Using the Lord's name in vain

  • Thread starter Thread starter me_again
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

me_again

Guest
The Lord Jesus Christ said::
Matthew 5
  1. Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
  2. But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
  3. Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
  4. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
  5. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
Click to expand...
It seems that some people have a proclivity to use the name of Jesus Christ in vain, while others have a proclivity to say “GD” vainly. There are many variations on how to use His name vainly, to include: * Jesus Christ
  • Christ
  • Jesus
  • For Christ sake
  • God blessed (pronounced blesss-ed and not blest)
  • Holy c___
  • G___ D___
    What is your take on the spontaneous usage of His name in vain? When I call people on the use of his name, they usually look at me like a deer in headlights; I also get classified as a religious nut. Thus, when I’m in the workplace, I remain silent when I hear colleagues using His name in vain – but I always notice it.
 
I have to confess that this is a BIG problem for me. I’m a speech chameleon, I latch on to the speech patterns of people around me and unconciously copy them-that goes for accents and word usage. If I’m around people who curse a lot or take the Lord’s name in vain, before I even realize it-I’m doing it too. On the plus side, if I’m around folks who are very circumspect in their speech I’ll copy that too.

I would like to think that for most people, it’s not something that they are doing to intentionally curse God. I really think that cursing in general is something that people do because they’re NOT thinking about what they say.

One thing that worked really well on my old work team was the “curse jar”. We decided on a quarter fine for every nasty word used, and the $$ we raised was used for a Costco run for the local food bank. We didn’t want to use the $$ to get lunch for ourselves because we thought that would be rewarding ourselves for cussing!
 
The only one that bothers me is G** D***it - this one gets underneath my skin. The others ones don’t bother me at all for some reason.
 
Lorrie said:
The only one that bothers me is G** D***it - this one gets underneath my skin. The others ones don’t bother me at all for some reason.
Click to expand...
So if someone vainly says, “Jesus Christ,” it doesn’t bother you at all? :eek:
 
Is just my opinion of course, but as I understand the intent of the Scriptures, using the “Lord’s name in vein” means basically to “take oath” or “swear upon” the Lord’s name for vanity or not seriously. This includes joining the Church but not really meaning it or claiming to be a Christian lightly.

Expletives don’t really have anything to do with the concern even though they can be disrespectful and even blasphemous. Blasphemy is a different issue. 😊
 
Misusing the names of the saints falls under this as well. Don’t believe me? Check the Catechism!
 
me_again said:
It seems that some people have a proclivity to use the name of Jesus Christ in vain, while others have a proclivity to say “GD” vainly. There are many variations on how to use His name vainly, to include: * Jesus Christ
  • Christ
  • Jesus
  • For Christ sake
  • God blessed (pronounced blesss-ed and not blest)
  • Holy c___
  • G___ D___
    What is your take on the spontaneous usage of His name in vain? When I call people on the use of his name, they usually look at me like a deer in headlights; I also get classified as a religious nut. Thus, when I’m in the workplace, I remain silent when I hear colleagues using His name in vain – but I always notice it.
Click to expand...
I have heard it so often over the years, I dont think the people who use it are doing it with any malice intended, its almost like a slang word to them like other cuss words. Just my opinion
 
NoWhereMan said:
I have heard it so often over the years, I dont think the people who use it are doing it with any malice intended, its almost like a slang word to them like other cuss words. Just my opinion
Click to expand...
This is my view on it as well.
 
NoWhereMan said:
I have heard it so often over the years, I dont think the people who use it are doing it with any malice intended, its almost like a slang word to them like other cuss words. Just my opinion
Click to expand...
Wouldn’t that be the epitome of the definition of “vain”?
 
We should not use the Lord’s name in vain, to include in casual non-religious conversation. It’s understandable if someone panics and cries out, “Lord!” or “Jesus!.” However, to casually say “Jesus Christ” in a non-religious conversation is completely inappropriate. Can you imagine if a priest or a pastor were to do that? I rest my case. 👍

Seriously, if you (or whoever) do use His name in casual non-religious conversation “without thinking about it,” then how often do you actually talk to Him in prayer? :eek:
 
I hate swearing – it makes me feel like crying to hear it because I feel the hurt it must cause God to speak of him so disrespectfully. If you have ever come to the defense of someone (or felt you wish you could) who was being spoken about disparagingly, especially a of child in his/her own presence, then you should kind of understand how I feel. It is just so mean, wrong, consciously or unconsciously nasty to use someone’s name like that, and we are always where God can hear us doing it, or not coming to His defense.

And yes I know we cause God much bigger hurts each day so often, but it is a great place to start!
 
me_again said:
Seriously, if you (or whoever) do use His name in casual non-religious conversation “without thinking about it,” then how often do you actually talk to Him in prayer? :eek:
Click to expand...
I would think how often one talks with God during prayer would be no one’s business but their own. :eek: :rolleyes:
 
I confess using the Lords name in vain every time. That is, when I’m angry… This is my most often confessed sin.
Lately I’ve been having to go to confession at least twice a month for this. :coolinoff:
 
TEPO said:
I confess using the Lords name in vain every time. That is, when I’m angry… This is my most often confessed sin.
Lately I’ve been having to go to confession at least twice a month for this. :coolinoff:
Click to expand...
Your post got me to thinking. I speculate that different people have different proclivities for different sins i.e. the sins that I have problems with may not be a problem for you - and visa versa. There is something in the bible about curses following seven generations. I’d have to research it to find it, but I speculate that it means that different kinds of sinful tendencies may be handed down through the generations, from grandparents to parents to children and so on.
 
I have a couple of questions. I’m probably just being overly-scrupulous, but I would like to hear your opinions.

Recently, I have been working on recording a cover of an album I really admire, but some of the lyrics have been leaving me a tad scrupulous. In one song, the phrase “God forbid” is used, and in another, the word “damn” is used.

(This next one isn’t really on-topic, sorry.) There is even song that is about gay marriage (the writer of the song is a homosexual). But, I like to interpret the song as explaining how gays are sometimes treated unkindly because of their sexuality. Keep in mind, I did not write any of the songs, but I have sung and recorded them for the cover album. Have I committed a sin in singing any of these?

Thanks in advance
 
Okay, "ll have a go at it… But this is just my opinion…
ShaunH said:
Recently, I have been working on recording a cover of an album I really admire, but some of the lyrics have been leaving me a tad scrupulous. In one song, the phrase “God forbid” is used, and in another, the word “damn” is used.
Click to expand...
The phrase “God forbid” usually tends to be an honest plea rather than an insult. Even when used as sarcasm, I still would’nt consider it as an insult to God. I tend to think using the Lords name in vain is when you are extremely angry and somehow Gods name comes out -in an attempt to hold God accountable for what you find displeasing. That I think** is **a sin.

And the word “damn” is too vague in itself. If your not damning something that is Holy, and not using something Holy to damn, then it should’nt be a mortal sin.
ShaunH said:
(This next one isn’t really on-topic, sorry.) There is even song that is about gay marriage (the writer of the song is a homosexual). But, I like to interpret the song as explaining how gays are sometimes treated unkindly because of their sexuality. Keep in mind, I did not write any of the songs, but I have sung and recorded them for the cover album. Have I committed a sin in singing any of these?
Click to expand...
:nope: God sees your intentions. If you simply feel sorry for some of Gods children then you are absolutely not sinning at all. Plain and simple… :signofcross: Your intentions are what God sees.

If on the other hand it were your intention to purposely try to persuede people to become gay (if that is even possible) then that would be a sin. But I am in no way trying to accuse you of this. Just throwing it out there… :o
 
me_again said:
Your post got me to thinking. I speculate that different people have different proclivities for different sins i.e. the sins that I have problems with may not be a problem for you - and visa versa. There is something in the bible about curses following seven generations. I’d have to research it to find it, but I speculate that it means that different kinds of sinful tendencies may be handed down through the generations, from grandparents to parents to children and so on.
Click to expand...
That is an interesting theory… I know my father sometimes, when he’s extremely angry, screams -“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph”. I find that repulsive!!! He also vainly says “yashishmadia”, which I think is Slovak for God-d___-it. He has developed several other unique variations of this sin.

You may be on to something here… But is this “curse” a Catholic belief? I know I have also read something about this before, but I’m not sure that it is a Catholic belief… 🤷
 
TEPO said:
That is an interesting theory… I know my father sometimes, when he’s extremely angry, screams -“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph”. I find that repulsive!!! He also vainly says “yashishmadia”, which I think is Slovak for God-d___-it. He has developed several other unique variations of this sin.

You may be on to something here… But is this “curse” a Catholic belief? I know I have also read something about this before, but I’m not sure that it is a Catholic belief… 🤷
Click to expand...
Not judging your fathers ejaculatory prayer as being in vain or not, (only he and God knows) but I see the potential for such a turning to God for strength, patience, fortitude, forgiveness and peace in time of trial and temptation as being legitimate.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top