Is It Okay for Christians to Drop OMG's?
It is not uncommon to hear people toss around God's name as the exclamation point of their frustration. Their anger or excitement is not usually directed at God but nevertheless his name seems to find its way into their responses (even in texts with OMG). In the last year I have heard increasingly Christians engaging in the same routine. So here is the question, Is it okay to drop OMG's (Oh my God!)? The answer is absolutely not!
The obvious Scripture here is the 3rd Commandment:
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. Exodus 20:7
There is a command and a consequence. The command is don't take God's name in vain and the consequence is judgment. This should get our attention.
But what does it mean? The word translated vain means worthless, empty, inconsequential or false. It means that the object is lacking in value. God says don't take my name and empty it of value by making it another common, inconsequential word.
This is because God's name is synonymous with his God-ness. His name has to do with his essence and his actions. In other words, God's name is about who God is and what God does. This is precisely why we see such a connection with glory, worship and God's name.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His Name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness. (Psalms 29:2
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your Name give glory, for the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness! (Psalms 115:1)
Now back to the 3rd Commandment. If you take God's name in vain you are insulting God. You are taking that which is supposed to be hallowed (set-apart, dedicated, consecrated) and making it a by-word. This is the exact opposite of what we are supposed to do with God's Holy Name! It is entirely an uncommon name and never should be common! Christians are called to be a people of prayer, and God's name is to be hallowed. If we continue to carelessly toss God's name about like a frisbee in the park then we are dishonoring God. It's that simple.
You may think this is going a little overboard. But perhaps God thinks you are a little under-whelmed with him. If you are carelessly and thoughtlessly dropping OMG's I would urge you to discontinue doing it.
Remember, it is a terrible practice of the unbeliever to take God's name in vain:
¦Your enemies take Your name in vain. (Psalms 129: 30b)
And it is a conscious regard for the believer to honor God and His Name as Holy.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed (Holy or Revered) be Your Name. (Mathew 6:9)
If you are carelessly using God's name as a throw away word when you get upset or stub your toe, then you need to stop. And not just stop, but start regarding His Name and Him as Holy and Uncommon.
If you have been guilty of doing this, it would be in your best interest now to ask God to forgive you for doing so, and help you to be keenly aware that His Name should be taken seriously and revered.
No other name but Jesus, Gaither Vocal Band
It is not uncommon to hear people toss around God's name as the exclamation point of their frustration. Their anger or excitement is not usually directed at God but nevertheless his name seems to find its way into their responses (even in texts with OMG). In the last year I have heard increasingly Christians engaging in the same routine. So here is the question, Is it okay to drop OMG's (Oh my God!)? The answer is absolutely not!
The obvious Scripture here is the 3rd Commandment:
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. Exodus 20:7
There is a command and a consequence. The command is don't take God's name in vain and the consequence is judgment. This should get our attention.
But what does it mean? The word translated vain means worthless, empty, inconsequential or false. It means that the object is lacking in value. God says don't take my name and empty it of value by making it another common, inconsequential word.
This is because God's name is synonymous with his God-ness. His name has to do with his essence and his actions. In other words, God's name is about who God is and what God does. This is precisely why we see such a connection with glory, worship and God's name.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His Name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness. (Psalms 29:2
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your Name give glory, for the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness! (Psalms 115:1)
Now back to the 3rd Commandment. If you take God's name in vain you are insulting God. You are taking that which is supposed to be hallowed (set-apart, dedicated, consecrated) and making it a by-word. This is the exact opposite of what we are supposed to do with God's Holy Name! It is entirely an uncommon name and never should be common! Christians are called to be a people of prayer, and God's name is to be hallowed. If we continue to carelessly toss God's name about like a frisbee in the park then we are dishonoring God. It's that simple.
You may think this is going a little overboard. But perhaps God thinks you are a little under-whelmed with him. If you are carelessly and thoughtlessly dropping OMG's I would urge you to discontinue doing it.
Remember, it is a terrible practice of the unbeliever to take God's name in vain:
¦Your enemies take Your name in vain. (Psalms 129: 30b)
And it is a conscious regard for the believer to honor God and His Name as Holy.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed (Holy or Revered) be Your Name. (Mathew 6:9)
If you are carelessly using God's name as a throw away word when you get upset or stub your toe, then you need to stop. And not just stop, but start regarding His Name and Him as Holy and Uncommon.
If you have been guilty of doing this, it would be in your best interest now to ask God to forgive you for doing so, and help you to be keenly aware that His Name should be taken seriously and revered.
No other name but Jesus, Gaither Vocal Band
