Is saying 'OMG' or words like geez still taking the Lord's name in vain?
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Is saying 'OMG' or words like geez still taking the Lord's name in vain? Is using an abbreviation or an acronym the same as actually saying the word?
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- Is saying O -M -G taking the Lord's name in vain? We're going to answer that question.
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- The idea of taking the Lord's name in vain is first found in Exodus 20 when Moses receives the
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- Ten Commandments. The third commandment states, You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the
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- Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. What does that mean?
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- How does it apply in terms like O -M -G and G's? Taking the Lord's name in vain is to speak of God with irreverence or disrespect.
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- Many have traditionally understood the exclamation, Oh my God, to be sinful because it has nothing to do with a proper, reverent use of God's name.
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- The same principle is true when a person uses an acronym such as O -M -G or a word like G's, the first syllable of Jesus' name, or gosh, a modified form of God.
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- If the intended meaning is to be disrespectful toward God and his name, the word should not be used.
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- However, some people use O -M -G without any thought of its connection to God's name, and that is what makes this question difficult.
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- We could all use the reminder that our words carry meaning. As people who follow Christ, we care deeply about helping others and honoring
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- God. We must ask ourselves, do these words help others and honor
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- God? If we are honest, probably not. It may not be easy to change a long -standing habit, but we must seek to speak words that build up one another and honor the
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- Lord. James 3, 9 -10 speaks of the tongue as a powerful part of the body.
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- With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
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- From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
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- Our goal is to be consistent in our words, so that they would serve as a blessing to God and to others.
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- Paul wrote, And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the
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- Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. This stands as our basis for evaluating terms such as O -M -G and G's.
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- Does using these words give thanks to God the Father? If not, begin working to remove these words from your conversations and text messages in order to honor
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- God in word and deed. That answers the question, Is saying O -M -G taking the
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- Lord's name in vain? Research this question further on our website GotQuestions .org
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