ACOT Message Board

I do not understand why saying "oh my God" is taking his name in vain... I do not see where it is putting him down or in anyway showing disrespect. You are saying he is your God... you are not putting anyone before him... not cussing him....So if someone could please tell me what the big deal is.I have also heard that you are not supposed to say "oh my goodness", etc either...because you are implying "God"....

I don't get it either. 

I've never heard that saying "oh my goodness" is improper, but I did find this in reference to saying "Oh my God""Respect for [God's] name is an expression of the respect owed to the mystery of God himself and to the whole sacred reality it evokes. The sense of the sacred is part of the virtue of religion...." There are certainly worse ways of taking God's name in vain (false oaths, perjury, blasphemy), but the casual use of it still shows disrespect in place of reverence. The stronger our sense of who God is, the less inclined we'll be to speak carelessly of him.

Big ol' hypocrite here...I say it  (or write it in threads ) all the time (usually on the phone with a friend or something) However, when my kids say it, it drives me NUTS! Just doesn't sound right coming from a seven year old. LOL!Jr

Generally, people who say that are saying it when something is bad or inappropriate. It would be like if we said " Oh my Lisa "  ( instead of Oh my God ) when somebody was acting stupid. See how that could be insulting?

You can say Oh my Lisa... I wouldn't mind! I say it when I hear something upsetting or when something bad is about to happen ( a fall or something)... kinda like a prayer too (to me)... not just when it's something stupid or funny.I get what you are saying...Seems like "oh my lucifer" would actually be more insulting... cuz to me, thats kinda putting him first...but thats just my warped way of thinking. 

I think it is because you are only supposed to be calling on God for help/attention, etc. when you actually have a problem worthy of calling his name.  That is what "taking his name in vain" means, I believe.  If you have no real need to invoke his help, you shouldn't say it.  My Baptist aunt gets very upset about it, but our family is Presbyterian, and most of us do not get stressed about it and even say it once in awhile.  It's a phrase, like many others, that has lost most of it's meaning, due to overuse.

Actually, I don't see how that's insulting.  In looking back to SOME of the times when my family or friends have used the term "Oh my God", it has been in situations of tension, worry, despair, etc.  The people I know are saying "Oh my God" as more of a plea, a question, guidance or understanding.  When you find out a loved one has died, or your child needs surgery or you've just been in an accident, when you overwhelmed or startled or scared -- if you're a Christian, I would think that would be the very first phrase you would utter.That being said . . . I, too, am a hypocrite and say it quite often.I do understand that it is offensive to some people that I personally know and I do make sure I not say it in their presence.  Just because I don't agree with the reasoning behind it, doesn't mean I don't respect others' feelings on the matter.Oh, and I too have heard the same thing about "Oh my goodness" or "Oh my gosh".  We had always been taught that you're still saying "God" your just substituting a different word. 

I do understand that it is offensive to some people that I personally know and I do make sure I not say it in their presence. Me too Laura!Jr

I say what I want... if you don't like it, get over it! J/K... I try to be good when good people are around....sometimes I slip...then I say the debil made me do it.

Seems to me that in our post-modern world, much has been lost in the way of  "respect."  Most of us rarely respect anyone most of the time.  Look at the abuse the President receives.  When I was a child, you just didn't say disrespectful things about the President or anyone else "high up" outloud and in public.The Bible (Ten Commandments) is explicit in telling us it is wrong to take God's name in vain.  When we say "Oh my God (or Oh my god) in  common speech, when we are not intending to speak to the God in Heaven, then that is using His Name in vain.  Even if you don't think so.  Because it doesn't matter so much what each of us thinks and feels; there is an external standard by which all is measured; again, whether we agree with that or not.  I think the use of "Oh my G(g)od" has become so common because of our general lack of respect.  We don't respect God, others, or even ourselves much of the time.I know many of you will disagree with me, and that's okay.  I don't base what I say on my own standards, but those described in the Bible.  Yes......I'm that kind of person. (edited for punctuation.  I still may have missed some errors, but fixed the ones I saw!  LO!L)

I miss you Kathy!!  So glad to see your post and for the record, I so agree

I don't like it and haven't said it in years.  But I will slip an occasional damn, crap, etc.     So I do cuss occasionally, just not using the word God or Jesus.  It's just because I want to use his name in reverence or in prayer, not as an exclamation or expletive.   But I do say Oh My Goodness, Gosh,  Holy Moly, etc.  And I do know people who claim that is just as bad. IMO, it is not the same at all.  Because if we ever start claiming you can't substitute words for other words, pretty soon we won't be speaking at all.      In no way am I thinking of God at those times I say Oh My Gosh.  If I said Oh My Frog, some people think that's just as offensive as the F word, because that's what I really "wanted to say."  LOL!   You can't win with some people.   

I 100% agree with Kathy.....as usual. 

When most people say Oh my God, they are saying it with a bad attitude.  For example, you step in dog poop and the first thing out of your mouth is " Oh my God!" It is being said in anger and used to show disgust. Same with Jesus Christ, a lot of people say His name when they're mad about something or just to show disappointment. It would be different if you just gave birth and they laid the baby in your arms and you said, "Oh my God!" Out of graditude and love. Saying oh my God isn't wrong, it's the context that you're saying it in, the condition of your heart.  Are you using God's name to show disgust and anger or love and joy?

"When you find out a loved one has died, or your child needs surgery or you've just been in an accident, when you overwhelmed or startled or scared -- if you're a Christian, I would think that would be the very first phrase you would utter."That's true too, like I said, it depends on the context.

I agree with Kathy.  Usually when it's said, it's not in good reference.  I catch myself starting to say it sometimes and try and stop myself before I finish it.  I'd hate for my kiddos to pick that up.  Even though when I'm saying it is usually because of some sort of accident, disaster.  It's more out of respect for my mom who hated when people said that.  She also didn't care if it was OM Goodness, OM Gosh, etc.  nor did she like it when I said shoot because she knew I really meant s#it.  So, I try to refrain, because ultimately offending my mom was defending God as well.  Love thy Mother and Father, you know.