How to feel about blasphemy.

[Xalith]

So... I've been having a minor dilemma lately.

The Lord instructs us to love our neighbors, and our enemies as we love ourselves, and instructs us to have the same qualities He does -- meekness, longsuffering, among other things.

There's something that irks me, though, and I have difficulty just looking the other way, and that is downright blasphemy against the Lord's name and/or His person.

A part of me feels sad that someone would use His name in such vile ways, and with such disrespect and lack of reverence, as if He were just another object on this Earth to abuse, but yet another part of me feels a tinge of anger, a "Really!? You HAD to say That?"

I feel like the Lord (through the Bible) is asking me to Not be angry with these people, but yet at the same time, I find it difficult not to grit my teeth when I read/hear utterly ridiculous things being said of the Lord's name.

It is just so... unnecessary. Even if they are unbelievers, I don't really see why they feel the need to spit on His name like that. Do they do it to spite us on purpose or something?

I just can't understand it. There've been times I've uttered a certain phrase containing the words "damn" and "it", but I usually felt sorry and asked for forgiveness afterwards after my moment of frustration had passed... but these other people, they throw such phrases out (and worse, my friend has one that *really* makes me stop what I'm doing right then and there and lovingly scold him for it, thankfully he's gotten to where he almost never does it around me anymore) like it is just common language. They don't even have to be frustrated, it is almost like they do it just to aggravate us...

 

[ToBeLoved]

I hate it too!

I won't tolerate it in my house. Definately not.

 

[Envisage]

They are not going to immediately understand how you are feeling though, since clearly you said beliefs are deeply personal - and clearly people who do talk in that manner do not hold their beliefs on that kind of level even if they were religious (such is common where I live in London for example, where Christians are relatively apathetic, thus even Churchgoers throw around those kinds of vain phrases).

In any case, people who you regard as your colleagues and friends will know that you do hold them close, thus you aren't at liberty to tolerate it on a personal level, much like you aren't at Liberty to tolerate someone who constantly pokes fun at your appearences, or other personal facts. If people want to get along then they need to have a mutual understanding. Thus it seems to me that people either do not have that understanding with you, or they do and are deliberately ignoring the fact it upsets you. You are in a position to change your social stance with regards to both towards those people.

 

[joshuanazar]

Most of these people with foul language do not think think they are doing anything wrong. Our society teaches that it is ok and so they developed habits that offend most christians. That being said, though I personally do not use foul language, it does not offend me. I became a Christian in a place where that language was always coming from someone. If I hadn't realized that it was the motives behind the words and not the actual words themselves, I would not have ever received peace. I have more of a problem with a church person that I recently corrected saying "bless you" with their hearts full of malice than I do with a lost friend saying "F you" in a joking way. In the end it is the heart that matters and the lost need love that looks past their language. But still if it does bother you, you have every right to voice your opinion. But please make sure it is done in God's love.

 

[Xalith]

Most of these people with foul language do not think think they are doing anything wrong. Our society teaches that it is ok and so they developed habits that offend most christians. That being said, though I personally do not use foul language, it does not offend me. I became a Christian in a place where that language was always coming from someone. If I hadn't realized that it was the motives behind the words and not the actual words themselves, I would not have ever received peace. I have more of a problem with a church person that I recently corrected saying "bless you" with their hearts full of malice than I do with a lost friend saying "F you" in a joking way. In the end it is the heart that matters and the lost need love that looks past their language. But still if it does bother you, you have every right to voice your opinion. But please make sure it is done in God's love.

Cursing is one thing, but using the Lord's Name in such vile ways is another thing entirely, especially my friend. I wouldn't dare repeat what he says as I couldn't bear to type it, but it involved Jesus, and a very vulgar phrase having to do with something very unclean and it just made my skin crawl when he used to say it. But like I said, thankfully I got him to stop saying it around me; he hasn't said it in months.

 

[joshuanazar]

I can completely understand how you feel. Sometimes I still hear something that makes me think is this guy serious. But I then ask myself What is the Lord's name? Is his real name any of the English names that we call him? Or even Greek or Hebrew names? We make up a bunch of babes to try and describe what God is to us. Words are in sufficient so we have multiple names and still not enough. But for the most part these names mean nothing to the lost. To them they are not taking the Lord's name in vain because they do not know our Lord.

 

[ToBeLoved]

I can completely understand how you feel. Sometimes I still hear something that makes me think is this guy serious. But I then ask myself What is the Lord's name? Is his real name any of the English names that we call him? Or even Greek or Hebrew names? We make up a bunch of babes to try and describe what God is to us. Words are in sufficient so we have multiple names and still not enough. But for the most part these names mean nothing to the lost. To them they are not taking the Lord's name in vain because they do not know our Lord.

Thanks for that. I do understand what you are saying and I agree with what you said.

With that said, what I think it does show, either directly meant or indirectly meant is that the person does not care about the beliefs or convictions of those around them. Like I am going to say what I want and everyone can deal with it. Which to me shows a certain lack of respect for others.

With that said, I think sometimes (I noticed with my teenagers) that cursing in general is thought to be cool and seems like part of the language to them after a while. What I have found (after going though cursing mostly, but also some using God's name in vain) is for them it becomes a habit or something that they just imbed in their language. For those close to us I don't see anything wrong with stating that using God's name in vain is offensive (of course I do not go up to every person, this is geared more to those close enough to us to have the conversation) and that we do not like even hearing it. Because I think that what that shows is that we want to show our God honor at even the most basic level. Now I understand what Joshuanazar is saying about it not really being God's name, but I also know that politely telling people that it bothers us (those closer to us) should be ok and I think is good. Because it shows that we care and reveere (i know I spelled that wrong) our God in a small way, the smallest way, but that it is important to us.

Good conversation though. I'm enjoying it.

 

[Neogaia777]

Agape Love is described in the parable of the good Samaritan... And in Jesus said no greater love does one have than this, that one should lay his life down for his friends, which Jesus displayed on the cross.

Once saved, always saved could be true and is true, unless one commits the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit...

God Bless!

 

[riona]

With that said, I think sometimes (I noticed with my teenagers) that cursing in general is thought to be cool and seems like part of the language to them after a while. What I have found (after going though cursing mostly, but also some using God's name in vain) is for them it becomes a habit or something that they just imbed in their language. .

This... Very much this.
I really don't believe it s intended to harm ... It just starts as 'being accepted' and morphs into habit.

 

[joshuanazar]

I do agree with tobeloved on the fact that a lot of these people do not care who they offend, or at least that is the image that they are wanting to portray. In our culture being being selfish is considered a virtue and often people try to determine how strong they are based on how selfish toward other people they can be. By pretending to not care about other people's beliefs they try to show that they are strong and I guess independent. However, even if they start off pretending not to care their attitudes and actions (whether language or something else) become habit and then they begin to really not care. Unless something interrupts the cycle.

But we are not just talking about language now. This is part of the state of the Lost, and while the actions may be offensive, they are suffering in this state. Because having determined that they only care about themselves, they convince themselves that everyone ultimately thinks the same and that no one cares about them. After all in trying to become "strong" and "independent" they did actions that should disqualify them from being loved. This mind set always makes people feel alone. Sometimes people then get hateful in their loneliness, and try to take what they feel they deserve or harm someone else thinking that if someone is hurting more than them that they might not hurt as much. The only thing that can find someone who is lost and bring them out of the darkness is love.

Now I believe that it is perfectly fine to tell someone that their actions or attitude is offensive as long as it is done in love. I think its even fine if you tell a stranger this as long as it is done in love. Though a stranger might be more inclined to be even more offensive to you afterwards. Though I am not offended by language I still point out when a friend's language might be offending someone else or when I just think it is making them look stupid.
(for example I am not offended by sagging pants, but I did point out to my old friends that did sag that they looked stupid and they would never get that respectable girlfriend that they wanted if they continued)