Everyone I know uses the Lords name in vain!

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PiousTemplar

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Everyone I know at school always uses the Lords name in vain, very often! It almost gets annoying hanging around with them in groups when every five seconds you hear ‘JESUS CHRIST!’ ( I hope I didn’t sin by quoting :p). I never ask them, ‘Can you not use that word?’ because it is beyond reasonable doubt that I would be laughed at. Sometimes I feel like screaming in their direction ‘BLASPHEMY! REPENT!’. You get what I mean.

Surely someone on this forum has dealt with this before. Any suggestions ? ⭕(
 
Yep, been there.

There are many ways to deal with this, depending on the situation. First, we have to realize that only some people will respond positively when we try to witness in certain ways to them (in this instance, letting them know that taking or Lord’s name in vain is a very bad idea, not to mention offensive to us).

So, this is an instance to pick your battles, so to speak. Start with your close friends. When they say “Jesus Christ!” inappropriately, you can let them know that doing that offends you. They may not care in the least that it offends God, but if they are true friends and you let them know in a non-judgmental way, at least they may respect your request.

It’s best done one on one and non-judgmentally. For example, “Steve, that really bothers me”. You put the focus on you, not them. “It bothers me”. You want to get across that it’s what they’re saying that bothers you, not that they bother you. There’s a very subtle difference there, but it goes a long way in not sounding judgmental. It’s like saying “Yeah, it’s me, not you”, rather than sounding accusing “It’s YOU, not me”.

Does that make sense?

If it’s in a group, it’s tougher. If “everyone” is saying JC this and JC that, it may not be the time to ask them to stop. It may be better to remove yourself from the situation, temporarily, and perhaps confide in someone in the group later on, in private, that such talk bothers you: "You know, Jeff, it really bohers me when everybody says “JC this” and “JC that”.

Above all, try to remember that you simply will not be able to change anyone in this regard. They will have to change their talk themselves, either as a favor to your or because they have come to realize that it is inappropriate to use Jesus’ name in such a manner.

Sometimes the best and only thing you can do is pray for them, and lead by example.👍
 
My father and my husband use that phrase quite often. After they say it, I always say “…have mercy on us.” My hope is that I’m salvaging something by taking their usage and putting a positive spin on. At the same time, gently bringing it to their attention how they’ve just used the Lord’s name in vain.
 
Thank-you very much for your advice. I shall try this tomorrow morning. Pax Christi.
 
Occasionally I will say to someone that “Jesus didn’t have anything to do with (this).” It’s a halfway humorous way to get your point across.
 
A lady at my wife’s office used to swear like that. My wife used to turn around fast then scan the room and say, “Where?”. When the lady asked what she was talking about, my wife would say, “Oh, I thought you saw Jesus, because you called His name.”

It annoyed the lady to the point where she would stop herself. Mission accomplished. 😉 👍 At least in the office.
 
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