knows."

I hear these phrases a lot (especially on popular media). But I've always wondered whether they're blasphemous (taking God's name in vein) or not.

When I hear the first example(s), it's usually when someone is in a state of helplessness or needs something to happen (to get out of a dire situation).

And when I hear the second example(s), it's usually to emphasis how much someone doesn't know about something.

What do you think?

When couple gets married, then the wife takes her husband's last name, but if she were to be unfaithful to him, then she would be taking his last name in vain. The Mosaic Covenant was a marriage between God and Israel and in Numbers 6:27, God put His name on His people, so His people represent His name or reputation and we can either act in a way that sanctifies His name or in a way that takes His name in vain.

 

[NerdGirl]

"God help me." / "God help us all."

"God knows." / "Only God knows."

I hear these phrases a lot (especially on popular media). But I've always wondered whether they're blasphemous (taking God's name in vein) or not.

When I hear the first example(s), it's usually when someone is in a state of helplessness or needs something to happen (to get out of a dire situation).

And when I hear the second example(s), it's usually to emphasis how much someone doesn't know about something.

What do you think?

If you're a believer who is referring to our actual God when you say them, then no.