Taking the name of the Lord God in vain.

[Squirt]

Exodus 20:7 states, "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain." Since I have recently been accused of doing just that, I am wondering what you all think this means. What constitutes taking God's name in vain?

 

[Buttons*]

the thoughts behind it.

Words are words... but if you are actally cursing whatever you consider to be the ultimate deity with that purpose in mind, that is "sinful"

 

[standing_alone]

What constitutes taking God's name in vain?

I don't know what constitutes it, but I'm sure I do it all the time.

 

[Squirt]

I am guilty, as charged. I think absolutely nothing of saying "Oh, Jeeeesuzz Chrrrrist!" I will often add another word in between Jesus and Christ. That word varies depending on my mood, and the situation. What is more telling is that I really don't care if I offend anyone in my prescence by saying such a thing. I really don't.

I'm kind of surprised to hear that. If I were to hear you say, "Oh, Jesus ___ Chrst," I would be offended. And knowing you, I find it very difficult to believe you wouldn't care that you'd offended me.

 

[sandy whitelinger]

Exodus 20:7 states, "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain." Since I have recently been accused of doing just that, I am wondering what you all think this means. What constitutes taking God's name in vain?

Well, since vain means "having no real value" or 'marked by futility or ineffectualness"
maybe then just walking around saying "God damn it!" for no reason or using it as a curse word to no real effect is the wrong use of His name.

 

[Squirt]

Well, since vain means "having no real value" or 'marked by futility or ineffectualness"
maybe then just walking around saying "God damn it!" for no reason or using it as a curse word to no real effect is the wrong use of His name.

That's a good definition. I like it. Personally, when I speak of God (i.e. the Father) or of His Son, Jesus Christ, I do so reverently, out of respect for them. I don't just insert their names (or titles) in my day-to-day conversations as commas, periods or exclamation points. To me, this is what I think taking God's name in vain means.

 

[Bishka]

That's a good definition. I like it. Personally, when I speak of God (i.e. the Father) or of His Son, Jesus Christ, I do so reverently, out of respect for them. I don't just insert their names (or titles) in my day-to-day conversations as commas, periods or exclamation points. To me, this is what I think taking God's name in vain means.

An interesting thought I just thought of is people don't use Allah, or other deities in cursing do you? I don't go around saying Damn it Zeus, do I? That's someone's deity and I respect that.

 

[PHOTOTAKER]

well one thing i learned in institute is that "taking the lords thy gods name in vain" isn't just using it as a swear word its declaring the lords name in what the person knows nothing about. like declaring that Christ's second coming is tomorrow... saying this is using the lords name in vain. because it more than likely not true and misinformation is also the same as a swear word... Blasphemy is anther form of it, but this word in the old days is more a political view to religion, now its the same confusing the matter... this is the short and as much as I can understand…

 

[Squirt]

well one thing i learned in institute is that "taking the lords thy gods name in vain" isn't just using it as a swear word its declaring the lords name in what the person knows nothing about. like declaring that Christ's second coming is tomorrow... saying this is using the lords name in vain. because it more than likely not true and misinformation is also the same as a swear word... Blasphemy is anther form of it, but this word in the old days is more a political view to religion, now its the same confusing the matter... this is the short and as much as I can understand…

That's interesting. I actually never have considered taking the Lord's name in vain to be the same thing as using certain "four-letter words." While I don't believe it's good to use that kind of language either, I wouldn't call saying, "Oh, SH--!" using the Lord's name in vain. But I think you have made a good point.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

The Name of the Lord cannot be used to attack another person. So when we try to deride or insult another person using God's Name or titles, that is using God's Name in vain.

It is also impossible to bring shame to the Name of Jesus or to bring shame to Jesus Himself, or for Jesus to be ashamed of anyone. Therefore, saying that Jesus is ashamed of someone is using the Name of Jesus (or His titles) in vain.

 

[nutshell]

The Name of the Lord cannot be used to attack another person. So when we try to deride or insult another person using God's Name or titles, that is using God's Name in vain.

It is also impossible to bring shame to the Name of Jesus or to bring shame to Jesus Himself, or for Jesus to be ashamed of anyone. Therefore, saying that Jesus is ashamed of someone is using the Name of Jesus (or His titles) in vain.

What if you're casting out evil?

 

[angellous_evangellous]

What if you're casting out evil?

That question has nothing to do with my post. If you think that it does, can you tell me what it is?

EdIT: I can be more clear...

We are to heal in the name of Jesus, and attack only in the name of ourselves if we must attack. We heal in the name of Jesus by casting out evil, but there is no shame at all involved in healing. We need to be very careful when we identify evil... only Jesus (God) can identify evil perfectly, and some evil, like the wheat and the weeds, only God can fix, and it is vain for us to try and cast out...

On shame... Jesus took all shame upon himself on the cross, and completely overcame shame in his resurrection. There's nothing for him to be ashamed of. Ever.

 

[TheTruthWillSetUFree]

Taking the Lords name in vein means alot more then cursing.If you say you are a Christian and you do not act like it,you are taking the Lords name in vein.And there are many more examples of using the Lords name in vein or diobeying the third commandment,then by cursing.

 

[Katzpur]

On shame... Jesus took all shame upon himself on the cross, and completely overcame shame in his resurrection. There's nothing for him to be ashamed of. Ever.

What you are saying here makes sense, but I think that we can hurt Christ by the way in which we treat others. I think He can certainly see our behavior as being shameful.

 

[EnhancedSpirit]

This is one of my favorite topics, because I was very puzzled by this for a while. Before you can even begin to follow the commandment, you have to know what God's name is.

The Jews took care of the problem by not ever saying the true name of God. 'God' is not a name, it's a title, and an English word. Jesus Christ is a sacred name, and should be respected, but this commandment was in place before the name of Jesus was known, so this cannot be the name.

When it occured to me what the true name of God was, I became even more confused. The name of God translates into English as I AM THAT I AM. If 'I AM' is his name, that means we are saying his name ALL THE TIME. How can we say I AM without taking the Lord's name in vain? Well, that's were the true meaning of 'vain' which means empty (to make a vain attempt) comes in.

So how do you use the name of God? Do you say things like "I am fat," or "I am lazy"?

 

[jeffrey]

This is one of my favorite topics, because I was very puzzled by this for a while. Before you can even begin to follow the commandment, you have to know what God's name is.

The Jews took care of the problem by not ever saying the true name of God. 'God' is not a name, it's a title, and an English word. Jesus Christ is a sacred name, and should be respected, but this commandment was in place before the name of Jesus was known, so this cannot be the name.

When it occured to me what the true name of God was, I became even more confused. The name of God translates into English as I AM THAT I AM. If 'I AM' is his name, that means we are saying his name ALL THE TIME. How can we say I AM without taking the Lord's name in vain? Well, that's were the true meaning of 'vain' which means empty (to make a vain attempt) comes in.

So how do you use the name of God? Do you say things like "I am fat," or "I am lazy"?

Had to read that a couple times, but it makes sense.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

What you are saying here makes sense, but I think that we can hurt Christ by the way in which we treat others. I think He can certainly see our behavior as being shameful.

Our behavior only beings shame on ourselves, then, which Christ is able to heal.

 

[Katzpur]

Our behavior only beings shame on ourselves, then, which Christ is able to heal.

I'm not arguing against that. All I said, and I'll say it again since you didn't seem to get it the first time, is that Christ can be disappointed in us if we call ourselves Christians and do not live by His example.

 

[lamb of God]

"call on him in the day of trouble, PRAY, PRAISE, and GIVE THANKS". anything other than that is considered using his name in vain.

 

[robtex]

Exodus 20:7 states, "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain." Since I have recently been accused of doing just that, I am wondering what you all think this means. What constitutes taking God's name in vain?

I wouldn't sweat it too much. It isn't like God is gonna damn somebody cause you told him to. Maybe if God is seen that which is the source of good and love taking his name in vain is attaching it to things which are hateful and bad (aka ungodly)?