Taking the Name of the Lord in Vain

[JonD]

Recently, I was thinking, "When someone says 'God!' when they're frustrated or something, is that really taking the name of the Lord in vain?"

At first, I thought that it should mean don't say YHWH, for that is a big deal to the Jews.

After looking it up in my Catechism book, it said that it meant using God as a witness to an oath and breaking the promise you made.

Could someone clarify things? How is saying "Oh my God!" etc. bad?

 

[InnerPhyre]

If you are saying "Oh my God" and actually addressing God, you're doing nothing wrong. If you're saying "Oh God" in surprise or in a situation like that, you're using God's name as a curse word....think of what other words commonly come after "oh" in that situation....Don't wanna put God's name as a substitute for those words, you know?

 

[Faith In God]

Recently, I was thinking, "When someone says 'God!' when they're frustrated or something, is that really taking the name of the Lord in vain?"

At first, I thought that it should mean don't say YHWH, for that is a big deal to the Jews.

After looking it up in my Catechism book, it said that it meant using God as a witness to an oath and breaking the promise you made.

Could someone clarify things? How is saying "Oh my God!" etc. bad?

First off, there are several ways of taking something vainly.

The first and easiest way of seeing it is not cursing using the Lord's name. To do that is to take the Lord of the Universe's name and bring it down to the level of a four-letter filth word. Respect God's name, be it Lord, God, Jesus Christ, etc. When said in all seriousness (ie when saying a prayer out loud) it is not in vain. But if it's serious and used as a curse, don't assume to know the mind of God (ie telling God to damn something is presuming to know God's will. Elisha did call down a curse from God on a group of people, but he called God to judge as God saw fit and not as he saw fit)

The other way that most people do not enjoy talking about is to take Godly matters lightly. Those that worship God and call on His name left and right and do not have their heart's right before Him, they are blaspheming of even a worse kind. The first has to do with the respect. This one has to do with your standing before God. Of course the first one being done usually is a sign that the second might be present...

 

[JonD]

To curse something though, would be to wish something bad on it. If one doesn't wish something bad on something or someone else is using God's name in such a way still wrong?

 

[InnerPhyre]

There was a Catholic Saint...which one specifically I can't remember right now, who had such respect for the name of the Lord, if he saw a piece of paper lying around with God's name on it, he would pick it up and take it hope and keep it in a safe place so it wouldn't be tossed in the trash or trampled underfoot. This is the same reverence we should have for our Lord's precious name.

 

[Faith In God]

To curse something though, would be to wish something bad on it. If one doesn't wish something bad on something or someone else is using God's name in such a way still wrong?

Listen to phyre. If God is on your mind always as the First Command requires, you will not disrespect God's name in such a way that you bring it down in any way, much less to a filth word.

 

[JonD]

Oh, something I forgot to mention. The people of the Old Testament probably understood better than us, but isn't the Lord's name YHWH? God is just his nature, although that is how English-speaking people refer to him nowadays.

 

[Faith In God]

Oh, something I forgot to mention. The people of the Old Testament probably understood better than us, but isn't the Lord's name YHWH? God is just his nature, although that is how English-speaking people refer to him nowadays.

highly off-topic, but His name might as well be God. He has many names. Psalms says the Lord is His name. Other places call Him Jehovah, Elohim, and many other things. But we don't need to split hairs, now do we.

 

[JonD]

Sorry if that was off-topic, just a thought. I hope you aren't annoyed at me asking these questions. They're very elementary. Er, thanks for answering, though. I think I get it! Cheers!

 

[Jb_Ca]

Recently, I was thinking, "When someone says 'God!' when they're frustrated or something, is that really taking the name of the Lord in vain?"

At first, I thought that it should mean don't say YHWH, for that is a big deal to the Jews.

After looking it up in my Catechism book, it said that it meant using God as a witness to an oath and breaking the promise you made.

Could someone clarify things? How is saying "Oh my God!" etc. bad?

God is Holy, and as this is true, we are not to take His Name in vain, rather we are to show reverence towards Him. If we do not respect the Name of God, we are not respecting God.

God bless,
Justin