A question about "blessings", if I may.?

Question

I'm in the habit of saying, "God bless you" because I truly want people to be blessed of God. I've seen people express irritation on R&S with this concept; so what I want to know is this: Is it the "God" part that bothers you, or do you just not want to be blessed? Can I just say "Blessings" or "Bless ya good"? Or something else, as long as I leave God out of it?

EDIT: Primoa--I'm not backing down, I'm just trying to understand why people have a problem with the phrase "God bless you".

Riegan: I can & I do

Creatrix: I don't threaten people w/ hell & truthfully it makes me cringe when I see/hear other 'christians' do it. It's not my job to convict/condemn.

Grim Jack: My intentions are for good & I'd never spit on you, atheist or not.

Kaboodle: Let me know if that works, willya?

Chip Monk! Love it!

Creatrix: no worries, Hon, I'm not that easy to offend. =]

There are some great answers here.

THANK YOU ALL for participating.

((((hugs)))) & God bless you

Answer 1

I've been known to slap a "bless yer pea pickin little heart" or "bless your nasty little self" down when I thought an honest "God Bless" would offend.

Answer 2

Well a pagan believes in blessing as do other religions. I think it is the God part. You could say blessings be on you and know that you mean as a God person and some one else can take it however they want to

Answer 3

I find it annoying that people get upset with a wish of good will, whether it's the people that get mad at being told happy holidays instead of merry Christmas or vice versa or whatever.

HOWEVER, here on R&S, we se a lot of "You are going to burn in hell if you continue to believe as you do and when Jesus comes back, I will laugh at His side while you are cast into the flames. God bless you." Then, I think a lot of us get annoyed. Then it's not a wish of good will but more a kin to telling someone to have a nice day after you've just irritated the crap out of them, you know? the intent is key, as far as I'm concerned.

But, in all earnestness,
I wish you blessings. =)

Edit: Wanda, I'm sorry - I didn't mean to imply that you were one of the people who did that! =)

Answer 4

Honestly it doesn't affect me one way or another.

Some more religious folks I respect will say, Be Blessed, Go In Peace, Shalom, Have a Greasy One.

In my book what matters is the intent of the person.

edit: I used to get annoyed with it when it came from someone who knew I was an atheist and their intent was to annoy me.

How did I know they were trying to annoy me?

They were the same people who would try to spit on me after school board meetings.

Answer 5

I have that same habit.....

I guess I can understand non-believers and atheists getting a bit irritated by it - to them, it is like saying, "May the Giant Pumpkin bless you".

But to us who believe, who truly believe that God is alive and awesome and He does bless, that God does answer his children's prayers, that God is the one who bestows blessings, it is a way of communicating our desire for the very best for the "blessee" - even if it does irritate.

Thus, methinks I will continue.....

god bless

Answer 6

If you want God to bless the people you are in contact with then, go ahead and say it. :-) Go ahead speak blessing into people's life. And we know that God is the author of blessings. It is up to the receiving end to accept and be blessed.

Answer 7

Probably, the best "blessing" you can speak to
an un-believer in Christ Jesus has to do with the
following passage:

Mark 7:31-35 (New International Version)
31Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.[a] 32There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.
33After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue. 34He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means, "Be opened!" ). 35At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.


"Ephphatha!" (which means, "Be opened!" )
It can pertain to what Jesus also said:
"Those that have an ear, let them hear",
meaning having spiritual ears and
eyes opened in Jesus name!
Eyes and ears being open to see and hear
who Jesus is and what Jesus has done -
to bring eternal life!

So maybe we can say "Ephphatha!"
They won't know what that means, then
we can tell them!

Answer 8

You want to be careful who you ask the blessings of God upon.
"For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath {both the Father and the Son}. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed {is partaker of his evil deeds}" 2 John 1:7-11.

Answer 9

Goddess bless you!

It works both ways, and it sounds just as nice either way to me. If someone is offended by it, move on. It's not your irritation to worry about - let them work out their own issues.

Answer 10

I think that is endearing and sweet of you. I am a Christian and don't understand why others would not want a blessing from someone who believes and are merely wishing them well.