Oh my…

Like many, I was raised to think that taking the Lord's name in vain meant one thing: never uttering, "Oh my God" as an exclamation. To be honest, I really haven't thought of the third commandment much in the past years until reading this recent Reflections of the Times post:
The idea is that using His name this way (although many argue that God isn't His name) is using it in an empty, worthless, meaningless way. Turning His name (or His title in the Godhead) into a common word that one can just toss around as if it means nothing, is worthless and empty.
It wasn't until I became older that I ever heard anyone reject this teaching and claim that taking His name in vain means something else. I've heard several definitions of this, including the one that says professing to be a Christian and then looking/acting/sounding just like the world, is a form of taking His name in vain. I find it striking however, that among some who've rejected the teaching that I grew up with and give it a different meaning, they use His name (or title) in the very way I've defined in the first paragraph.
In our day, you can't turn on the tv, radio, computer, go out in public, go to work or school, without hearing someone say "oh my God". This bothers me a great deal, and bothers me more and more, the older I get. Of course I realize it's coming from the lips of those that have no relationship with God and therefore think nothing of using His name this way. To them, it is indeed empty and meaningless.
 

Jump over there to read the rest of her thoughts.

Do you think that using that phrase is a violation of the 3rd commandment? Any other thoughts?

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Comments (7)

I thought the same way you did at one point in my life, and uttering His name in a careless manner might still be taking his name in vain.

However, my new way of thinking about this comes from a Jewish Scholar, Dennis Prager. Taking the Lord's name in vain is professing to do the work of God, and then doing something completely horrendous. I hate to use this example, but it is the best way to illustrate this. Taking the Lord's name in vain is strapping a bomb to yourself and blowing up hundreds of innocent people all in the name of God.

What do you think God cares about more— carelessly exclaiming "Oh my G--!," or attaching God's name to an almost unspeakable act of violence? I think He cares about both, but what should we as Christians be most concerned with stopping?
Whether or not this is taking His name in vain depends entirely on the "thoughts and intents of the heart". Normally when I use these words it is a prayer either seeking His intervention (squealing brakes, smoke from a front window, tank rumbling down the street, etc) or in giving Him thanks (Oh my God! Look at that sunset!). I'm sure you can think of more examples where a devout person might make a spontaneous gesture of reaching toward God.
I don't claim to know all the exegetical variations available to Hebrew scholars but OMG is definitely using the name _in vain_ in the sense that we are using His name without referring to Him. You average person does not use this phrase without implicit reference to the God of the Bible. Secondly, I also see that "God" is His name in the broader sense in which the Bible uses the word "name". "Name" in the Bible means that which refers to or describes a person ("the LORD, whose name is Jealous") and not the label on their birth certificate or simply a calling phrase.

I personally went through a phase when swearing of this sort in my hearing caused a physical pain but I hope I have learned to adapt and gently comment instead of freaking out.
Oh my gosh, Oh goodness and others are also said by many and some of those are Christians; so what do we do? Encourage them not to say those things and let me give you an example. I try real hard to not utter profanity anywhere, but it does slip out on occasion. I've even been called on it in an explanation of, "I would have never thought you would have said that or even thought that." It bothers me also, but take into consideration of where it comes from. Some mean harm to our Lord God and some don't, so correct them if you are able and make every effort not to do it yourself. I know I will continue to try and not utter those words which harm us and them. In God's Grace John
I think this is an interesting topic. I grew up hearing to not take the Lord's name in vain and all that. If someone exclaims "Jesus Christ!" I will say, "Hey man, watch your language." People are usually pretty respectful and apologize because they know that it's important to me. But, I have a kind of weird idea about people saying "Oh my God" or "Oh my god." It's because I truly believe in the power of words. God spoke the world into existence and we're created in His image. When people say things like, "oh my god," I see it as them giving power to God. There's power in everything we speak (as we can read in the Bible, life and death is in the power of the tongue. So, even if they claim to not believe, they are giving the name of God power. And I think that's something. One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord...it's just the shape of things to come. I know that's kind of crazy, but I'm okay with that.
I heard some of my unbeliever classmates are saying this words. They just saying this words as if its like an expression of amusement. I think that would not glorify our God that would be possibly taking the Lord's name in vain. They never think whats worth on that name. I do hope they would also be sensitive on how they talk.

God bless us all...
i am starting to re think what i always thought was saying the lords name in vain

i havnt done very much research, so i might seem stupid saying this, but who said that bu saying oh my god is saying the lords name in vain?

and how can this article say that the people saying oh my god are not belivers?

oh my god slips out of my mouth here and there, but that deosnt make me less christian than the people how dont have that habit!

what is saying the lords name in vain?
is it really saying oh my god?
cus it doesnt metion that in the bible?

what words do describe sayign the lords name in vain?

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