Taking the Lord's name in vein

[friardchips]

Hi, I am hoping for a definite answer to this tricky question please:

If one had close family who one visited fairly regularly on the occasional Sunday, and the children there sometimes used the Lord’s name in vein, and sometimes quite regularly while all eating dinner, to the point of it seeming as if at least one of them was doing it intentionally, would it be considered duty to correct, taking into consideration that one isn’t one of the parents, and they are a Christian family - although maybe not quite as disciplined or strict in that particular way? Say for example at least one of the children was a God-child, does this add extra responsibility? Couldn’t it be embarrassing the parents indirectly to correct?! Also, if one is not a saint oneself in many other ways, would it also make it somewhat hypocritical to correct and risk upsetting peace that our Creator may have brought to the family as a whole? Maybe one is to take it on oneself and quietly offer up the struggle? It is hard not to get offended by this continual form of swearing and yet I don’t know if it will just make for an intolerable situation when trying to assert oneself more fully. I also want to bring into the equation that someone else I care about also visits at the same time and I know they are offended by it. Not going there at all, is not a possibility, btw.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[friardchips]

Think I might have posted this in the wrong forum section…sorry!

 

[PaulfromIowa]

First of all, it is “in vain.”

See:

future-perfect.co.uk/grammar-tip/is-it-vain-vane-or-vein/

Second, you should talk to the parents and/or the person who is hosting the dinner. You cannot really correct other peoples’ children right in front of them.

It is sad that our society has become so debased that many people do not understand the impropriety of vulgar language.

 

[Lou2U]

I agree with PaulfromIowa - you should speak to the parents of the children and let them deal with it. You can’t really correct their children in front of them (even if one is your godchild), without it being seen as undermining them as parents.

It isn’t hypocritical for you to talk to the parents about it - just say it makes you feel uncomfortable.

Lou

 

[friardchips]

It is sad that our society has become so debased that many people do not understand the impropriety of vulgar language.

Yes, ‘vain’ not ‘vein’!

I think you are right about that. Ultimately it is their responsibility. I find it offensive and it causes a little turbulence when I come away from the situation - feeling as if I haven’t done what I could have. It is a shame I don’t feel comfortable enough to speak to the parents about it otherwise I would. …

…maybe!

 

[friardchips]

I agree with PaulfromIowa - you should speak to the parents of the children and let them deal with it. You can’t really correct their children in front of them (even if one is your godchild), without it being seen as undermining them as parents.

It isn’t hypocritical for you to talk to the parents about it - just say it makes you feel uncomfortable.

Lou

I think this is wise advice. Thank you both very much for making this clear! It bugs me each time, and I like the people, and certainly embarrassing anyone is never the way forward which would be the case if I said anything at dinner. Some people can be touchy about taking advice though over how they choose to parent their children. A delicate situation, this. A kind of sludgy one - not looking forward to having to get my waders on and trudging on through.