Are you misusing His name when you say "Oh my God!"
or does it mean when you say "I swear to God!" or is it when you use God as an excuse or a scapegoat for you behavior? How about when you tell someone that God will send them to hell?
What does it mean to misuse God's name?
2006-11-06 01:06:28 · 22 answers · asked by Miss Vicki 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
truth_hurts
That's all wonderful insight, but, in plain, simple words, what does it mean?
2006-11-06 01:15:38 · update #1
El Shaddai means "God almighty" or "The all sufficient God"
2006-11-06 01:25:12 · update #2
I don't say "Oh, my G-d". I also (try!) not to swear. I've had co-workers say they enjoy working with me because my lack of swearing helps them not to swear so much.
I also don't tell people they are going to Hell. Although I am Jewish, I work for a Christian agency, so the rules are also Christian. We do have Jewish individuals, & I generally get called on to interact with them, as I understand the culture/customs.
To me, misusing G-d's name also involves having religious bumper stickers on your car while driving like you're late! It means acting arrogantly while telling people how godly you are. I think it means diffeent things to different people.
2006-11-06 01:11:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Any time you use God's name without thought or reverence. The first 5 commandments focus our attention on our relationship with God. If we misuse the name of God in any way, what does that say about our relationship. Think of it like this: how would you feel if someone swore using your name and you thought this person was a very close friend? I believe you get my point.
2006-11-06 03:42:49 · answer #2 · answered by teachingpk2008 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Vain, Uselessly, no reason. You should ask for your examples, are they used for a casual purpose and thus degrading the honour that should be reserved for references to God? If you are being serious and saying "Don't do that or God will send you to hell" you could be quite honest and this would not be a vain usage, although this would be the worst way to make such a statement. I would personally have never thought to include "God" in there; just say, "you'll go to hell for this." The question you might then ask, what counts as "my name (in vain)?" I believe even the term "God" counts and should not be used casually.
2006-11-06 01:13:42 · answer #3 · answered by Scane 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To not take the name of the "Lord" in vain means one must understand covenant theology. The history of the "I-thou" relationship is full of 'contracts' - agreements between God and Humanity. In this sense, God is ever true to his word, and he will eternally preserve his part of an agreement; but Humanity must either follow the conditions of the agreement (like for example, when God tells Abraham he will become the God of his people if Abraham consecrates his seed to God --- the binding act of the agreement is circumcision for all male offspring of Abraham's line) or have moved God into engendering an agreement simply on the basis of righteousness (i.e., God saw that Abraham's righteousness was such that he "swore" to Abraham that his offspring will be plentiful --- Here God doesn't ask anything of Abraham for bestowing this blessing, he just credits the blessing to Abraham's "righteousness".)
The point is, mankind being finite, imperfect, and post-lapsarian is only destined by its human nature to err.... it can spend its mortality trying to overcome and surpass its human nature, but it will, for the most part, break oaths, not live up to its side of a contract - agreement, and leave a covenant unfulfilled.....
If you swear by the name of God to do something, and then not do it, its like the ultimate form of disrespect.... and to a culture that has many different names for God, including Elohim, and El Shaddai, (means something like, he who terrifies -- he brings awe and fright and wonder) you can't possibly disrespect your supreme deity by making him co-responsible in your failing promise, by making him the spiritual arbiter of your imperfect oath.
Jesus takes it one step further and says, do not even swear (make oaths) at all, period. Your word should be your word, without any auxilliary parts to make it MORE believable or credible.
2006-11-06 01:20:22 · answer #4 · answered by __________________ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any misuse of God's name or authority is sin. We should not use His name except in reverance and humility.
but what about the next four verses?
2006-11-06 01:23:13 · answer #5 · answered by I-o-d-tiger 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are taking the Lords name in vain and is a sin against the 2nd commandment. Regarding when you tell someone that God will send them to hell it would be a sin against the 6th commandment, thou shall not commit murder you are murdering their spirit
Just a footnote God does not send any soul to hell we choose that end.
2006-11-06 01:16:17 · answer #6 · answered by Gods child 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We aren't to take oaths, either. People use God's name because He is the highest authority. Don't use the Lords name in vain. I only use God's name when I am talking about Him. I don't use it any other time, even when upset.
2006-11-06 01:11:37 · answer #7 · answered by RB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. Its the same thing as blaspheming God's name. Because you are not glorifying the name of God. Most everyone who says OMG does not even believe in HIm.
2006-11-06 01:11:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Using His name as a swear word, using His name for your own good, like making money etc. and saying you are worshipping Him on a Sunday, if His holy day is the Sabbath (Saturday)
2006-11-06 01:12:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Believe it or not, we Muslims have the same order.
And we understand two things:
1. not to say: 'I swear to God' too much
2. not to use His name to swear on a lie: I swear to God it was so and so...
might apply to u too ...
2006-11-06 01:21:35 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋