How exactly does one "take the name of the Lord thy God in vain"? (Exodus 20:7)
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Santaanacanyon
ANSWERS: 12
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The difficulty in answering this question is that it calls for a direct interpretation of Biblical verse. Different religious denominations or individuals themselves will interpret this verse with varying degrees of stricture and liberality. Varying points of interpretation will overlap, and some points will be utterly unique. I interpret this verse in the following manner. Feel free to disagree. Taking the Lord's name in vain is using any of the myriad names for God, talking about God, or referencing God in any manner that 1) is intentionally disrespectful to God, 2) has nothing to do with God in the first place, 3) oversteps the bounds of judgement where God alone has perview, and 4) dedicates the thoughts and actions of an individual to God, but those thoughts and actions are unworthy of God.
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In addition to the above answer, I would add that this commandment was not intended (by context and historical use) to be limited to a single category of offense. It seems to be intentionally broad in character. The Old Testament consistently speaks of the importance of God's "name". God equates his "name" with his person and character. Those who claim to follow God but dishonor God with their actions are said to "dishonor His name" (see, for example, Ezekiel 36:20-21). Even the Jewish people then understood this sacredness of God's name. For example, they would never write out the 4 Hebrew characters for God's name fully (leaving the last stroke unfinished). Any document meant to be destroyed having God's (partial) name on it could not be burned but buried (allowing "nature / God" to destroy it). It was blasphemous to try to pronounce God's name (so they used substitutes like "Adonai" and "hashem" ["the name"]). Practically, there are indeed a myriad of ways to vainly take the Lord's name. That was the point: to take God and his character and person seriously.
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One other point is that using God's name in vain could consist of calling out his name when one doesn't intend a response. It would be similar to calling out someone's name who is across the street from you, but you had no intention of either drawing their attention or communicating with them.
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The commandment which some people mistakenly quote as "using the Lord's name in vain," does not mean using his name in an oath or even a swear word (though that would be unseemly for a Christian, or anyone for that matter) What the commandment means, "Taking His name in vain" is this: When you call yourself a "Christian" then you are taking the name of the Lord, (Christ). This is akin to a woman "Taking" the last name of her husband when they marry. When you "Take the Lord's name" by calling yourself a Christian, then you should do your best to follow his teachings and precepts in your daily life and be as Christ-like as you can by remembering what it was that He taught us about Loving one another, helping the poor and downtrodden, feeding the hungry, clothing those who have no clothes, being truthful, caring for the sick, being good and kind, etc. When you don't do these things but rather lie, cheat, steal, act selflishly, deliberately hurt others, bear false witness against others, etc. and still call yourself a Christian then you have "Taken the Lord's name in vain."
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I always read it as meaning that one should not do something unholy (eg unjust killing or cruelty) whilst using the justification of carrying out God's will, or using God's name to justify evil acts. It always seemed to me that in the past those who have claimed to be the most holy have been the most guilty of breaking this particular commandment. (For example: mass killings of Protestants during the reign of devout Catholic Mary I)
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If you use the Name of God--the Lord Jesus Christ--as a curse word and use it when you are not talking to Him in prayer or talking about Him. Thank you and may God bless you! :) -In Jesus' Name.
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What does it mean to 'take the name of the Lord thy God in vain'? It means Regarding God's Name (Jehovah) as worthless or of no account. The Very fact that God's Name is replaced by LORD in alot of new translations is breaking this very commandment.(Oldest Scrolls Contain God's name over 7,000 times)(Hebrew(יהוה))(English without Vowels) YHWH or JHVH (with Vowels) YaHoWaH or more known JeHoVaH (Exodus 20:7) “You must not take up the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way, for Jehovah will not leave the one unpunished who takes up his name in a worthless way. (New World Translation by Jehovah's Witnesses) Satan the Devil is really sly He uses this scripture to try to make you think that it means not to use God's name when really not Using it or disregarding it is actually breaking that commandment.
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What does it mean to 'take the name of the Lord thy God in vain'? It means Regarding God's Name (Jehovah) as worthless or of no account. The Very fact that God's Name is replaced by LORD in alot of new translations is breaking this very commandment.(Oldest Scrolls Contain God's name over 7,000 times)(Hebrew(יהוה))(English without Vowels) YHWH or JHVH (with Vowels) YaHoWaH or more known JeHoVaH (Exodus 20:7) “You must not take up the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way, for Jehovah will not leave the one unpunished who takes up his name in a worthless way. (New World Translation by Jehovah's Witnesses) Satan the Devil is really sly He uses this scripture to try to make you think that it means not to use God's name when really not Using it or disregarding it is actually breaking that commandment.
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I have also heard that when say cusswords with God's name in it, that is taking His name in vain. Even saying "OMG" is supposedly doing it, unless you are saying it when you worship, or expressing gratitude for something He has done for you.
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...um, keys, bottle opener, miniflashlite, minipenis (yes, I mean it)....goddess of dance
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a tiny flashlight and a loyalty card for a supermarket. And keys, of course.
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TELEVANGELISTS.
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