Oh My G--, the F-Word!
by
Ted Slater
on Jun 25, 2007 at 1:42 PM
Speaking of Dr. Dobson's comments on Evan Almighty....
Am I the only one who would rather hear someone mutter the "F-word" than to hear someone say, "Oh my G--"?
The former trivializes something sacred to humanity, procreation, while the latter trivializes God Himself. The slightly sanitized "oh my gosh" isn't much better, in my opinion, as it clearly makes reference to the blasphemous phrase that inspired it. What does "oh my gosh" mean, anyway?
I wonder if Christians say this phrase out of thoughtlessness, or if they truly think so little of God that they feel free to use His name so casually. Regardless, I think it reveals how much we've become influenced by our culture, that we'd imitate its pet phrases even when doing so defames our Lord.
1. puckhead20 had the following to say on Jun 25 at 2:13 PM:
Ted- I fully agree. I personally have a hard time handling all the misuse of God's name. I especially don't understand what's going on when Christians do it...
2. code had the following to say on Jun 25 at 2:34 PM:
That all depends on whether or not you think God's name is "God". And if it is, you should really type it out as G-d, since typing it out in full is really no different from saying it out loud might be trivializing the name just as much as saying it!
3. Heather Jarmon had the following to say on Jun 25 at 2:42 PM:
Ted-you are not alone! I couldn't agree with you more. Something churns inside of me when "oh my G--" is muttered, Christian or non-Christian. It's almost as if my heart grieves just hearing it! I can't imagine how the Lord feels. I'm reminded to pray for a particular individual when they use the Lord's name in vein. It's refreshing to turn something so bothersome into a way to bless another. But it's amazing that the "f-bomb" seems to pale in comparison. Thanks again, Ted!
4. EHolmes had the following to say on Jun 25 at 2:45 PM:
Yes. I've worked in the restaurant world for years and been fairly desensitized by a slew of hot-tempered, foul-mouthed chefs, but it still pains me to hear God's name thrown recklessly about. Even more disturbing to me is how often Christians are doing the slinging.
5. Heather Jarmon had the following to say on Jun 25 at 2:48 PM:
Ted-you are not alone! I couldn't agree with you more. Something churns inside of me when "oh my G--" is muttered, Christian or non-Christian. It's almost as if my heart grieves just hearing it! I can't imagine how the Lord feels. I'm reminded to pray for a particular individual when they use the Lord's name in vein. It's refreshing to turn something so bothersome into a way to bless another. But it's amazing that the "f-bomb" seems to pale in comparison. Thanks again, Ted!
6. Jethro had the following to say on Jun 25 at 3:06 PM:
There is nothing wrong with 'oh my gosh'! Get real people. What about people who say 'good lord' when surprised? Should we condemn that too? How about 'heavens to Betsy'? That references the divine.....
7. Ted Slater had the following to say on Jun 25 at 3:09 PM:
Jethro -- what does "oh my gosh" mean? What is its specific meaning?
8. kendra had the following to say on Jun 25 at 3:18 PM:
You say… "Am I the only one who would rather hear someone mutter the "F-word" than to hear someone say, "Oh my G--"?" Perhaps you are not the only one, but this is certainly not an opinion I agree with.
The “f-word”, for instance, is the king of all expletives in any circle, in any age group, in any sort of social interaction. Everyone who uses that phrase is fully aware of the connotations the word evokes. It stood for vulgarity in early America, it still stands for vulgarity today.
The “gosh” phrase is a phrase of which people are NOT fully aware of the connotations and possible offense. Perhaps they were at one time, but they are not as aware as they used to be. It’s best for us to set an example of not using either phrase. It is best to be prepared with Godly and intelligent reasons as to why we, as believers, do not use the phrases and find the phrases offensive.
The fact that you would prefer the always mal-intentioned “f-bomb” over the mostly not-understood “gosh phrase” is, quite frankly, shocking.
9. k. had the following to say on Jun 25 at 3:25 PM:
I don't like it when people say, "Oh my God," but I'm with Jethro on using
"gosh." I don't worship anybody named Gosh.
Many words, in English, are divorced from their origins. Our language is filled with euphemisms, which for the most part have lost their original force and meaning. For instance, I know a lot of Christians who have no problem saying, "Darn," or "That really sucks," or "That's screwed up." Yet if you really think about it, all of those have rather sketchy origins.
10. Chrysti had the following to say on Jun 25 at 3:37 PM:
I too, unfortunately, have been sanitized by the over use of God's name in vain, be it "Oh, my G--!", "Oh, my gosh," or any other form it may take. However, the one that really irks me to no end is when people use "Jesus Christ!" to swear when they get angry. I work in customer service, and I hear it at least once every day. It bothers me how it can just "slip" off their tongues. I guess I should be more offended when I hear God's other names in vain too.
Sometimes when I hear someone say, "Oh, good lord!" I'm half tempted to say, "yes, he is good!" Just to throw them off. :o)
What about the use of "Oh, jeez!" ? Someone once told me that it was a form of Jesus' name... what do you think? Are there really any "safe" explitives to use?
11. Marc had the following to say on Jun 25 at 4:08 PM:
Let me extend this a little further, if I may...
When we say "crud", we say it as a nice way of saying "crap". And saying "crap" is a nice way of saying "sh--".
Just like saying "dang" or "darn" is a nice way of saying "d--n".
As one of my friends put it, such euphinisms (crud, dang, darn... or gosh), when uttered - or shouted - by believers are to be called "Christian cuss-words".
12. Andrew Riggs had the following to say on Jun 25 at 4:13 PM:
Pretty sure there are more worthwhile life events that require more of my attention than getting all uptight because I hear "oh my gosh". I'm assuming that "oh my word", "oh my goodness", "holy cow" etc. must all be wrong as well. Do you really thing God is THAT concerned with ridiculous trivialities? "Oh my G-D" is one thing..."oh my gosh" give me a break...
13. Michael had the following to say on Jun 25 at 4:16 PM:
I agree and disagree. Here's why. I would rather hear the f-word a thousand times than hear God's name used in vain once. His name is so precious and glorious, and to have it be brought down to the form of a cuss word is despicable, blasphemous, and utterly sinful. If we truly love God and everything about Him, then hearing His name used with a foul tone should offend us extremely. I wince every time I hear that phrase.
However, that shiver down my spine does not accompany the phrase "oh my gosh." I honestly feel no conviction for ever saying it, and I find no offense in others using it. In fact, it's a welcome phrase if it means the actual name of God is kept from a profane use. And like you said, what does it mean, anyways? I would rather hear someone yell out a word of nonsense than use one that is disgusting, crude, or blasphemous. If I were to say "blick," I doubt anyone here would be offended, simply because the word has no meaning whatsoever. There is no such thing as a blick, like there is no such thing as a gosh. If we start saying that using an expletive which is not culturally offensive or blatantly blasphemous is wrong, I fear we may be coming too close to legalism, and we all know that can be just as bad.
14. EmmaLee had the following to say on Jun 25 at 4:20 PM:
Where "oh my gosh" comes from is pretty obvious, but what about "oh my word" or "oh my goodness" ? Did those phrases derive from the blasphemous phrase in question, or did they precede it? I think it is perfectly acceptable to have a phrase to use to express shock, as long as it does not contain profanity or closely resemble it. And I also agree that hearing the Lords name taken in vain does offend more then the strongest profanities.
15. Blair had the following to say on Jun 25 at 4:24 PM:
I agree with Ted and many of the others. A sanitized version of a word most likely comes from the same place in ones heart than the actual word. I heard a pastor preach that the problem with cursing was not so much the word used but where the word was coming from. I recently heard another sermon that made me think even more about the issue. The speaker pointed out the irony of using the Lord's name a curse word. He pointed out that we never hear someone say Adolf Hitler or Mao Tse Tung in a fit of anger, but many people have no problem using the name of Jesus Christ or God in their cursing. The first two names are the names of very evil men, who together are responsible for millions of deaths. The last two are names of the everlasting God who laid his life down for our sins. I know whenever I hear the Lords name used out of anger it breaks my heart. I myself have been very convicted on how I say the name of God, even if I am not using it as a curse word. I have good friend you is a Messianic Jew and she will not even write the name of God, she writes G-d. I have a lot of respect for the way she hold the name of God in such high respect. Maybe I could learn a thing or two from her.
16. LisaMarie had the following to say on Jun 25 at 4:27 PM:
This may be entirely off the mark, but I have heard that the idea of a "name" in ancient Hebrew culture meant more than just the actual spoken/written name of the being- it referred that being's character and nature. So, the idea of using the Lord's name in vain means more than just not saying, "Oh my..." it means not taking God's gracious, merciful, and loving nature for granted or selfishly expecting Him to give us what we want when we want it. I think this point will relate more to our culture and certainly touches the heart of the issue more than an attack against saying "Oh my G--" which, honestly, most people are not going to stop doing anytime soon.
17. Marie had the following to say on Jun 25 at 4:29 PM:
Ted, I totally agree with the whole "Oh my G--" thing being inappropriate at best, blasphemous at worst. However, I don't really agree with you on the whole "gosh" thing. Its specific meaning (culturally, I haven't checked a dictionary or anything) is just an expression that shows surprise or a related emotion, similar to "oh my goodness." The word "gosh" is not the same as the word "God" - there is a reason we don't start off our prayers with "Dear gosh,..." :)
18. Jessica had the following to say on Jun 25 at 4:44 PM:
If I can't say "oh my gosh", I guess "shoot," "darn," and "fudge" are out too.
19. Elizabeth had the following to say on Jun 25 at 4:45 PM:
I know that misuse of God's name bothers me more than any other cuss word out there. Sadly, I think it's also the most common.
20. Lee had the following to say on Jun 25 at 5:02 PM:
Personally, I cringe everytime I hear "Oh my God," especially from anyone at my church. And yet I hear it a whole lot more often there than the "F-bomb." And you're not the only one who would rather the former be more rare.
Some friends and I once had a discussion about Christians and swearing, and a few of them were quite passionate, to the point of belligerence, toward those of us who argued for priorities.
It's my opinion that yeah, swearing is a bad habit, but there are more important things to worry about.
I believe it was Tony Campolo that said this:
"I have three things I'd like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don't give a s***. What's worse is that you're more upset with the fact that I said s*** than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night."
21. Dr. Acula had the following to say on Jun 25 at 5:57 PM:
'Oh my gosh' is an exclamation of shock or surprise. That is its meaning; it doesn't need any meaning other than that.
And since when is 'God' God's name, anyway? I have *never* understood this.
22. Stephanie had the following to say on Jun 25 at 6:08 PM:
I definitely appreciate the sentiment, and my blood boils when I hear people misuse the name "Jesus" in particular because that is his proper name. It only means one person: Him.
However, while I don't use the word "god" as an expeltive nor do I necessarily advocate it, I sincerely question whether or not the intention of the command not to misuse God's name applies here.
Here's why: I could be off the mark, and correct me if I am, but I always read "name" to mean the proper name of God -- "YHWH" -- which was so sacred that the Jews even today replace it with "ha shem", or "the name" when reading the Bible. That name only refers to God; it's his name.
The word "god", however, is generic. The English word orginally referred to pagan gods. It is a generic word that could be used to refer to anything from Osiris to the Islamic idea of God to Krishna. It isn't God's name.
However, because to us English-speaking Christians it connotes the God we worship, I don't particularly like to hear it misused. I just don't believe that this was what the commandment was referring to nor do I necessarily consider it a sin.
23. Leanne had the following to say on Jun 25 at 6:18 PM:
Ted, thanks for drawing attention to this issue. I admit I am guilty of using expressions like "oh my gosh" without even thinking about my choice of words. That's the real danger, isn't it, our tendency to use language thoughtlessly.
24. Scott had the following to say on Jun 25 at 6:29 PM:
Give me 1000 F-bombs before taking the Lord's name in vain, and yes, I have been all too often guilty of this myself.
It is a habit that needs to be broken and broken thoroughly, as the Biblical warnings about the sayings of the tongue being a guide to the heart is terrifyingly true. As I've struggled to remove myself from the negative peer pressure that influence my development of an all-too-filthy mouth over the last few years, I have seen just how much it really leads one into compromise.
May God have mercy on all of us, especially me, for regarding Him so cheaply so readily.
25. Ellie had the following to say on Jun 25 at 6:38 PM:
Dr. Acula -- And since when is 'God' God's name, anyway? I have *never* understood this.
Do you pray to God, or do you know His 'real' name and pray to that instead? Some people say 'Thank God' when their child recovers from a terrible disease, some people say 'Thank G-d' when they find their missing earing or get a close parking spot at the mall. Some people cry out 'Oh, my God' when their hearts are overwhelmed by a wellspring of emotion or find themselves lying at the bottom of a deep pit of sin with no visible way out. Others say 'Oh my G-d' when their dog pees on the rug or they see the cutest little dress at Nordstrom. Jesus cried out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" when he was on the cross. Some people say 'My g-d' when the service at Jamba Juice isn't up to their standards.
Some of these instances are prayerful and reverent, some are thoughtless and so comonplace that the fact God is being refered to is completely forgotten by the speaker. Which is the problem, isn't it?
26. Melissa had the following to say on Jun 25 at 6:41 PM:
Mark wrote: As one of my friends put it, such euphinisms (crud, dang, darn... or gosh), when uttered - or shouted - by believers are to be called "Christian cuss-words".
I know of many "Mormon cuss words." They are, at least, a bit more creative. Other than being ridiculous, the thing I can say I like about them (such as "dang fetch" or ones relating to food) is that they are, simply, ridiculous, and many of them don't relate to anything else. Cotton cat, anyone? (Of course, that particular phrase might be limited to the teen congregation where I live.)
There seem to be two views to the euphemistic cuss words we use today (shoot, crap, crud, heck, flip, etc): 1) Use them as an alternative to the stronger, more offensive versions, or 2)Remove these phrases altogether because of their offensive origins.
I've heard both sides of it, and while I'd like to lean toward the latter, I'm at a loss of how to replace them--a poor excuse, I know. Should we replace them with laughter-inducing rather than anger- or pain-inducing speech (a la "my gerbils" or "cotton candy")? Do they need replacing? Or should Christians aim to eliminate outbursts altogether? Is that even natural or feasible? How should we then express surprise, shock, or excitement appropriately? I'm at a loss for this, so any suggestions or insight would be much appreciated. (I've been made enough fun of for "oh, dear me" exclamations to mishaps.)
As to swear/cuss words comparing to the Lord's name, I am glad someone finally is talking about it. Society has become so blase that f--- is met with a hesitant shrug or a nose crinkle and using the Creator's name in vain is done without a batting an eye. Of course, as some of you have mentioned, technically, "God" isn't our Lord's name, but as the phrase is referring to our Lord, it's just the same. After all, "my mother's daughter" may not be my name, but it's who I am nonetheless.
I am also with those of you you cringe even more at the Jesus or Jesus Christ expletive. Occasionally, I now respond as a friend did several years ago in a class of ours. A student behind him muttered "Jesus!" to which my friend answered automatically, "Where?!" It's not helped the situation much with non-Christians, but a few people have stopped, confused, before realizing what they were really saying when repeating our culture's words.
27. Lee had the following to say on Jun 25 at 7:05 PM:
The issue of whether or not the use of "God" is excluded from the commandment due to it's being a general word is, more likely than not, irrelevant.
When it's used, it is still referring to the same Being, the Creator. When someone carelessly says "Oh my God", it serves to cast him off as something frivolous and unimportant, and that is what makes it dangerous.
The name itself is not the issue, whether it is YHWH, God, Jehovah, or any of the other wonderful names for our Lord. The issue is the disrespect towards Him when His name is flippantly tossed around.
28. Jethro had the following to say on Jun 25 at 7:25 PM:
Ted,
When I start praying to Gosh I will be more careful about how I use his name.
In the meantime, language is a fluid and evolving medium - check out the evolution of the word 'gay' if you seek an example. Seriously, it seems to me that if people are running around getting up uptight about use of the word Gosh then they have too much time on their hands.
29. code had the following to say on Jun 25 at 7:29 PM:
At some point, someone's gotta bring up the fact that Paul used terms like Scubalon and Anathema... there's a place for strong language.
Ultimately though, words are semantics (literally). It's the motives, attitudes, and heart-conditions behind the words we speak which condemn or justify us in terms of our speech. God wants our hearts, and the gospel written by Matthew speaks of our words being the "overflow" of our hearts.
To some, that will mean a sanitary tongue derived of colour and shape, and for others, it means we utilize discernment concerning our audience and listeners, our setting, and also ourselves to determine the gravity individual words might bear. It has little to do with the words themselves, they're only "bad" because people have decided as such (in other words, a word's "offensiveness" is ascribed, not arbitrary!) - and in many places they've lost even that connotation (ie. casual, non-confrontational, friendly interaction on any campus is likely to find the odd "swear word" peppered throughout, not to offend but simply as a part of normal speech just like "the" or "but" or the letter "e").
30. code had the following to say on Jun 25 at 7:36 PM:
One more thing, and that is that "God" often and for most people won't even refer to the God of the Bible. In many cases I've found it absolutely necessary to explain of whom I am speaking when I refer to "God", for otherwise it leaves to people's varied and often discordant imaginations as to which deity I refer. God could refer to the "god" of the Mormons or one of the myriad "gods" of the Hindus... In academia, the term "God" no longer, or very rarely, denotes the God spoken of in the Scriptures but is rather a generic term to refer to a deity.
Which would also explain why the term is no longer deemed offensive by the general populace (in theory, you're referring to any "god") - besides the humanist/secular/atheistic preunderstanding which makes "Oh my God" mean about as much as "Oh my Flying Spaghetti Monster" (If a "god" doesn't exist, then how can referencing it offend?).
Just some thoughts.
31. Megan had the following to say on Jun 25 at 7:45 PM:
I like that post, Ted!
I'd come down on the side of Christians avoiding cuss words altogether, even sanitized ones. If you are using it in a cussing manner, you're cussing...pardon my sayin' so. ;-)
Also, there's a deeper issue that doesn't often get addressed: why do we feel it's so necessary to throw self-control out the window and use some kind of exclamation? If I hit my hand with a hammer, why not just say, "Ouch, that hurt" instead of "Dang!" One's an explosion while the other's a comment. Can anyone picture Jesus yelling or muttering "Dad-blame-it!" if he got a splinter in his hand? To use the exclamations seems like a lack of self-control to me because we just burst out with stuff instead of maintaining a calm and self-controlled outlook.
If something really important and worthy of an exclamation comes up, why not just say something pertaining to the situation instead of words that are actually not related at all?
That's not to totally ban anyone from saying things like, "That's a bummer" in a comical tone. Just...speak to what's in front of us instead of with dramatic exclamations. Use self-control.
Our family, by the way, gave up "gosh" a long time ago on the simple principle that if God didn't like his name used in vain, splitting hairs by altering his name a bit was kind of stupid for us to do. That said, I still don't get the same cringe when people say it as the f-word. And Ted's right: it's a sign of how numb I really am to God's name being misused.
32. Elena had the following to say on Jun 25 at 8:01 PM:
I could wax eloquent here, but I already did it at my own blog back in 2005. So if you want to read it, please do so!
(I don't really address saying OMG but I do address other aspects of this current conversation here at The Line. And other comments I make, tangentially relate to why not to say OMG.)
Visit Elena's blog: Cussing LITE?
33. Ted Slater had the following to say on Jun 25 at 8:02 PM:
In all honesty, I frankly don't care what those who disagree with what I wrote think. It's not about me; my opinion is of no consequence. If you're fine saying something that so clearly trivializes God, that's between you and Him. I don't have to defend Him.
An "argument" about this, of all things, is unnecessary.
34. Bethany had the following to say on Jun 25 at 9:47 PM:
"Am I the only one who would rather hear someone mutter the "F-word" than to hear someone say, "Oh my G--"?"
"In all honesty, I frankly don't care what those who disagree with what I wrote think."
Ted, you asked a question and we answered it. If you don't want to hear what half of your readers have to say, why did you put this topic out for discussion?
35. Katherine had the following to say on Jun 25 at 11:24 PM:
From familiarizing myself with this website, can I safely assume that by the "F word" Slater is referring to "Feminism"?
:-)
36. Charllotte had the following to say on Jun 25 at 11:39 PM:
It all depends on how seriously you stick to etymology. At about 1757 the word "gosh" was coined as a euphemism for "God," so if you interpret according to etymology, saying "I pray to God" is the same as saying "I pray to Gosh."
I haven't leafed through every comment, but I agree with Jethro in that language is fluid, and changes with the culture, so it just takes some discernment to decide what is okay to say. Ultimately, every exclamation is rooted in some taboo vulgarity (except for wow, hooey, or flapdoodle), and finding substitutes for curse words still roots the substitutes in vulgarity. For me, if gosh is weak sauce for God's name, I would rather use that, knowing that in my time it is deemed as more respectful.
37. Joseph had the following to say on Jun 25 at 11:54 PM:
I recall Andy Rooney saying that Gosh is for people who belive in Heck, or something along those lines.
While I can see where you are going with the seeming rating system that using God's name in vain is not deemed more distasteful than a crude form of fornication, I don't get bothered about the use of "god/God" nearly as much as when people take Jesus' name in vain.
God is often used as the arbitrary deity that many people will agree upon exists but few outside of Christianity will agree upon the characteristics of. Verses Jesus is known and defined with the only arbitrary meaning behind that name being through misinterpretation or blasphemy. When people take the name of God in vain I consider the source, is the god they have spoken against my god? Are they followers of God? All things to consider before I get offended about a non-Christian's speech/ideas.
Going even further, should we be surprised when non-Christians choose to take our God's name in vain? It is my understanding that they are not Christians because they do not know God.
38. CourtneyMD73 had the following to say on Jun 26 at 12:40 AM:
Frankly, I can't imagine God getting terribly exercised over routine exclamations that are no more voluntary than eye blinks. (Are we really to believe that God gets all offended every time a teenager thumbs OMG in a text message? Please.)
If you're really intent on finding slights to God in everyday language, you could do a lot better than harping on involuntary utterances. Seems to me that if you're really concerned about trivializing God, then you'd object to more serious examples, such as the practice of using "godly" to describe human behavior or the habit of some to claim that their personal opinions are shared by God. Unlike mere utterances, those instances don't simply mention God's name, but actually go so far as to issue comparisons or attributions. Mere exclamations pale by comparison.
39. Jason had the following to say on Jun 26 at 1:37 AM:
FYI,
Blick:
1. The sudden brightening of a fused globule of gold or silver, when the last film of the oxide of lead or copper leaves its surface
2. A small European river fish (Leuciscus alburnus), of the family Cyprinid[ae]
40. Liz had the following to say on Jun 26 at 1:46 AM:
I'm going to be fairly general about my reply because I'm short on time...
Yes, when someone goes "Oh My God"... honestly, Christian or Non-Christian... most of it is habit and total thoughtlessness. Truly, most people don't even think of the meaning behind it. Substituting it with a "Gosh" or "OH EM GEE" (as the children like to do these days) doesn't necessarily make it right, or wrong.
Now, a "word" specifically cannot be "wrong" or sinful. Now, if the "F" word wasn't connotated early on as a "bad word" it could of been a "good, normal" word. It's like the word "B***h" word (I censor it due to the fact that some may be offended by just seeing it)... it ORIGINALLY means "Female dog". That's it. Someone eventually took the word and made it an insult. That's how ANY word can become.
It is not the word that is inherently "bad" or "Sinful", but the meaning that is connotated behind it by the emotions and such. What makes this difficult is the fact that people are quick to judge and people can't also know what you are thinking all the time... so it is difficult to even use certain words because you never know who you are going to "offend" (oh for the love of post-modernism...).
Anyways, I suppose what I am saying is basically, these words that people use such as "F" or "OMG" are used as adjectives... words chosen to express an emotion that is difficult to vent without using a word, and varies depending on the context of the situation. Excitement, for example, you can use SO many other words.
My question is, who decided that certain words were to be considered "cuss words" and which were not? To say "FUDGE!" rather than the original word is not necessarily better...you are saying the exact same thing. Truly, you are not... but it is the emotion behind it you are expressing.
Perhaps it is the emotions that are the things that ought never of happened in the first place, and not the words. Words are very gray... emotions, maybe we should all carefully consider our thoughts and emotions before going ahead and throwing out any word at all.
That's my basic two cents for now...
41. Robert J Espe had the following to say on Jun 26 at 6:45 AM:
from dictionary.com
Gosh: 1757, altered pronunciation of God. Probably from "by gosse" (mid-16c.)
Oh, and God is a title (Yahweh is my God, Yahweh is God of Heaven etc. etc.)
As to whether I prefer the f-word, or God's name, I prefer God's name honestly. I can't expect non-believers to act like Christians, and it is far easier to explain to a 6 year old why not to say "oh my God" unless they are praying, than it is to explain why the apparently meaningless f-word is so bad.
42. Mike Brown had the following to say on Jun 26 at 7:44 AM:
Did you know there was a film called "The F Word" at imoovie.com
43. J-Twinkle had the following to say on Jun 26 at 7:58 AM:
Frankly, Ted,
I think you're missing the bigger picture. I think it goes deeper than simply looking at the word choice. It all goes back to motives and our hearts. We can create a list of words that are offensive and reprehensible and should not be uttered in our Christian community. But you fail to challenge people to apply the Word of God to their lives and face the very thinking and emotions that are driving their behavior and actions(and I'm talking about Christians here, not unbelievers).
It is much easier to complain about the lack of reverence of God's name in our society than it is to actually pray for them and walk in love towards them. It is much easier to create a list of inappropriate words and establish a conduct of behavior than to address the perspective and beliefs that drive such behavior. It is also easier to complain about how much the culture has influenced us than to take responsibility on how we have failed to be a light in the world---and then be proactive in making sure that our witness goes deeper than reverencing God in our speech, (not based on popular opinion or cultural influences either way, but on God's Word--something each of us dig into for ourselves) but really living our lives with the understanding about how much ALL the words we say from our mouth can have an impact(affirming or destroying).
So I guess my response to this entire post is a challenge: Every time you feel like complaining about how bad our society has become(outside of stating a FACT), take that as an indication that you need to pray for our society, in addition to praying for self-control for your own life and your own mouth.
"Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how a great a forest a little fire kindles!" James 3:5 NKJV
44. Philippa had the following to say on Jun 26 at 8:01 AM:
From familiarizing myself with this website, can I safely assume that by the "F word" Slater is referring to "Feminism"?
:-)
*roars laughing*
Nice one, Katherine! :D
45. Clarice had the following to say on Jun 26 at 8:07 AM:
I haven't read all the comments here, so forgive me if I'm repeating something:
Breakdown of language in any community is a big deal, I think. It marks the turn from objective principles to subjective whim--
What did Satan do in the garden when he spoke WORDS to Adam and Eve? He re-interpreted God's words! He broke down and distorted God's perfect communication. God meant what he said, but Satan changed the meaning of God's words--that's a big deal.
Rather than acquiesce to the breakdown of language in our culture, maybe Christians should fight against it? In that sense, maybe we should stand for objectives, original intent, righteous communication...etc?? Maybe we should look to the Bible for the definition of words that have all but lost their potency in America today. Words like LOVE, MARRIAGE, CHILDREN, FAMILY, FATHER, MOTHER, SEX, TRUTH, MORALS, RELIGION, DEATH, HELL, HEAVEN, GOD.....the list goes on.
Who will we agree with on the importance of Words? God or the culture?
I highly reccomend the book War of Words, by Paul David Tripp for a further exposition of this topic. :)
46. J-Twinkle had the following to say on Jun 26 at 8:40 AM:
Philippa,
I couldn't agree more...however, my point still goes back to what really lies in our hearts. Even in the garden of Eden, Satan success was not only in twisting and manipulating God's command. He also played to what Eve wanted to hear and the desires that Eve had to gratify her wants(notice I said wants, not needs) outside of God's design. "You will not surely die. For God knows that in that day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Genesis 3:4-5 NKJV
"But each one is tempted by his own desires and enticed. And when desire is conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when it is full grown, it brings forth death." James 1:14-15 NKJV
Talk is cheap, but action is expensive. Although I agree that Christians should stake a stand, my method of warfare is not popular. I believe Christians should show in THEIR ACTIONS AND THEIR PRIORITIES IN LIFE THE REAL MEANING and importance of their words. I know we're not perfect, but I still believe that our actions in the way we live and love each other as Christians speaks volumes about what we believe more than any word study could show.
47. Adam had the following to say on Jun 26 at 8:45 AM:
Ted,
In all honesty, I frankly don't care what those who disagree with what I wrote think. It's not about me; my opinion is of no consequence. If you're fine saying something that so clearly trivializes God, that's between you and Him. I don't have to defend Him.
An "argument" about this, of all things, is unnecessary.
My question would be whether or not the scriptures teach that the word "gosh" trivializes God. First of all, while Robert gave a quotation from dictionary.com, it is an etymological dictionary that he cited. Most dictionaries will get the etymology at the bottom of the entry, as all of the rest of them do.
The problem is that words change in their meanings and connotations. For instance, if you look in the King James Version you will find the word p*** used several times. While that word is foul today, back in that time it had just come over from the French language, and it was quite elegant English. However, that is not the case today. There are several words that were acceptable at one point, and vulgar at another.
Second, I would say that we must define what is meant by taking the name of the Lord in vain. I think one of my own church's catechisms, the Westminster Larger Catechism, has an excellent exposition of the commandment:
WLC 1:112 What is required in the third commandment? A. The third commandment requires, That the name of God, his titles, attributes,(1) ordinances,(2) the word,(3) sacraments,(4) prayer,(5) oaths,(6) vows,(7) lots,(8) his works,(9) and whatsoever else there is whereby he makes himself known, be holily and reverently used in thought,(10) meditation,(11) word,(12) and writing;(13) by an holy profession,(14) and answerable conversation,(15) to the glory of God,(16) and the good of ourselves,(17) and others.(18)
I would question whether we use the word "gosh" as a title for God. If you look up the definitions of "God" in the dictionary, you will find that one of the usages of God is to invoke the name of the God of the Bible, and another is to express disgust. That is clearly a misuse of God's name, as the langage that we use when we talk about God is also being used irreverently. However, if you look up the word "gosh" in the dictionary, what you will find is that it does not bear the meaning "God" at all.
The point of this commandment is not to say that any word that was derived from the word God must not be used as an interjection [think of all the names in the Bible that were derived from the word "God"]. The point is that we as a society are to make a distinction between the langage we use for God, and the language we use for expressing disguist, suprise, etc. When that distinction is not upheld, then you have a breaking of this commandment. The names and titles we use for God are to be set apart in our speech in reverence, and the profaning of any of these things is what is referred to in the breaking of the third commandment.
Also, I do not think that it is worse to take the name of the Lord in vain than to say the "F-word" because, in point of fact, both of these are taking the name of the Lord in vain. When we do not exault God in his creation of sexuality, and we pervert and disgrace it with fowl language, we are, in point of fact, disgracing the name of God himself as he is the creator of sexuality. Not only that, but when we use unwholesome speech, we also go against his revealed word, and thus think irreverently towards his very words, and thus disgrace the name of God as well.
So, no, I would not like to hear either word as both words disgrace the good name of God.
God Bless,
Adam
48. Tomi had the following to say on Jun 26 at 8:58 AM:
From familiarizing myself with this website, can I safely assume that by the "F word" Slater is referring to "Feminism"?
lol, thats probably coming up pretty soon Katherine!
49. Clarice had the following to say on Jun 26 at 9:48 AM:
in response to J-Twinkle:
The problem with the whole "talk is cheap, action is expensive" is that it minimizes the importance of Christ as the WORD. "Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the WORD of Christ."
Talk is NOT cheap. Talk is vital. God's WORD created the world. Christ is the verbalization of God himself. Through speech the message of the Gospel is preached, heard, and believed.
I would argue that your idea that we must LIVE more and TALK less is actually a staple perspecitve of pop-evangelicalism: evidence of post-modernism creeping into this perspective. It's a deemphasis on the speaking God in scripture and through the spirit and an emphasis on the temporal actions of believers which YES to have an affect (do the word, as I said), but ultimately minimize the power of THE WORD--that is, Scripture.
The result? Rather than SPEAK the Gospel, we BUILD in Africa. Rather than PREACH Sin and Redemption, we DO things for the community. All that "doing" is excellent...but without words, without THE WORD...now THAT is what is really cheap.
50. Ted Slater had the following to say on Jun 26 at 9:51 AM:
J-Twinkle, you wrote, "It all goes back to motives and our hearts."
That's the point I tried to make in one of my comments above. This issue ultimately isn't about me and my opinions; it's not an argument between any of our readers and me; it's not about using the word "God" in our everyday conversations. Instead, it's a respect issue between individuals and God, who sees the motives of our hearts; He's the one who judges if we trivialize references to His name, whether they be honoring, or callous, or merely thoughtless.
Again, I personally cringe when I hear "Oh my G--." But whether it's sin or not is between God and those who reference Him so offhandedly.
51. J-Twinkle had the following to say on Jun 26 at 10:32 AM:
Clarice:
First off, I'm not saying that words aren't important. Far from it. I apologize if you misunderstood my point. I AM NOT IGNORING THE WORD OF GOD. But let us not forget that if we only study the Word of God and dig into its meaning and do nothing, what does it really profit? Have you forgotten James 1:22-25? That's what I was talking about when it comes to whis whole debate.
Oh, and far as your last post:
It is not an either or issue. IT IS A BOTH AND ISSUE. We need to have the perspective that the Word of God is powerful truth from an All powerful, mighty, sovereign God, and with the Word, take wise action instead of sitting some high horse of moral superiority looking down on the rest of the fallen world.
I agree that there is a need to preach sin and redemption. But there is also a need to act after the preaching. Please also note that the Scriptures involve action, not just words. In conversations like these, if an unbeliever was to to observe our disagreements, would they be able to see God's Word and our love for Him, or for being right? Would they be able to see God's love in our dialogue, or merely condemnation and judgment?
I Corinithians 13:1-3
1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
52. Oxanna had the following to say on Jun 26 at 12:40 PM:
I'm offended by the use of God's name improperly, particularly when people say "Jesus Christ". The most selfless, perfect person ever, and they use HIS Name as a curse word?! *mindboggle* I'm more offended by that than the f-word (not that I think the f-word is acceptable).
Personally, I think words like "gosh," "darn", etc., tend to betray a lack of self-control. However, saying "gosh" for most people isn't using God's name in vain. Many simply aren't aware of the origin, and a bad origin doesn't always mean it's bad to say. The issue is more that of self-control in taming the tongue, IMHO.
Oh yeah, and if someone says "Darn!", then the proper response is: "Sorry, I have no idea how to darn socks!"
53. Ben had the following to say on Jun 26 at 1:18 PM:
I lived a long time in countries where they don't bleep out the F--- word - so when I made a visit to a smalltown in the midwest I accidentally offended people by cussing -
some people (christians, like they say) reacted very rude to me and called me names - I just wasn't used to that anymore - they were never cussing and I just got used to it. I dropped that bad habit but I still wait for those people to accept my apologies. We have to consider that people need to be educated about not saying F---words but in a more decent way than I was treated.
About OMG - I think it is ok, christians might use it to show that when something bad happens they instantly think of their lord and savior - I mean it is an immediate reaction - less than a second after something happens. I don't feel like they abuse the name of the lord. It is rather a cry for help and MUCH better then using the F - word. Cause god wants sex to be pure and holy - something to express love to your spouse - I think god doesn't want us to use or talk about it in a derogatory way.
54. Peter Wilson had the following to say on Jun 26 at 2:28 PM:
"In conversations like these, if an unbeliever was to to observe our disagreements, would they be able to see God's Word and our love for Him, or for being right?"
Interesting question. I would say that an unbeliever would discern who loves God more by observing which people use His name and all derivatives thereof most fearfully.
Your point is valid though. We should keep this a respectful conversation.
Personally, I don't see what is wrong with saying "oh my gosh." However, I do not use it and I do not encourage other people to say it either. The reason is this: on one hand you may decide not to say "oh my gosh." You are deprived from using this phrase, which is the downside to all this but you can be %100 certain that you are not offending God by what you say. On the other hand, you may decide that saying "oh my gosh" is completely okay and use it at your liberty. You use it freely but you throw yourself on the side of the issue that does not clearly honor God. It may be safe, or it may be sinful. Which position would fear of God and a fear of sinning against Him prompt you to? Unless I can hear an argument that I am losing some ability to glorify God through not using this phrase, I will not use it and would counsel others to refrain from using it as well.
55. Sara had the following to say on Jun 26 at 4:29 PM:
[Hope this doesn't sound prissy] Wouldn't it be nice if it was our nature to get this spontaneously excited over the minutiae of actions of charity, for instance, as we do over which of 'gee' or 'dash it' most dishonours God? I'm thinking of the minute self-examination of the saints one reads about. If there's anything to get this obsessive about, surely it's more about what we should do, not what we shouldn't.
Also, the 'feminism' as Boundless' F-word joke is funny... and too true. People who aren't afraid of that F-word... what would you like to see discussed more on this site?
56. Leah had the following to say on Jun 27 at 12:13 AM:
"I wonder if Christians say this phrase out of thoughtlessness, or if they truly think so little of God that they feel free to use His name so casually."
Does "this phrase" mean "Oh my G--" or "oh my gosh"? Personally, I do cringe everytime I hear "Oh my G--", ESPECIALLY from a Christian's mouth. When you think about it, many non-christians just don't get or haven't even heard of the concept of taking God's name in vain. In fact, lots of kids think "Jesus" is a swear word and don't realise it has a proper use. It's still wrong, yes, but different to a Christian doing it.
Anyway, in response to Code who said That all depends on whether or not you think God's name is "God". And if it is, you should really type it out as G-d, since typing it out in full is really no different from saying it out loud might be trivializing the name just as much as saying it!
I don't think it has anything to do with his actual NAME as such, but rather the various things he gets called. I mean, whether something is your actual name or not should not affect how the word gets used. My name is Leah, but how someone uses my nicknames is just as important as how they use my real name! So whether people call Him God, Jesus, Yahweh, Lord, it's all the same.
Not to mention, nobody said that saying his name aloud is what's trivialising it. It's *how* people use it when speaking his name aloud that's the problem. I have real issues with people who write G-d, it's like they're scared of him, more than just a reverent fear, but actually scared, as if saying his name will incur his wrath or something. That irritates me. He loves us! He's our father! He doesn't want us scared of saying his name! We just have to use it in its correct context- as his name, not as some form of exclamation.
57. Apryl had the following to say on Jun 27 at 12:21 AM:
If upon reading this post and subsequent comments, one is not convicted to change their speaking habits, well then, say whatever you'd like, that's between you and God (hmm, upon review, I'm reminded of the verse in Romans about not causing a brother to stumble...). But I know that this has definitely got me thinking about what I say, the language I used, and the motives behind it.
I caught myself saying 'oh my G**' the other day, and as soon as it came out, my heart was saddened. I knew it wasn't necessary, and I knew that I took His name in vain in that moment. Maybe some Christian's can say it as an expletive and not feel a thing, but that wasn't my case.
It was amazing to me to realize years ago that so many things are said just out of pure habit. I had a roommate in college that said the F word often. And I would cringe, and let it slide because I wanted to be Christ to this friend and also not step on her toes by being picky about her choice of words. Well, one day I guess I decided to call her attention to the fact that she had said it, and she said that someone else recently told her she said it a lot, but she honestly thought she only said it only once or twice. It then became kind of a game to catch her saying the F word, and pointing it out to her (she was interested to know and surprised at the reality of how much she did use it). Slowly she said the word less and less, b/c it was no longer said thoughtlessly.
I think we should take care in what we say. There are so many verses in the Bible about words and the tongue. We shouldn't be so flippant about our language. How can you curse God (or anything) and preach the gospel with the same tongue? I agree with many other comments here that the motives of the heart are most important here.
58. dayle had the following to say on Jun 27 at 3:00 AM:
I have very much appreciated all the commentary on this subject. As I am mentoring new Christians, I struggle to answer many of their questions on the subject of words that are not acceptable in the Christian community. Many years ago, as a new Christian, I was made to feel like an outcast in my church, (house church), because words would slip out of my mouth that certain people deemed inappropriate. I was literally afraid to say much of anything because I never knew when something I might say would be "wrong." On one occasion, a church leader chastized me, for saying "darn", in front of a group. I was humiliated. I have a deep love for our Lord and would never say anything intentionally blasphamous. I did not understand the Christian language at first and it took quite some time and much prayer to rid myself of habits that I had accumulated over a lifetime. I grew up in a horrendously abusive environment. "J.C." was spoken in the most derogatory ways. Even as a child, I knew this was wrong yet that and so many other words and phrases were embedded in my mind. Although I would not say those things outwardly, they did automatically come to my mind when I was angry. I did not like it but that is how engrained those things were in my head. I felt tremendous hurt when, as a new Christian, my occasional slips were met with utter disgust. I did substitute "Oh my gosh" for OMG but even that took time. I am still working to eliminate the "gosh." I simply cannot judge another person in the same way I was judged...we are all struggling to become most excellent in God's eyes. Not all of us have a manicured Christian background. I believe that God is far more concerned with our hearts than perfecting our language. People say OMG and generally do not mean it to be bad. I know that when I have said it, I do genuinely think of Him...either joyfully or perhaps as a cry for Him to come near. Who am I to judge another persons motives? I am called to love others and I strive to be like Jesus in my daily life. People are drawn to Jesus by what we do and what we say. Those who seek out our Lord will be convicted of their sins and change their ways as a result. I have been hearing many stories of people who turned away from the Church because of the way they were picked at for such matters. I find that very sad. I love the quote by Tony Campolo...it speaks volumes. After 3 years of watching certain church leaders judge people (while many left the church!), I spoke out on the issue, lovingly and certainly prayerfully...I was treated as though I was a troublemaker. We simply were not opening our hearts to "the least of these," and accepting that all God's children are not well versed in the Christian language. Sadly, I left the church I loved so much and I pray that the Lord lead me and my son to another church to serve in; hopefully one with more heart and less legalism. I thank God every day for the Grace he has poured out for me...perhaps we all should be extending more grace to others. :)
59. Rebecca had the following to say on Jun 27 at 8:06 AM:
I think this comes back to what you consider to be using God's name in vain really means. I mean, I have said "Oh my God" in an actual prayerful way and God has responded to me immediately. That wasn't using God's name in vain, that was sincerely asking for help, albeit ALOUD. Now, I hate it when people use it all the time, like OMG, OMG, just to show how... shocked they are. Then it bothers me and I cannot help but say something about it, usually, "Please don't "OMG," because it really bothers me," the way I would with a close friend. I see no problem with that. I would like to see a clear-cut definition of what it means to use God's name in vain, for starters.
60. Marie had the following to say on Jun 27 at 9:09 AM:
Here's the definition of ''gosh''
''Gosh''
Main Entry: gosh
Pronunciation: 'gäsh, 'gosh
Function: interjection
Etymology: euphemism for God
-- used as a mild oath or to express surprise
61. Mike Theemling had the following to say on Jun 27 at 9:51 AM:
I myself have not come to an absolute conclusion on the matter. On the one hand, God's name is a big deal and should be treated with reverence. The fact that it's one of the 10 Commandments alone should warrant an eyebrow raise.
I then think of all the God and God-related terms used in English (those in parenthesis refer to netspeak):
- Oh my God/Oh my gosh (OMG)
- God d--- (GD)
- Jesus Christ
- JFC (you can guess what the 'F' stands for)
But on the other hand I agree that often it's just an outstretch of what's in the heart and there are other words, profanities, which are deemed equally as offensive.
Most, Christian or not, seem to accept sterilization or acronyisms of offensive words:
- Frick, fudge, etc. instead of F---
- Sugar, crap, etc. instead of S---
- OMFG, STFU, WTF, etc.
Yet now the question is, "Is such sterilization of God's name acceptable?" 'Gosh' in place of God? 'Jeez' in place of Jesus? I agree it's better (by that I mean not as serious as an infraction) but ideally we should strive to not use them at all. I cannot say with confidence however, whether such substitutions are still sinful.
Interesting that we also use God in terms which aren't necessarily cuss words but are used more metaphorically. For example, we say "God forsaken" but most don't mean it literally. Or "God awful" just using God as a superlative term. Are these wrong to use?
62. Bethany M had the following to say on Jun 27 at 11:04 AM:
To respond to Mike Theemling's question of whether phrases like "God awful" and "God forsaken" are sinful, I believe they do fall into the category of taking the Lord's name in vain. They are not meant literally, and so they are using the name with all reverence removed. Also, phrases like "Thank God," "Oh, Lord" etc. when said just in passing are the same thing.
I think in American culture, we Christians have lost the healthy fear of the Lord spoken of in the Bible. Sometimes we are too buddy-buddy with God -- think the t-shirt that says "Jesus is My Co-Pilot." No. We must actively resist this view of God that does not line up with Biblical truth. And that may mean re-examining simple phrases we used to utter without a second thought.
63. Claire had the following to say on Jun 27 at 12:17 PM:
I think a LOT of Christians don't know that "gosh" is a derivitive of God. I never heard anything about that until I was about 15, and I'm not sure that my parents even (in their mid-60s) have ever heard anything about it. I do still occasionally say it- I grew up using it, but I don't have the attitude of using God's name, because I simply have never really made that assossiation.
As for other people using God's name, it's a big deal to me if other Christians do so, but it doesn't bother me much if non-Christians do. They don't have a relationship with our Savior, so in most cases, I believe, they're no different from the other "four letter" words. Also, it's not me they're blaspheming. They're ultimately answerable to God for how they use His name. There is little I find to be "disturbing", because I know God is in control, and ultimately, every person must give account to God for his words, attitudes and actions.
64. Elena had the following to say on Jun 27 at 3:38 PM:
Leah: I really like this statement from you! We just have to use it in its correct context- as His name, not as some form of exclamation.
I think you hit the nail on the head. It's not merely the saying of the word. It's how the word is being said...
* with thoughtlessness about to whom one is referring
* with intentional disrespect toward (even disdain of) Him or those who are connected with Him
* with laziness of speech (that is, you don't take the time and trouble to choose a different word)
* with lack of self-restraint
* and more
* or all of the above
And about referring to a human by name...
* Sometimes the disrespect is by calling someone an unkind or hateful name
* Sometimes the disrespect is by using the person's actual name or a nickname she likes and saying the word with an unkind or hateful tone of voice
Both go back to the heart-motive of the one doing the uttering.
I agree with Ted---in that it bothers me hugely when Christians say, "Oh my G--!!" Even moreso when it comes from the mouth of a dear friend in Christ. Ya know? I cringe more for the person's walk with Jesus than I do for God's reputation... unless the utterance occurs such that passersby can hear it. Then it's also about God being disrespected and being lowered in the eyes of "onlookers." (His actual worth cannot be diminished. It is humans' esteeming of Him that becomes so lowered in this world.) Because now it's more about heart condition, rather than "Oh, no! What will people think of you?? That's not polite! That's not nice!"
Bethany M. I don't know about God-awful. (That one bugs me, and I need to eradicate it from my usage---if it crops up!) But God-forsaken probably had a more innocuous original meaning than its current common connotation and usage. Using the term to describe something that God actually has forsaken (or seems to have forsaken) might be plausible in a few instances, but I'm not sure what those would be. We use those terms to describe places and situations that are irritating or abhorrent to us.... but is it true that God has forsaken that place, if He is with us and goes with us where we go? Most often, using those two phrases is probably a case of being flippant and lazy in one's speech.
If at least all of us are more mindful of our speech patterns and take more time to consider our communication, as a result of this thread, then one of its purposes will have been fulfilled.
(Recommended resources:
* A Woman's Garden of Prayer by Sarah Maddox and Patti Webb
* Conversation Peace by Mary Kassian)
65. Rebecca had the following to say on Jun 27 at 3:56 PM:
Marie, thank you for the definition of gosh, but it was not what I meant.
I meant what I believe Mike Theemling understood me to be asking: What exactly is taking God's name in vain? I believe you understood that Gosh meant it, but if that one counts, then so does "God/Jesus Christ!" exclamations that don't really call/are directed to God.
For the record, I think most if not all of the times I've said "God" or "OMG" has been to sincerely ask for help from God and been reverently. (As I previously posted.)
Strangely, I have never said "Gosh." I have said God, though, and as foremetioned he has immediately responded and I did not feel the conviction to repent, because I have not done wrong. Perhaps this falls under that Scripture in Romans that some people think certains things are sin while to others are not... Something about one thing being clean to another, and something being unclean to someone else.
Now, I am not saying that using God's name in vain is not sin because the Bible clearly says it is, but I am saying that to me saying "God" or "OMG" prayerfully is not sin to me. Maybe to others, but not to me.
But, at the same time, because I do not wish to offend my brothers in Christ, I have started to refrain from doing that, instead saying "Oh my goodness" or just in my mind.
Still, some people see fault with that, although why, I don't know. (If someone could explain that to me, it would be greatly appreciated.) There's certainly nothing wrong with that in my mind, but at least I know that I am doing my best not to offend them. I do know the people I've seen to be offended by it to be quite legalistic and not into what Christ said about the "greater law" of kindness and mercy, so I feel I have done all I can to not offend them.
But, I have to express myself somehow... And I do my best to do it as if it were God's own words... Which the Bible says so... and certainly Jesus called out to God "Our Father/ God" in the Bible and it wasn't blasphemy/sin then.
66. The G had the following to say on Jun 30 at 12:14 PM:
Okay, so I'm entering this dialog very late, but I thought I'd say something.
I do my best to avoid cursing, and that includes avoiding songs, and, whenever possible, literature/"literature" with words I wouldn't use. Some of my non-Christian friends have criticized this behavior as censorship, but I figure that giving up a song I enjoy, save for one word, is a small sacrifice in light of what Sacrifice was made for me. Besides, what am I losing -and what am I gaining?- by working to keep my thoughts as clean as possible? Exposure to bad language inevitably loosens us to other bad influences. Let's keep our standards high.
More on the topic: when I feel the need to use an exclamation, I say, "What on earth?" (Btw, all sorts of variations through voice inflection are possible.) It seems to be a safe expression; I'm invoking neither heaven nor inferno but instead suggesting that we're on earth, hence, we are the ones being absurd.
If anyone sees a fault in this reasoning, please let me know.
In Christ,
G
67. Jean had the following to say on Jul 15 at 6:15 PM:
I understand what you are saying. I hear Christians cursing all the time and at times I wonder if they're really christians or just profess to be one.
I don't really have a problem if they call on God as long as it's for help. For example, "Oh my God". In other words help me please. But to curse with God's name. That I don't like. Usually, I address Christians and non Christians when they do and other times I utter a prayer for them, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." Sometimes I feel Christians feel that it's alright to curse. This is a whole new subject; But what do you think?
68. The G had the following to say on Jul 24 at 12:28 PM:
Yes, it's one thing to say "Oh God" because you're actually addressing him (respectfully), but if we start using such phrases carelessly, we might want to reassess what kind of example we're setting for both our Christian and non-Christian neighbors. I'm afraid we've all grown rather desensitized to a sacred word that some cultures find too holy to even spell out.
It's so easy to get caught in bad habits; misusing the name of God is hardly one to be taken lightly. Words are important to God; He created by uttering, He gave us the Bible (as opposed to, say, a painting or something), and various figures in that Bible changed their names to reflect profound changes in their lives. We would do well to treat words -and our Lord's name especially- with due respect.
I think it's a good idea to remind fellow Christians what's recorded in Matthew, Chapter 12: "For the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks ... on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak." What's terrifying is that "careless" is not limited to curse words. Anything cruel, base, deceitful, ... Of course, Christians shouldn't be involved in such speech anyway. Col 3:8 tells us, "But now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths." That's pretty straight forward.
Our God expects a lot from us, but not more than we can handle, with His Grace.
What's encouraging is that not infrequently people mention to me that they notice I don't curse. I tell them that I don't need to; besides, I love words too much. Very often, these people who notice make an effort to not curse, either, at least when they're around me. When in the case that I am subjected to extended company of people who curse excessively I simply ask them to stop. If all else fails, I avoid them and pray for them. That's key, the praying part. Keep it up, Jean.
In Christ,
The G
69. Peter Granderson had the following to say on Aug 4 at 10:14 PM:
Excellent matter to bring up. I certainly an allergic to using the name of Jesus, and really I don't think that "God" should be used so casually either. It is worth noting (as, I'm sure, someone in all those replies already has) that the Bible specifically warns against using the name of God in vane, whereas other bad language is addressed only indirectly through passages encouraging worthwhile, kind speech.
As I said, very good think to bring up!
70. Clarissa had the following to say on Aug 10 at 12:09 AM:
For those of the people who think saying 'oh my gosh' is ok...then think about it this way. Doesn't 'oh my gosh' sound just like 'oh my God?' Kinda like when people on TV say 'oh my godsh'.
I grew up saying 'God!' and 'oh my God' everyday without thinking about what it meant. I also grew up thinking that Jesus Christ was a bad word since my older sister and my parents would say His name in vain all the time. When I became a Christian, it took me a year to realize that I was saying 'OMG' in vain and so I stopped but had a few slips but none recently. It's hard to live with a non religious Catholic family and hear them say 'OMG', 'God', 'JC', and other forms of God and Jesus like 'gee' and 'golly' and think you're crazy for correcting them.
All of these words in vain may be expressions to some people but that's simply because people turned them into expressions over time. It's the devil's work and he's laughing with delight we continue to sin.
These are the words that are vain:
*God/gosh/goodness/Lord/golly/goodness gracious/good grief...etc
*Jesus (Christ), gee, gee whiz, geez
*Oh my word/Lord/God...etc
It's just like how shoot and sh** are the same and darn, dang, and damn are the same. Do you get it now?
And if people are going to argue and say that 'goodness' isn't in vain, think of it this way...what goodness do you have? Only God has goodness. And what about 'Good bread, good meat, good gosh let's eat!' Change gosh to God and it's the same meaning. However, this so-called prayer is meaningless since it's being used as an expression and not talking to God.
What I really hate is how these Disney shows like Hannah Montana say 'dang flablet' which sounds like 'G-d damn it' and 'sweet nibblets' as in 'sweet Jesus.' And they are trying to say that 'OMGosh' is ok when it's not. And they call themselves Christians?
Does anybody now see how these nicer forms of taking His name in vain is the exact same thing? Instead of saying OMG, I say say 'wow' or 'awesome!'