Topic: taking the Lord's name in vain

Several of my sci-fi characters come from a religious world, New Bethlehem. They're teenagers, so I do have them mildly curse occasionally. For example, one of the teens says, "I'd resist it like hell." Is there anything in the Bible that addresses cursing, besides the obvious of not taking the Lord's name in vain?

Also, are any of the following considered taking the Lord's name in vain:
Good gracious
Holy cow
What in Heaven
Dammit

Finally, if my characters are in a life-and-death situation, is it okay for them to cry out, "God, help us!" without violating the commandment?

Thank you.
Dirk

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Re: taking the Lord's name in vain

Hi Dirk, I'm going to answer the last part by pointing out that king David had cried out to the Lord a lot. Psalms is full of those cries, pleas, and shouts for God's help.

As for your first part, study how Jesus had used the word hypocrite, there are times it feels he's using it as a swear word. I would also consider the curses people had given one another as angry words/swearing.

To me nothing in that list takes the Lord's name in vain. Since His name isn't used in any of those phrases.

Karen

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Re: taking the Lord's name in vain

Thank you, Karen. I figured dammit was probably the most questionable of the list, since it's historically short for 'God damn it.' I don't have that much cursing in my book but was interested if I was crossing any obvious boundaries.

Dirk

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Re: taking the Lord's name in vain

This is my experience alone and not intended to govern others speech.  If I have to ask if it's wrong, it is.  Having said that, there are times when such maturity does not come to fruition.  Mike

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Re: taking the Lord's name in vain

Mike, I agree that if you have to ask you usually answered your own query. But Dirk's list is very benign, even the last word in the list. The thing is there is more to taking the Lord's name in vain than grouchy words. It can happen even in a casual unheated conversation, since the definition of the word vain this commandment is referring to is "having no value". True curse words and swearing makes it appear your not putting value in what God means to you, but in fact you could actually value Him so much that you could be asking God to dam something or someone when you say God dam it.

That's why we need to speak life into what we say, since words are powerful things.

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Re: taking the Lord's name in vain

I keep forgetting to Google first. The Bible includes over forty verses against cursing, including:

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

He loved to curse; let curses come upon him! He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him! He clothed himself with cursing as his coat; may it soak into his body like water, like oil into his bones!

Dirk

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7 Reply by Janet Taylor-Perry (edited by Janet Taylor-Perry 2015-05-06 14:21:33)

Re: taking the Lord's name in vain

In your last example, you are talking about curses--proclaiming a damnation. What you're asking about in the beginning is cussing. Le's face--people cuss. Even good Christians cuss. Point being--even is your characters cuss and then feel guilty about it, that's when a pardon is received from God. A good point is this: It's no so much the actual words that are spoken as the intent. My sweet boss would NEVER say the F word. But when he gets upset, he says, "Fiddlesticks!" It's the same intent. Look at intent when using an expletive.

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Re: taking the Lord's name in vain

I find in life that I am influencing people who I would never have guessed would pay any attention to me.  It is such a great surprise when someone say, "I have been watching you, and I want what you have."  It has happened to me, and I immediately start thinking what example have I shown.  I am talking with a friend presently who I rode to work with for several years.  He was a functioning alcoholic married numerous times and bragged about his affairs.  Two years after I retired, he called me when his son was killed and wants to talk. Why, because he knew from being with me, I didn't talk like him, act like him, or think like him, and he wanted my input on his sorrow and how to handle it.  I simply say, it's not me, it's Jesus and we go from there.  We must be different to be noticed.
Matt 5:13  You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. 14"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
God bless you guys this is a stimulating conversation.  Mike

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Re: taking the Lord's name in vain

I am among those who appreciate your feedback, Mike. You've already impacted my story in important ways.

Quote Post 9

Re: taking the Lord's name in vain

Thank you Dirk. That means a lot to me.  Mike

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