[Linsinbigler]

I am very sensitive with regard to this commandment. I cannot stand it that it is acceptable in our culture to use God's name so flippantly (i.e. the perpetual use of "O my G**")

However, the representative of the Methodist perspective on the forum, Rev. Alan Beaver, pointed out something to me a few weeks ago. He stated that he thinks it is rather amazing that when we are in a crisis situation, that our impulse (cross-cultural) is to call on the name of the Lord. This is done instinctively. If we are about to be in a car crash, OMG or JC help me or something to this effect comes out. (Again, cross-cultural--Dios mio! for example). It is a sign that even the atheist innately calls on his creator when in dire straights.

I think this is a beautiful perspective. May the light of the eternal Son of God-made-flesh shine upon all.

[colin]

I saw a man hit his thumb with the hammer and he said awe. Yah is God's name and the y is silent. AH awe. Still more religious people would say God after that mishap and me , I know I say Jesus. This is not taking the Lord's name in vain. The word vain reflects vanity or the thinking of ones self. Vanity of vanity , all is vanity. The teachings of the bible are of man and also of spirit. To teach in some ones place is to speak in his name. To teach the teachings of man is vanity and to speak these teachings in the name of God is to take his name in vain. Man speaking the teachings of man and doing it in the name of God is taking the lord's name in vain.

It's also like saying , God is a heavenly being, to teach earthly teaching in his place is breaking that commandment. It's like parables. Is God the earthly teaching or the heavenly meanings. Which is the speaking for God.

I should also say that taking to the use of fowl language is not right. Cursins and swearing either but even these have a more spiritual meaning too.

[Linsinbigler]

Colin, what you say is most definitely true. However, there are other instances in which "we" (speaking societally) take his name in vain. In days of old, a common thing was to swear by God that you are telling the truth when you are really lying. We certainly still have that today in the form of perjury (and if it is against one's neighbor, it is compound in that it is also bearing false witness). However, I think that we use the Lord's name too flippantly. We call on his name when we don't really mean it--vainly. So I think it is important to have your perspective, but also the broader perspective as well. Yet, I also think that Rev. Beaver's point is also of great merit. God lets the unbeliever know from his own mouth that he is there and that he is in need of God's mercy. Glory to God in all things.

[colin]

Originally Posted by Linsinbigler

Colin, what you say is most definitely true. However, there are other instances in which "we" (speaking societally) take his name in vain. In days of old, a common thing was to swear by God that you are telling the truth when you are really lying. We certainly still have that today in the form of perjury (and if it is against one's neighbor, it is compound in that it is also bearing false witness). However, I think that we use the Lord's name too flippantly. We call on his name when we don't really mean it--vainly. So I think it is important to have your perspective, but also the broader perspective as well. Yet, I also think that Rev. Beaver's point is also of great merit. God lets the unbeliever know from his own mouth that he is there and that he is in need of God's mercy. Glory to God in all things.

You hit on some good points there. There is this I would like to ask you. Do you believe I pergered myself when I said I heard God speak to me. OK, thats not fair. I will say this. It may be that very soon you will find that many of the well respected people of our religion may find themselves to the be liars for teaching the very things we have been tought to believe.I'm refering too the understanding they give when speaking of the old testament. Yet we are forgiven when we know not what we do. It's when you or me do know what is right or wrong. Then we are acountable for our selves. Sorry, still a little off track from your thoughts.

[colin]

Originally Posted by Linsinbigler

Colin, what you say is most definitely true. However, there are other instances in which "we" (speaking societally) take his name in vain. In days of old, a common thing was to swear by God that you are telling the truth when you are really lying. We certainly still have that today in the form of perjury (and if it is against one's neighbor, it is compound in that it is also bearing false witness). However, I think that we use the Lord's name too flippantly. We call on his name when we don't really mean it--vainly. So I think it is important to have your perspective, but also the broader perspective as well. Yet, I also think that Rev. Beaver's point is also of great merit. God lets the unbeliever know from his own mouth that he is there and that he is in need of God's mercy. Glory to God in all things.

Father Linsinbigler, I'm sorry. I know what you mean. People using the name of Jesus like it was the F word or saying God dam like God would dam someone or thing at their request. Thats wrong disrespectfull to the greatest of them all. I hate it. I have done it myself and of that I am ashamed. Hopefully never again.

[doinghiswill]

I just wanted to throw this in and I hope I'm not off point.


Eze 36:16 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 36:17 Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman.
Eze 36:18 Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it:
Eze 36:19 And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.
Eze 36:20 And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land.
Eze 36:21 But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.
Eze 36:22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.

I often wonder if when we live our lives as to misrepresent The Lord weather we are taking his name in vain.

Originally Posted by Linsinbigler

I am very sensitive with regard to this commandment. I cannot stand it that it is acceptable in our culture to use God's name so flippantly (i.e. the perpetual use of "O my G**")

However, the representative of the Methodist perspective on the forum, Rev. Alan Beaver, pointed out something to me a few weeks ago. He stated that he thinks it is rather amazing that when we are in a crisis situation, that our impulse (cross-cultural) is to call on the name of the Lord. This is done instinctively. If we are about to be in a car crash, OMG or JC help me or something to this effect comes out. (Again, cross-cultural--Dios mio! for example). It is a sign that even the atheist innately calls on his creator when in dire straights.

I think this is a beautiful perspective. May the light of the eternal Son of God-made-flesh shine upon all.

Its a nice perspective, but I think I am leaning more towards your first instinct.

I mean, we have other impulses too, but just because they ARE impulses (sex, gluttony, etc.) does not make them nice.

I always thought that over the course of time being a Christian we were supposed to be the master of our questionable impulses rather than let them be our master.

[Amadeus]

Originally Posted by CatholicCrusader

Its a nice perspective, but I think I am leaning more towards your first instinct.

I mean, we have other impulses too, but just because they ARE impulses (sex, gluttony, etc.) does not make them nice.

I always thought that over the course of time being a Christian we were supposed to be the master of our questionable impulses rather than let them be our master.

CC, as we grow in the Lord, our instinct should be drawing closer to His instinct. In other words, our ways should become eventually always His Way.

"But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:

Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." Matt 5:34-37

[Amadeus]

When I was a young man in the Roman Catholic Church there were many times when I went to confession and was given by the priest a certain number of Hail Mary's and/or Our Fathers to say as penance.

In time, I got sloppy in how I did this. I knew the two prayers so well that I said each as fast as I could speak the words, which was pretty fast in those days, in order to hurry up and get it over with...

Later, while still a Catholic, my heart was pricked in guilt. My prayers of penance were in fact vain repetitions. They were not vain repetions because I was saying each of them multiple times, but rather because they were not said and considered carefully to understand to meaning of each word and the reason for saying them in the first place. I needed to confess anew to include this newly discovered sin of mine.

The Lord's prayer is beautiful, which, today, I try to say every day in English, Spanish and German. Think carefully on the words and consider what they mean as you say them. Doing this, no matter how many times you repeat them it will never be a "vain repetition"!

Our Father which art in heaven,

[Who is our Father? This is not the one who sired physically me. This is the God who created us.]

Hallowed be thy name.

[So great is He that His very name, for which we really don't have a single word, which can clearly expresss who He is. We need to keep and describe Him always as the holiest of holies.]

Thy kingdom come.

[Yes, Lord let it come into its fullness in accord with Thy will.]

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

[Let His will work in me, even in this lump of flesh (and every other lump of flesh that I know or do not know), which He has blessed so much over the years of natural life. Let His will be done in this carnal entity even as it is done in His own highest spiritual abode.]

Give us this day our daily bread.

[Give us Lord our natural needs in accord with Your will and supply us also with an abundant portion of Thy Word, writing it in our hearts and quickening with His Spirit so that we may alive as He is alive.]

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

We want God to forgive us for our errors, for our sins, especially those against Him, each of which has increased our indebtedness to Him to whom we already owed so much; and if we expect this from Him, we can do no less for those who owe us anything, be it money or apology or friendship or etc.]

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

[We want to be led where He wants to lead us, which will never be to temptations, which will cause us to fall into evil again.]

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." Matt 6:9-13

It cannot and must not ever be vain repetition when we are speaking to and about our Maker!

[Dewayne]

Originally Posted by Amadeus

When I was a young man in the Roman Catholic Church there were many times when I went to confession and was given by the priest a certain number of Hail Mary's and/or Our Fathers to say as penance.

In time, I got sloppy in how I did this. I knew the two prayers so well that I said each as fast as I could speak the words, which was pretty fast in those days, in order to hurry up and get it over with...

Later, while still a Catholic, my heart was pricked in guilt. My prayers of penance were in fact vain repetitions. They were not vain repetions because I was saying each of them multiple times, but rather because they were not said and considered carefully to understand to meaning of each word and the reason for saying them in the first place. I needed to confess anew to include this newly discovered sin of mine.

The Lord's prayer is beautiful, which, today, I try to say every day in English, Spanish and German. Think carefully on the words and consider what they mean as you say them. Doing this, no matter how many times you repeat them it will never be a "vain repetition"!

Our Father which art in heaven,

[Who is our Father? This is not the one who sired physically me. This is the God who created us.]

Hallowed be thy name.

[So great is He that His very name, for which we really don't have a single word, which can clearly expresss who He is. We need to keep and describe Him always as the holiest of holies.]

Thy kingdom come.

[Yes, Lord let it come into its fullness in accord with Thy will.]

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

[Let His will work in me, even in this lump of flesh (and every other lump of flesh that I know or do not know), which He has blessed so much over the years of natural life. Let His will be done in this carnal entity even as it is done in His own highest spiritual abode.]

Give us this day our daily bread.

[Give us Lord our natural needs in accord with Your will and supply us also with an abundant portion of Thy Word, writing it in our hearts and quickening with His Spirit so that we may alive as He is alive.]

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

We want God to forgive us for our errors, for our sins, especially those against Him, each of which has increased our indebtedness to Him to whom we already owed so much; and if we expect this from Him, we can do no less for those who owe us anything, be it money or apology or friendship or etc.]

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

[We want to be led where He wants to lead us, which will never be to temptations, which will cause us to fall into evil again.]

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." Matt 6:9-13

It cannot and must not ever be vain repetition when we are speaking to and about our Maker!

Praise the Lord John!! this brings alot to my mind, and my heart. I have said the Lord's prayer but not this way. I can see that this will never be a vain repetition, if one thinks about it, this prayer covers any and all in my book. thanks again I have learned somthing today my friend!,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Dewayne