This is one of those commandments that gets overlooked all the time. In fact, I often forget what it really means!
Does it mean we can’t say things like “Oh my God” or “OMG”? Or does it just mean we can’t say “G-d d&mm@%”? Can we just not use God’s name when we are angry? Or is it something else entirely?
Well, first, what does “vain” mean anyway? Here, vain means “useless or lacking substance.” So the commandment is essentially saying not to throw around God’s name lightly. We should never empty God’s name of it’s weight and significance.
Therefore, saying “Oh my God and my Lord Jesus! My leg is on fire, please help me!” is not taking the Lord’s name in vain because we are recognizing God’s supreme power over all things – including over fire and our burning leg.
But if we say “Oh my God, I love your new slap bracelet!” this has emptied God’s name of significance and treated God as a triviality. Not good.
If this is something you struggle with, just say “dad-gum” instead:
Dad gum, that song is stuck in my head now!
There’s a tendency, too, to say that “words are just words. Let’s not get so hung up on mere words.” But words are very powerful. And just as it’s “from the fullness of the heart that the mouth speaks,” our words then also return back to our ears and inform the heart. Every word that we speak changes us (and everyone else who hears it)! Do not underestimate the power of your words.
Bonus challenge: It’s not just God’s name we shouldn’t use in vain. In actuality, everyone’s name is sacred (even your least favorite person’s). It is sacred because each person has the dignity of being a creation of God. So we should treat each person — and their name — accordingly. Do you treat people’s names as sacred?
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Excellent point!
Matt, I thought it appropriate to be reading this today. I preached to the school kids today about the power of words specifically Jesus’ words (he cast out a demon in today’s Gospel). They effect what they signify.
“And the Word became flesh.” Words were never the same when the Word entered into the life of words. Hence, each word contains within it not just characters like “p” or “l” but actual meanings. They ares symbolic. They point to things past themselves, greater than themselves.
Nice blog Matt
Dad gum or dad gummit is an euphemism for god damn. So maybe not a good choice? Many cleaned-up swear words, like “Jeeze!”, are cleaned-up versions of God’s name. What do you think?
Brian – that’s a good point. Golly, Gosh, Darn, Geez, Gee, etc. are all similar in that they are just variations or avoidances of saying the original (God, Jesus, damn, etc.).
However, in the very effort and act of changing/varying the language, we are showing respect to God’s name. So, while they are quite clearly connected and even have roots back to the name of God, it is actually an act of respect of God’s name to make the variation. It implicitly affirms that God’s name should be treated with more reverence. (Kind of like when Jews spell God as G-d.)
That’s what I think anyway. Anyone else have any thoughts?
A) Wow! I made a good point!
2) I suppose it could be taken as a sign of respect to change the word slightly. Seems like an a attempt to only use God’s name in vain “a little bit.” Still, it might be a big improvement for me!
Yeah, I thought about that, too! But I actually think it can be viewed as the opposite.
To me, by using half-measured words and variations like Golly or gosh or geez, etc. for those little expressions, actually imply in the very process of doing so the bigness and reverence reserved for God/Jesus. So, in effect, they are inherently reverent and respectful of God. Dad gum I hope so!
I loved this! I try very hard to think before I speak, especially when throwing God’s name around, but I still take His name in vain far too often.
I know someone who when ever they hear the Lord’s name spoken in vain politely asks if we are now praying. He told me it is fairly effective. I know it worked on me.
“Hey, son, it’s time for supper. Whar’s my false teeth?
I don’t know, Dad, gum it!
I agree with everything Matthew said. In fact, I like to think that OMG stands for “Oh my gosh!”
I’m with Leanne.
I do it too often. I usually realize it when I do it, but it’s done.
I guess it exposes the fact that we really do need a Savior.
Thanks.
If you have trouble, a good way to help yourself out of the habit is every time you hear someone else use our Lord’s name in vain to say silently to Jesus that you love Him. That way you’re leveraging the mistakes of many others to help eliminate your own. And you can say a prayer for them too.
I don’t agree with you here.
Through extensive study of the Hebrew meaning of that phrase and historical context, to use god’s name in vain would mean to use him as a justification of an action, event, etc.
So, to say “oh my god,” is definitely not using his name in vain, it’s just an expression.
Anyhow, god isn’t really the name of the diety we are referring to here. In the Old Testament, it is explained that god tells Moses his actual name which is spelled in Hebrew. The true pronunciation is unknown, but a close pronunciation is Yahweh. To use the word “god” is just using an english word that was made up by people because the real name is unknown.
I’m not trying to offend anyone, but I believe I have more reasoning to my belief than you have to yours.
When my son says “That freaking sucks” or “That freak’n car is cool” it sounds to me like he is really skipping around what we all know he could or maybe would like to say and… I don’t care for it. God may feel the same way??? Especially with it referring to him directly or indirectly. Either way, it does not seem to have the reverence that God most certainly deserves.
Some people like Jackie and myself at times, would like to think of the New Testament God as someone different than the Old Testament God. The truth is the most radical examples of God’s wrath are in the New Testament: The Cross and Revelation… Same yesterday, today and everlasting. I think we have lost a healthy fear of the Lord which is clearing weaved throughout the New Testament. “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” …just some food for thought:) By the way, I do not judge anyone, I can’t afford too.
Even amusing-sounding “curses”, such as “gadzooks” should not be used–that particular one comes from “God’s Hooks”, apparently referring to the nails that went through Christ’s hands and feet.
so does vain means not to say omg or is Jackie right?
OMG can also mean “Oh my gosh.”
What about…“Oh my Lord…you`ve grown“…or “hurry up for Christ sakes“?….In vain or mere excuses to express ones` own feelings?….Power or worthlessness? The Law of Moses states…its wrong….either way…sugar coat none of it…AMEN