One of the 10 Commandments states </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">In the sermon on the Mount Jesus states </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 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.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">So when is it okay to use the term God?

Personally, I never use it unless in prayer or when discussing theological issues. I consider using it in a brief expression of delight or shock to be sin because it is used without real intent of either communicating with or communicating about God. The same would go for the name Jesus or Jesus Christ.

What else do you consider swearing?

I've got a list:

Hell and [censored] can be used in religious contexts, but I would consider it swearing to use them lightly and in direct conflict to what the Savior said in the sermon on the mount to invoke them in any way lightly.

There are others as well:
B---h
F--k
S--t
P--s

And referring in a derogatory manner to any part of the female or male anatomy, using vulgar slang. Yeah, that's all swearing in my book. Any other ideas?

the bible never says anything about cussing in my recalection...heres a lil example

a preacher one day was yelling out into the congragation as the sermon was getting to its climax.... he looked out and said people there are starving hungry dieng sinful humans out their who are going to hell and you dont give a sh*t

now the preacher said ...see you were so caught up with me saing that word you still werent thinking about those people....the bible says not to use those words that tear people down i dont think its clarified as to what a curse word is...


</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">So when is it okay to use the term God?</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">but as for this ...thats a good question...because in my unsaved days i often said Gods name followed by curse words...but now when i get upset or sumthing i shout out ....GOD BLESS!!! instead of God sumthing else..

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">but now when i get upset or sumthing i shout out ....GOD BLESS!!! instead of God sumthing else..
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">and you don't consider this taking the name of God lightly or at least using it in an inappropriate manner?

I'm not judging, I'm just curious - because to me I would consider that inappropriate, unless you were sincerely asking God to bless someone or something.

no and for just one reason because i feel that instead of refering God to [censored] me i am asking him to bless me....may seem weird but its just a lil thing i got goin on

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">P--s
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">i just noticed this and i dont think p*ss is a bad word...im frum tha kuntry so remember that but if you use it in the context that your p*ssed off ...then i beleive its just as bad as saying crap ...which i dont think is a bad word either...now here is the country part if you just say yuh gotta p*ss its ok...i stared out the word so no one got offended for me saying the whole word but any who

"crap" is about as colorful as my language gets these days. Every once and a while, when I'm really mad, I'll throw out a "Gosh Dangit" or a "Jiminy Christmas." I do have a problem with swearing in Norwegian, but their swear words mean different things that I don't actually find offensive. Referees used to look at me like I was a lunatic when I used to cuss in Norwegian during basketball games.

I used to say p*ss all the time, but my wife won't have it.

Any of the others, I could probably count the times I've used them on one hand. I never use the term God outside of a religious context (i.e. never in the expression of joy, delight, or anger). Same goes for the name of Jesus.

dude i so say Jimminy christmas ...but your right only if you extremly puff me off will i say da*n or H*ll but any way God bless and Flippidy doo dah is as close as i get to saying any thing bad with out getting really heated and not thinking before my words pop out

Got a question I guess about intent. Lusting is unacceptable, right, acting out the lust is worse than just lusting. Are both sin? Is one a worse sin than the other?

Jimminy Christmas, Jesus Chr***. Obviously saying the one starting with Jesus' name is taking his name in vain and a sin. Since the only difference between that and Jimminy Christmas is the words you choose to use, is Jimminy as bad as the blatant in vain words? Might not both be sinful?

Gosh Dangit, probably the covert version of God Da** it. If used at the same time others would use the overt form might not both be sinful? Or since it is not exactly like saying gosh dang or God Da** YOU what makes them ok?

Thank God! Often said when a person is thankful for what God did or didn't do in their life. Is that sinful? Oh my God instead of oh my gosh. Is either or both sinful? Do words regardless of them referring to the same thing determine what is sinful and what isn't.

When I get the news that my test for lung cancer is negative, am I sweraring when I say, thank you Jesus?

UKC - I believe you'd truly mean it as a praise not a swear!! As for as those who don't even know Jesus they'd be just empty words!

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by UnconventionalKrisChen:
Got a question I guess about intent. Lusting is unacceptable, right, acting out the lust is worse than just lusting. Are both sin? Is one a worse sin than the other?

Jimminy Christmas, Jesus Chr***. Obviously saying the one starting with Jesus' name is taking his name in vain and a sin. Since the only difference between that and Jimminy Christmas is the words you choose to use, is Jimminy as bad as the blatant in vain words? Might not both be sinful?

Gosh Dangit, probably the covert version of God Da** it. If used at the same time others would use the overt form might not both be sinful? Or since it is not exactly like saying gosh dang or God Da** YOU what makes them ok?

Thank God! Often said when a person is thankful for what God did or didn't do in their life. Is that sinful? Oh my God instead of oh my gosh. Is either or both sinful? Do words regardless of them referring to the same thing determine what is sinful and what isn't.

When I get the news that my test for lung cancer is negative, am I sweraring when I say, thank you Jesus? </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">As you brought up in the first paragraph, I believe it's what is in the heart, tho the tongue can easily betray what we try to hide

I think maybe 3-4 people in the world have heard me say cuss words, 1-2 of those when I was fired from a job I had worked at 9+ years for (*^(* reasons and the others were when I was in puerto rico last year and someone hit our vehicle that was parked and the cop sided with them. I was seeing red at those times and cussing probably vented some anger that would have gotten me in a physical confrontation otherwise.

Doesn't make me a better Christian than others because I have struggles elsewhere.

I was taught as a young boy that "Gosh!" and "Golly!" were only subsitutes for "God!" - clearly taking God's name in vain whether or not another expletive was added on the end. I'd say "Jiminy Christmas" follows along the same path - yes, it's a substitute, but it's pretty thinly veiled. I have lots of northern friends who say "Geezzz!" alot, I would surmise the same as above.

I do believe saying "God Bless" is one of the more perfect ways to use His name - we're showing His compassion and love, albeit on a pretty small scale.

If intent is what matters, my intent when saying Jiminy Christmas is really to not say/take the name of Jesus in vain.

I guess, where I have a problem is when people say "Oh My God" and their thoughts or intent is obviously not with God and they are actually, using the expression to express their outrage, shock, delight or whatever else it is they're experiencing - whereas the proper context for this phrase would be to use it only when we are truly in awe of God's greatness or in praise and worship.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">When I get the news that my test for lung cancer is negative, am I sweraring when I say, thank you Jesus?</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">i think it was just "silly" for lack of better term.....to even ask this one.... but as for the rest the bible never says any thing about a curse word it just says dont take the Lords name in vein and dont use words that bring down peoples spirits....and as long as the Lords name isnt "JIMMINY" or "GOSH" then i believe we are all smart enough to make that desicion on our own...as far as saying thank God....im sure if you were mocking the phrase then sure it would be wrong but as far as just saying thank God because you won a relay or you accomplished some thing or sumthing just so happen to Go your way .....then sure go ahead and give God all the glory that you can ...... it makes since to me.....

If saying Jimminy Christmas is said to not say Jesus Christ in a non prayerful or glorifying way, isn't really the same thing with the conscious effort to not say His name? It doesn't make sense to me.

I purposely over did the comparisons. I guess even above intent, how we rationalize what we say is what matters, right?

NE I knew it was silly and just threw it in with the others. I was trying to make the point that I am not at all sure if the words we use or when/how we use them, probably doesn't matter. Since they are just different words that mean the same thing. They're either wrong or alright. Regardless of the words used, we/you can't have it both ways, can we?
If we can, where does that begin or end?

I guess it's sort of a pet peeve of mine that the "Christians" use a different word at the very same time another person would say exactly what the word(s) are/is. Since the "Christian" didn't use the word but meant the same thing it allegedly is fine. I'm certainly not limiting this to words that could be using God's name in vane. It's the holier than thou thing I guess.

Aside from my rant I do appreciate the responses though. I meant my question to be legitimate. I'm not sure I know anymore than before but at least have some more input.

Maybe Matthew 5 can shed some more insight. In verse 22 it says </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">So don't go and say "Raca" or "thou fool" to anyone and you'll be okay (we need a little smiley to connote "tongue in cheek" statements)

Then later when specifically talking about swearing, Jesus says </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">So next time I post anything with the words "Nay, Nay" just know that I really mean "@#$%&^$$&^*^$%$%*&^%*&^%"

And, here I thought it was your horsey impersonation.

Nay, Nay

Now Now.......lol

you also have to realize that using words such as Jimminy christmas or God Bless instead of flooglr scroggin er what ever also brings humor into the situation instead of anger and i believe humor would would realieve stress where as anger..... you see...

There's other words to bring humor to a situation Those who feel like they have to swear really have a limited vocabulary

I remember my 11th grade english teacher telling our class that very same thing. That people who cuss lack the vocabulary to express themselves. I've never forgotten that either.

What do you think about exclamations in general? I've read what you all have said about the ones with God hidden within them, but what about the others? What makes some acceptable while others unacceptable? And as christians should we not exclaim period?

Good question Amy. What makes anything acceptable is nobody saying that it isn't. Eventually although still unacceptable, it is accepted. Kind of like, if you can't lick 'em join 'em.

As a Christian I suppose even though it would probably fall on deaf ears we probably should exclaim them. But, if from time to time we are publicly guilty of saying some of the same things and then try telling somone else they shouldn't,it appears to be hypocracy. So, maybe the best we can do is make the effort not to say them publicly or otherwise and set the example. Some times actions speak louder than words.

Really, I think if we were all perfect we wouldn't be getting angry in the first place. My take on the subject is that any sort of exclamation probably shouldn't be said, because, as UKC very accurately pointed out, it's really just a substitute for something worse. But, also, I believe that using a substitute is better than using the actual word, especially when the Lord's name is involved. I guess I view it as one step in a progression towards not saying them at all. It's making a conscious effort to do better by not actually using the word, but there is still more you can do to improve. Make sense?

I know I used to use substitutes a lot, then I realized that's all they were, and the intent was still there, so I try not to as much. It's better to just control your anger or surprise in the first place, I think.