I normally don't blog about my personal views. I also realize that my views, beliefs and personal convictions are not usually very popular. I've held back from this posting because I worry over making others upset. I've realized though, the older I get, the less I care of what others think I'm too extreme about. Is it extreme to follow the commandments??
I've grown so tired of reading/hearing people of God using His name in vain. They flippantly throw His name into their exclamations that have no need for His name. Why don't we realize that His name is holy? His name is to be revered and respected!
A few months back, I wrote lessons for the Ten Commandment series (for grades K-5 for our church). When I was delving into each commandment, different things stuck in my heart like #3 ... don't use God's name in vain. I'd made the personal decision (although the thought of that being personal is probably audacious to God himself) to change the way I spoke/typed a long time before and since having written those lessons, it's only spurred deeper hurt to hear the way His children use His name as something to just spit out when they are "awed". It even cuts deep to hear people in public throw His name out without actually referring to Him!
What am I specifically referring to? Well... I hesitate to even type it but I think sometimes people have to point out things to others that should be obvious already. Although, it's also obvious that it's not clear in their minds already! It literally hurts me to know that so called "Christians" teach their children to be respectful of "church property", older adults and so on but how many times have they witnessed our disrespect for God in this one particular way?!?
So what are they? - OMG (ANY way it's stated, spoken, acronyms or anything else), MG (same diff.), and several others. Why do we NEED to say OMG? If you think about what you're saying, you're breaking the commandment.
Exodus 20:7 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain."
I thought I'd include the definition of "vain" so that its meaning would be clear. While #1 & #2 do not apply, all the others fit, in my opinion.
–adjective, -er, -est. 1. excessively proud of or concerned about one's own appearance, qualities, achievements, etc.; conceited: a vain dandy. 2. proceeding from or showing personal vanity: vain remarks. 3. ineffectual or unsuccessful; futile: a vain effort. 4. without real significance, value, or importance; baseless or worthless: vain pageantry; vain display. 5. Archaic. senseless or foolish. —Idiom 6. in vain, a. without effect or avail; to no purpose: to apologize in vain. b. in an improper or irreverent manner: to take God's name in vain.
I ask you... Do you really think you could justify yourself to God why (if you are guilty of this) you use His name in such a senseless and needless way?
Remember, it's not too late to change the way you exclaim yourself. Step 1: Ask for forgiveness. Step 2: Be conscious of when you normally use His name in vain and just don't do it. Try not to replace it, if possible.
*Once again: this is my personal view but if you find fault with me... take it to God first.
