I see people so casually take the Lord’s name in vain, here as elsewhere. The few times I’ve noted it, the responses have been as defensively hostile as you could imagine. So most times I see this, I simply ask the Lord to forgive them, for they know not what they do.
But read this post, folks. If you didn’t know before, now you do. If you really feel the need to curse, I’d strongly suggest you don’t drag the Lord’s name into it.
Legitimate question, Is saying G dammit taking the lords name in vain? I always thought of it as asking him to damn whatever crappy circumstance you say that about. I guess my main question is what constitutes vain in this context? I’m not very religious, but find myself leaning into it more and more lately due to reading this site and also crappy circumstances that I’m currently in.
My understanding of the commandment is using G-d's name to justify doing evil, or something G-d's name does not want to be associated with.
A priest telling the altar boy G-d wants him molested is carrying G-d's name in vain.
Heck, the priest marrying a same-sex couple and invoking G-d's name is probably violating this commandment as well.
There's no getting out of it either because the commandment said such action will not go unpunished. My interpretation is that Christians erase their sins with repenting with Jesus. Jews erase their sins through Teshuvah. Neither process will fully escape the punishment of violating this commandment.
As for not using G damn it, there's a Jewish custom of not writing out the full name of G-d, or even G-d itself. (As you may notice I've been doing in this post). That's to prevent the erasure of G-d's name, because you don't know what happens to the piece of paper you write it on... if it gets burned or thrown away or ripped, it would be a desecration, so you don't write the full word out to prevent that.
Thanks SO much for this explanation! I've only stopped taking the Lord's name in vain probably in the last year. I take it seriously very seriously now and was wondering about the G-d thing.
I can see the Jewish perspective. It's very reverent. Plays into mysticism too. The Power of G-d and the Power of Words and Meaning.
On the other hand, I'm a Christian, and trying to better understand the Christian viewpoint. Do some Christians also omit the "o"?
Personally, I'm currently of the belief that intentionally mentioning His name, in a celebratory way (for instance "I am saved by God!" Etc) shows glory to His name. As if you realize He is The Light over everything you do. I guess I'd best describe writing it this way almost as "singing a song to Him" in appreciation, an outwardly declaring your allegiance to Him.
However, I write this knowing I have a lot of guilt for deliberately and selfishly turningy back on Him for a very long time. That obviously influences my perspective.?
I'm pretty sure writing the name with a dash is a Jewish custom, not a Christian.
Part of the reason for not writing out the full name of G-d is you don't know what's going to happen to that piece of paper after you're done with it. Suppose you write out the full name on the document. A hundred years after you die, some jerk breaks into your house, finds the document with G-d's name on it, snorts with disdain, and uses it to wash his hands, fudging out the name of G-d you wrote all those years ago by cleaning the dirt off his grimy fingers.
That would be a desecration of the written name of G-d. And there's no way you could foresee this guy's action a hundred years after your death.
So to prevent that from happening, you write the name with a dash. That way, it's not the full name of G-d. It's just a G dash D. So if the guy wipes his hands on the document, it won't matter any more than if it was a paper towel.
Don't feel guilty about turning your back. I mean, if you think it helps, go ahead and feel a little guilty. Maybe it keeps you on the good path. I'm not Christian but there are a couple wonderful stories that Jesus told in the gospel, even to me. And among the best is the Prodigal Son. You can always be welcomed back to G-d.
If you're not serious when you day it, then yes, it's taking His name in vain. If you are serious about it, then you're not taking His name in vain. (But possibly you should think long and hard about condemning things in general, in order to not do it lightly.)
Those are all super legitimate questions... that I know I’m not qualified to definitively answer. But I think you just need to consider both what you understand what/whom your words reference, and how others would reasonably hear it. We are all sinners, and always will be, but as long as your intent is there, your heart will follow, and then so can your actions.
And although the state of our world is beyond concerning, if that leads you to Jesus, then I say this with all sincerity and perspective... all this madness has been a blessing.
And I wasn’t a true believing Christian most of my life. I first accepted Christ sometime after a friend suggested I read CS Lewis’ “Mere Christianity.” It’s a short, modest book, and it’s been well over a decade, so I honestly don’t remember much detail about... but I just remember I liked it. It made all the difference for me, and my direction. And so I’d recommend it to you, if you’re curious.
Thank you.
I see people so casually take the Lord’s name in vain, here as elsewhere. The few times I’ve noted it, the responses have been as defensively hostile as you could imagine. So most times I see this, I simply ask the Lord to forgive them, for they know not what they do.
But read this post, folks. If you didn’t know before, now you do. If you really feel the need to curse, I’d strongly suggest you don’t drag the Lord’s name into it.
Legitimate question, Is saying G dammit taking the lords name in vain? I always thought of it as asking him to damn whatever crappy circumstance you say that about. I guess my main question is what constitutes vain in this context? I’m not very religious, but find myself leaning into it more and more lately due to reading this site and also crappy circumstances that I’m currently in.
My understanding of the commandment is using G-d's name to justify doing evil, or something G-d's name does not want to be associated with.
A priest telling the altar boy G-d wants him molested is carrying G-d's name in vain.
Heck, the priest marrying a same-sex couple and invoking G-d's name is probably violating this commandment as well.
There's no getting out of it either because the commandment said such action will not go unpunished. My interpretation is that Christians erase their sins with repenting with Jesus. Jews erase their sins through Teshuvah. Neither process will fully escape the punishment of violating this commandment.
As for not using G damn it, there's a Jewish custom of not writing out the full name of G-d, or even G-d itself. (As you may notice I've been doing in this post). That's to prevent the erasure of G-d's name, because you don't know what happens to the piece of paper you write it on... if it gets burned or thrown away or ripped, it would be a desecration, so you don't write the full word out to prevent that.
I like that concept of dececration. Thanks for the info.
Thanks SO much for this explanation! I've only stopped taking the Lord's name in vain probably in the last year. I take it seriously very seriously now and was wondering about the G-d thing.
I can see the Jewish perspective. It's very reverent. Plays into mysticism too. The Power of G-d and the Power of Words and Meaning.
On the other hand, I'm a Christian, and trying to better understand the Christian viewpoint. Do some Christians also omit the "o"?
Personally, I'm currently of the belief that intentionally mentioning His name, in a celebratory way (for instance "I am saved by God!" Etc) shows glory to His name. As if you realize He is The Light over everything you do. I guess I'd best describe writing it this way almost as "singing a song to Him" in appreciation, an outwardly declaring your allegiance to Him.
However, I write this knowing I have a lot of guilt for deliberately and selfishly turningy back on Him for a very long time. That obviously influences my perspective.?
Thanks all, WWG1WGA
Hey there, glad to be helpful.
I'm pretty sure writing the name with a dash is a Jewish custom, not a Christian.
Part of the reason for not writing out the full name of G-d is you don't know what's going to happen to that piece of paper after you're done with it. Suppose you write out the full name on the document. A hundred years after you die, some jerk breaks into your house, finds the document with G-d's name on it, snorts with disdain, and uses it to wash his hands, fudging out the name of G-d you wrote all those years ago by cleaning the dirt off his grimy fingers.
That would be a desecration of the written name of G-d. And there's no way you could foresee this guy's action a hundred years after your death.
So to prevent that from happening, you write the name with a dash. That way, it's not the full name of G-d. It's just a G dash D. So if the guy wipes his hands on the document, it won't matter any more than if it was a paper towel.
Don't feel guilty about turning your back. I mean, if you think it helps, go ahead and feel a little guilty. Maybe it keeps you on the good path. I'm not Christian but there are a couple wonderful stories that Jesus told in the gospel, even to me. And among the best is the Prodigal Son. You can always be welcomed back to G-d.
Swear words mean jack.shit to God. However I don't use his name to curse people.
Legit answer:
If you're not serious when you day it, then yes, it's taking His name in vain. If you are serious about it, then you're not taking His name in vain. (But possibly you should think long and hard about condemning things in general, in order to not do it lightly.)
Those are all super legitimate questions... that I know I’m not qualified to definitively answer. But I think you just need to consider both what you understand what/whom your words reference, and how others would reasonably hear it. We are all sinners, and always will be, but as long as your intent is there, your heart will follow, and then so can your actions.
And although the state of our world is beyond concerning, if that leads you to Jesus, then I say this with all sincerity and perspective... all this madness has been a blessing.
And I wasn’t a true believing Christian most of my life. I first accepted Christ sometime after a friend suggested I read CS Lewis’ “Mere Christianity.” It’s a short, modest book, and it’s been well over a decade, so I honestly don’t remember much detail about... but I just remember I liked it. It made all the difference for me, and my direction. And so I’d recommend it to you, if you’re curious.