A Question for My Fellow Christians...

Using the Lord's name in vain is massive sin. One of the big ones.

Amadeus said:

Using the Lord's name in vain is massive sin. One of the big ones.

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As long as you are baptized, it wouldn't really matter because you have been saved. That is what many people seem to believe at least.

I am a Christian.

I am not offended by or riled up at all by that sort of language.

When we crucified Christ we whipped His back into flayed ribbons, spat on Him, gambled over His clothes, jammed thorns into His head, gave Him vinegar to quench His thirst, starved Him, jammed a spear into His lung and waited for Him to drown in His own blood. All the while we cursed Him.

To this He said "Forgive them Father, they don't know what they are doing". I don't imagine he gets to bent over "Christ on a Cracker" or even much much worse. If not... why should I?

Also, the commandment that says not to take the Lord's name in vain? I do not think this is a commandment to make sure we don't curse or use the NAME of God in disrespectful ways. I think the word "name" means reputation, and "vanity" means to serve the self. Someone who says "God ^&*% it!" after dropping a hammer on their foot is not taking the Lord's name in vain. A man who tells widows through their televisions that God wants them to send him $1000 is.

As Christians we don't need to defend ourselves against things like hard language. And if you have eyes to see you may be noticing that much harsher persecution than that grade school type of stuff is on the way for us.

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

cAPSLOCK said:

I am a Christian.

I am not offended by or riled up at all by that sort of language.

When we crucified Christ we whipped His back into flayed ribbons, spat on Him, gambled over His clothes, jammed thorns into His head, gave Him vinegar to quench His thirst, starved Him, jammed a spear into His lung and waited for Him to drown in His own blood. All the while we cursed Him.

To this He said "Forgive them Father, they don't know what they are doing". I don't imagine he gets to bent over "Christ on a Cracker" or even much much worse. If not... why should I?

Also, the commandment that says not to take the Lord's name in vain? I do not think this is a commandment to make sure we don't curse or use the NAME of God in disrespectful ways. I think the word "name" means reputation, and "vanity" means to serve the self. Someone who says "God ^&*% it!" after dropping a hammer on their foot is not taking the Lord's name in vain. A man who tells widows through their televisions that God wants them to send him $1000 is.

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Friend, I think you just said a mouth full of truth.

While I don't like GD or other terms referring to God disrespectfully, I agree that it is FAR more likely to be a heinous sin to proclaim "God has said _____!" when He said no such thing, and that may be more the point of the matter.

nota bene said:

There is a difference between swearing--using "cuss words"--and blaspheming. At least I think so. I'm not even going to repeat X's example in the OP, but what I've always found odd is the secularists who use expressions such as these. Why say "G_d dammit" if you don't believe in God?

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Most 'cuss words' are just words society has deemed to be crude and unwanted.


I've known people who scowl with ferocious disapproval on the D word, S word and the F word, who nonetheless will emit a "darn!", "Crap!" or "Screw this!" when upset... apparently without realizing those words mean exactly the same thing.


The one thing that does concern me about cussing, and that has caused me to work to bridle my tongue a bit in recent years, is the fact that cussing may "damage one's testimony" to some people. That is, they may think less of your witness as a Christian if you say words that society considers crude. I concluded that this was worth some concern and started working on moderating my language a bit.


Mainly I think we're commanded to not use God's name in vain, or disrespectfully, and not to swear oaths, especially not by heavenly things. But if plain-old cussing may damage our good reputation, avoiding it is probably best...

Goshin said:

Most 'cuss words' are just words society has deemed to be crude and unwanted.


I've known people who scowl with ferocious disapproval on the D word, S word and the F word, who nonetheless will emit a "darn!", "Crap!" or "Screw this!" when upset... apparently without realizing those words mean exactly the same thing.


The one thing that does concern me about cussing, and that has caused me to work to bridle my tongue a bit in recent years, is the fact that cussing may "damage one's testimony" to some people. That is, they may think less of your witness as a Christian if you say words that society considers crude. I concluded that this was worth some concern and started working on moderating my language a bit.


Mainly I think we're commanded to not use God's name in vain, or disrespectfully, and not to swear oaths, especially not by heavenly things. But if plain-old cussing may damage our good reputation, avoiding it is probably best...

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Meh, it's only damaging to the people who believe that it's wrong for reasons other than society. I do see your point - not wanting to do it in front of people you go to church with.

But I agree with you that it's a societal thing, and it cracks me up when people swear without realizing they are swearing. My father was a very religious man, but would say Shhhht! He would say it without the "I" and he thought that it would be permissible. :lol:

X Factor said:

Just out of curiosity, do comments like "Christ on a cracker", etc. bother you at all? I admit that it is something that feels like a little dig at my faith. I totally acknowledge that many times there is no ill will intended and often people are just trying to be funny (and goodness know that I've said offensive things just going for the laugh). I'm just saying that, while it's not something I dwell on, I personally don't care for it.

(and now that I've admitted that, I fully expect to see it a lot more in replies and responses to me :mrgreen

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I personally don't say those sort of things, as far as others saying them, no I'm not offended. Very little offends me.

X Factor said:

Just out of curiosity, do comments like "Christ on a cracker", etc. bother you at all? I admit that it is something that feels like a little dig at my faith. I totally acknowledge that many times there is no ill will intended and often people are just trying to be funny (and goodness know that I've said offensive things just going for the laugh). I'm just saying that, while it's not something I dwell on, I personally don't care for it.

(and now that I've admitted that, I fully expect to see it a lot more in replies and responses to me :mrgreen

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It bothers me as well. I find it quite interesting (albeit sad and disturbing) that our culture, out of all the curse words they could use, invariably choose to blaspheme God and Jesus Christ.

Goshin said:

Friend, I think you just said a mouth full of truth.

While I don't like GD or other terms referring to God disrespectfully, I agree that it is FAR more likely to be a heinous sin to proclaim "God has said _____!" when He said no such thing, and that may be more the point of the matter.

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For what it is worth, I don't mean to say that I think it's perfectly okay to speak rudely especially using the name of God. And I do try to temper using bad language in my own life though I am not always successful. I think it is a good thing and the minor virtue to speak clearly, cleanly, and with temperance.