I Said You Ugly Shit Dont Take the Lords Name in Vain Again
The answer to this question might seem self-evident, especially to those of us who grew up in a western Judeo-Christian club.
Exodus xx:7, Deuteronomy v:11 – You shall non take the proper name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will non hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
Please be warned, I'k going to utilize a phrase that is offensive to many.
For nearly, the ultimate violation of the tertiary commandment is to say "God damn information technology." Y'all can employ only about every other discussion or phrase, no matter how bad, but when your vulgarity includes the utilization of this phrase, many believe y'all've crossed the line. You might even be charged with blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
In fact, more people would confidently answer this question than could list the Ten Commandments, name the gospels, or explain the difference between the New and Former Testaments.
At Odds with the 3rd Commandment (As Some Define It)
I'thousand going to take a stand that's at odds with the well-nigh popular understanding of the third commandment. That's why I used the word "really" in the title of this article. With all the talk nearly cursing pastors, the evolution of swearing in the blogosphere, and the full general confusion effectually this upshot (fifty-fifty in Christian circles), I thought I'd take a stab at explaining what it actually means to take the Lord'due south name in vain.
If I'm correct most the tertiary-commandment, we take a serious issue of folk theology that's damaging the character of God by misrepresenting what Christian speech is.
The question that must drive the understanding of any biblical passage is:
What did the author intend for his audition to empathize past his writing?
The tertiary commandment was given to a specific people, at a specific time, in a specific identify, with a specific purpose. We'll never know what it means today if we don't first know what it originally meant.
What Virtually the F-Bomb, S-Word, etc?
The third commandment has nothing to do with what we commonly call cursing. Use of the F-word, S-word, etc. is a separate issue. The Bible certainly has a lot to say about speech:
Proverbs 10:32 – The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.
Colossians 3:8 – Only at present y'all must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your oral cavity.
Ephesians iv:29 – Let no corrupting talk come up out of your mouths, but only such as is expert for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
The tertiary commandment is specifically addressing the use of God's name. It isn't meant to address the utilise of words, phrases, and even gestures that may exist socially uncouth or vulgar.
When Calling on God to Damn Someone Is Biblical
We take this wrong. In fact, from a purely objective standpoint, I don't believe that this phrase causes God to fifty-fifty bat an eye. Why would calling on God to damn something be so bad? What does the verb "damn" mean? The American Heritage Dictionary defines the verb "to damn" as "the act of pronouncing an agin judgement upon."
To telephone call upon God to damn something is neither sinful nor unbiblical. In fact, you can find people throughout Scripture, specially in the Psalms, who call upon God to bring judgment on their enemies. In other words, they are request for God to damn those whom they feel are ripe for His judgment. In this sense, saying "God damn _____" is as biblical equally maxim "God bless _____."
Some say the reason this is a violation of the third commandment is because people are using God's name in a "vain", "worthless", or "empty" mode. In this case, to say, "God damn it!" in our colloquial tongue is not the same equally seriously calling upon God to damn something or someone. For those making this merits, if yous say information technology seriously, fine. If however, you say it casually, you've used His name in an empty style and broken the third commandment.
Don't get me wrong. I'one thousand not advocating that we should take the Lord's name in vain, merely that our understanding of what this commandment means is mistaken. There are three major critiques I'd offering to our common understanding:
1) "God" is Not the Name of God
"God" is a term used to refer to deities in general. A generic nomenclature can't be considered a formal name. It would exist similar y'all saying that my proper name is "person". God gives His proper noun to Moses in the book of Exodus. His name is Yahweh. Would you have the aforementioned law-breaking if someone were to stub their toe and say "Yahweh damn it!" I doubt it.
When Christians use words like "God" or "Lord" we're typically referring to the God of the Bible, Yahweh. And after all, if you're not calling on the God of the Bible to damn something, whom are you calling on? Therefore, although the discussion God isn't a formal proper noun, because we utilise it every bit such, saying G-D may test the limits of what many consider taking God'southward proper noun in vain.
two) Selective Outrage at the Use of "God"
If the principle in question is that we're not to use God'south name unless we actually mean information technology, then we're pretty inconsistent in our outrage. Why don't people get offended when others say "God bless you?" Do you think that every time someone says this that they really mean it? Do y'all think that in their mind they are talking to God, beseeching Him on your behalf?
But nigh every email I go ends with the phrase, "God bless."
But most every email I go ends with the phrase, "God bless." I seriously incertitude that that person actually said a prayer for me before he or she hit transport. If this is the instance, why is saying, "God bless y'all" not simply as much a violation of the third commandment as saying "God damn you?"
Is information technology more biblical to enquire for God'due south kindness or judgment? I don't think almost anyone who is honest with themselves can say they're consistent in this regard. Maxim "God damn information technology" and non pregnant it should be but as bad as saying "God bless you" and not meaning it.
Information technology true that both uses of "God" could be wrong, or both could exist right. But, without modifying our principle (i.due east. not using God'due south name unless we really mean it) we tin can't differentiate between the ii.
3) What Does "In Vain" Hateful?
I've saved this point for concluding because information technology'south the most important. In fact, if I'g right, the first two points don't really make a difference. The question is this:
What does information technology hateful to use God'due south name in an empty or vain fashion?
What does the third commandment actually mean? It'due south hard to tell from a unproblematic word written report on the Hebrew term שָׁוְא (vain). Also, our understanding of a "name" and what it signifies is much different than what it meant in the context in which this commandment was given. Showtime, we must effort to understand what it meant when it was written. 2nd, we can then work out how that applies to us.
It does united states no practiced to anachronistically impose our understanding upon an ancient text. This is eisegesis (reading into the text what we presuppose), not exegesis (letting the text speak on its own terms).
How the Canaanite Nations Invoked Their Deities
Briefly, this is what I believe your studies will show. The nations to which the Israelites were going (in Canaan) had many gods. They were highly superstitious. Their prophets used the name of their god in pronouncements all the time. The usage could be in a curse, hex, or even a approval. They used the proper name of their god to give their statements, whatever they may exist, authority.
To pronounce something in the proper noun of a god meant that people would listen and fear. They may have said, "In the proper noun of Baal, there will be no rain for 40 days." Or "In the name of Marduk, I say that you will win this battle." This gave the prophet much power and authority.
Only, as we know, there is no Baal or Marduk. Those gods couldn't take made such pronouncements. Thus the words of the prophet had no authority and didn't need to exist praised or feared.
Israel'south God Instructed the Proper Apply of His Proper noun
God was commanding the Israelites not to do the same thing. God instructed them non to utilise His name like the nations around them used the names of their gods. He did non want them to use His name falsely to invoke potency. This can exist seen fifty-fifty today as the name Jesus means very little considering of its constant misuse.
In essence, God didn't desire the Israelites to say that He'd said something that He, in fact, had non. This makes sense. God has a reputation to protect. He doesn't want anyone saying, "Thus saith the Lord", if the Lord has not spoken.
We've all experienced this. We've had someone say we said something we didn't. This can be very damaging to our character and destructive to our reputation. Why? Because it makes us out to exist something we're not. How much more important is it for God to protect His character?
Application of the Third Commandment Today
What does this mean for united states of america? Well, for starters we understand that the third commandment is focused on something more foundational than but maxim "God damn it!"
While some people may never think of using that phrase, people all over the Christian religious landscape are breaking the tertiary commandment every day, damaging the Lord's reputation:
- "Thus saith the Lord…"
- "God told me to tell you…"
- "I have a word from the Lord…"
- "God says that if y'all transport in this much money, you will be blest."
I could go on and on, but you get the point.
If all ane needed to do to go along the third commandment was to avoid saying certain socially unacceptable words or phrases, information technology would be the easiest of the 10 Commandments to continue!
Using the name of the Lord in vain is a serious affair. It damages His reputation and character through imitation and unsure claims. Before yous say "God said…" make sure He really said it.
If you are unsure, brand your statement reverberate your uncertainty. Saying "I call back God is telling you to…" rather than "God is telling you to…" may not exist as authoritative, but it will go along God's reputation safe and keep you from breaking the third commandment.
If I were Satan, I couldn't think of a ameliorate way to trivialize such an of import commandment.
Equally an aside, I recall that this misunderstanding of the third commandment is both sad and tragic. If I were Satan, I couldn't recollect of a better fashion to trivialize such an important commandment than to fool people into thinking it'due south focus is on the phrase, "God damn it."
A Terminal Caution
Does this mean that I believe that we can now say this phrase and not worry about it? No. Using this phrase in a vernacular style is offensive in many (if not most) contexts. It all comes back to being intentional with everything we say. While it is not a violation of the third commandment necessarily, it is offensive spoken language that must exist used with wisdom and discretion.
Objections and Q&A
Shouldn't Christians Avert Every Course (Appearance) of Evil?
Because, in our culture, saying sure words is considered offensive, crude, or crass, Christians should avoid using them so every bit in social club not to violate ane Thessalonians 5:22. Dan Wallace'south commodity Avert Every Advent of Evil, addresses this very topic.
But What If Cursing Violates My Conscience or Someone Else's?
No one should violate their conscience. Who would deny that we must practice what nosotros think is right? While it'due south truthful that we could follow our conscience and be incorrect, we can never violate our conscience and be correct. Going against what nosotros think is right (fifty-fifty if we're wrong) is always incorrect. We would exist a law unto ourselves maybe even antinomian (against the moral law).
That being said, we should beware of professional weaker brethren who apply their scruples to dominate others.
So I Should Start Swearing, Correct?
No. Not if you mean "swear" in the sense of cursing left and right. Don't imagine this article is a license to employ vulgarities in the name of Christian freedom. The gospel frees us from the bondage to sin then we can live righteous lives non so we tin can be rude.
Yous're Just Looking for Loopholes!
It'southward true that scriptures have been used to excuse the pet sins of many people.
Wonderful things in the Bible I see. Most of them put there by yous and past me.
However, the conclusions nosotros come to must rest upon textual exegesis. If the Bible calls something sinful, let God be true and every human a liar. Only if it doesn't, nosotros dare not heap upon others a yoke of bondage.
Source: https://credohouse.org/blog/taking-the-lords-name-in-vain-what-does-it-really-mean
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