Taking the Lord's name in Vain

[KCDAD]

I thought knights were 'sirs;' e.g Sir Bob Geldof. Lords are part of the peerage, sit in the House of Lords all day drinking Moet with their pate de fois gras. Ex PM's are sometimes made Lords. I wonder if Blair will be . . .

That is probably true, but the origins of lord come from the idea of a landowner and the servants "hired" to work the land for the lord. They received protection and a small parcel of the land that they could work for their own use. In exchange the lord owned them and their families. The lords answered only to the Sovereign, and in many ways because of their wealth and influence over the people, really ruled the land.

 

[Im_A]

if anyone thinks that using cuss words and g-dit is wrong, then why do a lot of people use "replacements". KCDAD, hinted at what i'm saying here. please, i hope people don't skate around this issue. if your going to say the replacements, then just say the actual word. there is nothing different in saying the replacements than actually saying the real thing. at least, honesty is shown through harsh words, then a lack of honesty trying to play easy on the ears.

 

[KCDAD]

if anyone thinks that using cuss words and g-dit is wrong, then why do a lot of people use "replacements". KCDAD, hinted at what i'm saying here. please, i hope people don't skate around this issue. if your going to say the replacements, then just say the actual word. there is nothing different in saying the replacements than actually saying the real thing. at least, honesty is shown through harsh words, then a lack of honesty trying to play easy on the ears.

It wasn't meant as a hint. Of course since words are simply phonemes strung together to form mutually agreed upon meanings for the purpose of communication, Gosh Darn it or Jeez Louise ARE the same as God Damn it and Jesus Christ. What is important to consider for me is WHAT IS THE MOTIVATION OR INTENTION OF THE OUTBURST?

 

[ottaia]

Agreed! I just think it is rude. We should treat the names (whatever name we choose) of those we respect with respect. Coming up with "near misses" is following the letter of the law but avoiding the spirit of the law.

 

[KCDAD]

Agreed! I just think it is rude. We should treat the names (whatever name we choose) of those we respect with respect. Coming up with "near misses" is following the letter of the law but avoiding the spirit of the law.

Now that we got that settled, what does "in vain" mean? Does it mean without purpose? Does it mean for my own selfish purposes? Does it mean disrespectfully? Does it mean something else?
If I look for something I have lost "in vain" it means I didn't find it... could using the Lord's name in vain mean calling upon God without making a connection with God?

 

[ottaia]

Now that we got that settled, what does "in vain" mean? Does it mean without purpose? Does it mean for my own selfish purposes? Does it mean disrespectfully? Does it mean something else?
If I look for something I have lost "in vain" it means I didn't find it... could using the Lord's name in vain mean calling upon God without making a connection with God?

Perhaps it means "without conviction." I think when businesses put "Jesus Fish" on their ads as a means of gaining business, that is using God in vain. Vain can also mean in a self aggrandizing manner. We have a billboard with a huge picture of a pastor supporting the construction company that built a building for the church. I think by lending God's "name" to the advertisement is using God's name in vain.

 

[KCDAD]

Perhaps it means "without conviction." I think when businesses put "Jesus Fish" on their ads as a means of gaining business, that is using God in vain. Vain can also mean in a self aggrandizing manner. We have a billboard with a huge picture of a pastor supporting the construction company that built a building for the church. I think by lending God's "name" to the advertisement is using God's name in vain.

Excellant example!
oh yeah.. Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Brithday Dear Ottaia.... Happy Birthday to you!

 

[ottaia]

Excellant example!
oh yeah.. Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Brithday Dear Ottaia.... Happy Birthday to you!

Aw, shucks... Thanks!

 

[Abiel]

I have just spent a few days with my mother and grandmother, and they say 'God' all the time, and it really cheesed me off. More than I thought it would. I felt powerless to get them to stop, yet my 9 year old stopped his teacher with a simple polite request.

And yet I agree with the idea that says there is much much more to taking the Lord's name in vain than the uttering of a word.

And my new replacement word, after a trip to Disney is Donald Duck's 'Oh Phooey!'

 

[Lori-lee]

It's funny coz up until recently i didnt see what the big deal was. I mean, i knew it was kind of disrespectful, but didnt think it was a huge deal.

Lately however, i really notice it. Like,it makes my ears prick up and i kind of cringe. Its kind of as if somebody had said "***" or "[bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]" or some other horrible word like that. i try not to make a deal of it, but I'm careful to always say "gosh" etc out of respect for other ppls feelings. I only take the Lords name in vain because its a habit to use it when i need an expletive, so using "gosh" or "bother" or whatever makes no difference to me coz i still fulfil the urge to say something, but can make a big difference to other ppl.

 

[Im_A]

It wasn't meant as a hint. Of course since words are simply phonemes strung together to form mutually agreed upon meanings for the purpose of communication, Gosh Darn it or Jeez Louise ARE the same as God Damn it and Jesus Christ. What is important to consider for me is WHAT IS THE MOTIVATION OR INTENTION OF THE OUTBURST?

sorry for my misunderstanding it.

but what about the motivation or intention of the outburst of "Gosh Darn It!" i just see that as skating around actually saying what you really want to say personally. of course the issue comes with respect people's ears. but i see a fine line of being respectful and being honest. i wonder if it is more disrespectful to skate around the issue, then to actually say what you meant to say ya know?

just my 2 cents.

 

[KCDAD]

sorry for my misunderstanding it.

but what about the motivation or intention of the outburst of "Gosh Darn It!" i just see that as skating around actually saying what you really want to say personally. of course the issue comes with respect people's ears. but i see a fine line of being respectful and being honest. i wonder if it is more disrespectful to skate around the issue, then to actually say what you meant to say ya know?
just my 2 cents.

You didn't misunderstand, just mischaracterized my comment as a hint... nevermind.. no big deal. I think we agree. It's all the same.

 

[Buttermilk]

At a surface level these substitute words may seem an innocent way to express yourself, but lets face it at the end of the day God know what you are really trying to say while using these substitute words, and lets face it so does everyone else who happens to be listening to you

 

[awesumtenor]

Hi

Just wondered what people thought when they hear the lord's name being taken in vain i.e as a swear word? Does it make you sad, mad, whatever?

I personally think there is a more insidous form of "taking the Lord's name in vain" that get glossed over/bypassed by many... in Isa chapter 4, verse 1 we find the following verse:

Isa 4:1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

Allegorically, bread symbolizes doctrine and apparel symbolizes righteousness...and there are those who insist that they make their own doctrine in lieu of sound doctrine and deem themselves righteous instead of receiving Christ's righteousness yet still want to be called by God's name...

As for profane utterance proceeding from some mouths... if in one's heart and mind he meant a profanity but in his aloud utterance he replaced that word with a more benign and less offensive substitute, IMO God still hears the profanity... while man judges by the outward, God looks on the heart and discerns the intent...

But YMMV.

In His service,
Mr. J

 

[SharonL]

The Lord gave me a vision regarding this. I had a friend who had many health problems and I took care of her for 8 months - she had a potty mouth that would make anyone blush.

This really concerned me and as I was praying - the Lord gave me this vision. Maybe it will help see how serious it is.

The Angels go WhooseHOOSH

My Vision regarding the use of the Lords Name in Vain
​

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
​

I have a very dear friend, precious in every way.

Once in awhile out of her mouth comes some not so nice words, which always offended me, but I would never say anything because I did not want to hurt her.

She has many health problems and has been on steriods for over 20 years. This making her bones very brittle - as she was turning one day - her leg broke just 2 inches below her hip - she fell on her leg and shattered it.

It took her over 12 hours to reach the phone and her shoulders were weak from MS already, but the reaching over her head and pulling herself along caused carpal tunnel - very painful.

Well over the periods of months - she would get better, then worse - then better, then worse.

I would fall apart at having to watch someone dear to me having to suffer as she did.

One morning as I was laying in bed the Lord gave me this vision.

Vision....

There were many angels working around my friend to bring healing to her - and all of a sudden the Angels would go Whoosh - and all disappear.

Then I would see shafts of light which were prayers of friends and as the shafts of light entered the Throne - hundreds of Angels would gather around and all were in full armor - they would fight their way back through the heavenlies to my friend and start ministering healing again.

Again - Whoosh - they were gone - the same scene again - the shafts of light hit the Throne, Angels gathered around and fought their way back through the heavenlies to my friend to again administer healing.

After watching many times as the Angels went Whoosh and disappeared - I ask God - "Why are the Angels disappearing?"

The Lord said "My name is used so disrespectfully that the Angels cannot minister when My Name is used in this manner - therefore as My Name is used disrespectfully - the Angels must disappear."

Thus the - getting better - then worse - then better - then worse.

At the end of the vision - it was like the Lord put a footnote onto the vision - it said -

"When my name is used disrespectfully, I know it offends you because I see your Spirit jump back - but you do not stand up for me which makes you as guilty as the person using my name in vain."

Boy - did that clobber me over the head - I shared it with several friends and they all just got quiet and said nothing - I was on the phone each time and I would ask 'are you there?' - the silence ended and each of them said - WOW - did that minister to me and that they had some work to do because each of them never stood up for the Lord when they were around someon using the Lords name in vain.

Now the next time you hear someone use the Lord's name in vain - just picture the angels going Whoosh - and remind them that they just chased all the Angels away.

It sure makes a difference when you see it in that light.

Believe me - I never stand still now and listen to the Lord's name being used in vain. I don't care if I offend someone - I would rather offend a person than to offend my Lord.

Hope this hits home with you also.
​

Sharon Lambkin
​

 

[Tangnefedd]

The angels need to lighten up.

 

[PastorJason]

With all due respect to your vision, SharonL, I have difficulties with the underlying theology. Saying that the angels would disappear and God's ministering had to stop because of words uttered from the mouth of a human - I think that places far too much power in "magic" phraseology and puts God and God's presence in a box that is too heavily dependent on human behavior to be sufficient for me.

Look, for example, at the exorcism narratives from the Gospels - those persons possessed acted in different, and unclean, ways including cursing Jesus, but what they said and the way they acted did not (and I would say could not) affect the healing presence of God. While the use of those terms discussed on this thread are irreverent and not helpful nor edifying to ourselves as individuals or to the body of Christ, to make claims of power about them simply propagates a deep sense of legalism about God and God's work that is not only unproductive, I posit that it runs counter to the Gospel of Jesus.