Whirlwind

One of the guys stood up in church and said that he was angry because people were always telling him that he was sinning, when he wasn't.

It wasn't a sin, he said, to smoke...it's one of the non-deadly sins, he said, because God made tobacco for man's enjoyment. But there's already a thread about that one - I'd like to turn to the next thing he said.

I'm not going to write the word here, I believe that it's a bad word. But he said that it isn't taking the Lord's name in vain...because God can (curse) something, it wasn't a curse-word. You know the word I'm talking about?

It's a word that I won't allow in my home. It's a word that I don't use myself. It's a word that, in my faith, I shouldn't have to listen to other people use when they're in my office or in my home or within earshot.

I believe that it is using the Lord's name in vain. So I don't do it.

dictionary.referene.com/browse/vain defines "vain" as:

excessively proud of or concerned about one's own appearance, qualities, achievements, etc.; conceited: a vain dandy.

proceeding from or showi8ng personal vanity: vain remarks.

ineffectual or unsuccessful; futile: a vain effort.

without real significance, value, or importance; baseless or worthless: vain pageantry; vain display.

Archaic. senseless or foolish.

-idiom
in vain,
a without effect or avail; to no purpose.
b in an improper or irreverent manner: to take God's name in vain.

The pastor (the guy's brother) agreed. It wasn't taking the Lord's name in vain, and it wasn't one of the "deadly" sins.



Thoughts?

KitsapGirl

I agree with you WW.

Just because God can curse something/someone (and He has) doesn't mean that we should be essentially telling Him to curse something/someone. He is soveriegn...we do not command Him. If he is not using it as a curse for something/someone then it is in vain.

So either way, this person is wrong in using this phrase.

In addition to this....

Quote:

Romans 12:14

I hear such foul words daily, that my 30 minute commute is cleansing time for my mind & heart.

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Boanerges

When I hear a person using the Lord's Name in vain I usually tell them " hey, He doesn't use your name in vain'.

IHeartLarrytheCucumber

Is saying "Oh my God" using the Lord's name in vain? I've heard different opinions on this one. I have to say-it is a habit of mine. And I don't use it in a malicious way. More like, "Oh my God, I love that dress!" etc

violet

Whirlwind

That's scary. I'm guilty of that.

I've been concentrating really hard on saying something else, like Gosh! Golly! Or even yeeesh!

You think it's still bad when we substitute another word for it?

Like Kathy Bates on Delores Claybourne? She said "Cheese -n- Crackers!"



We'll start sounding like that Orbitz chewing gum commercial: "You son of a biscuit-eating bulldog! What the french, toast!?"

It cleaned another dirty mouth!

violet

msf

I don't believe it's taking the Lord's name in vain. I believe it's asking God to D*** something or somebody, and that's just as wrong, in my book. But I don't think it falls under the category of taking His name in vain.

Whirlwind

That's like what the pastor said.

He said taking His name in vain would be calling out to Him without meaning it, without feeling it in your heart.

That's why I was asking...was I under the wrong assumption all these years?

Still, I try to watch my language.

freedom07

Saying this does not feel right to me either, but God is not our Creator's name it is a "title" created by man. The creator of the Universe I believe has a name which is YHVH.
I know I will be corrected, but I though I would put it out there.

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Romans 6:4
4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.