Shopping And Bad Words- A Life Lesson
You would probably not ever want to go shopping with me. I am not a “let’s go shopping together” kind of girl! I really don’t like to shop! I shop at a handful of stores, but that’s it! If a store has the words pottery or crate or home or restoration or design in it… well, bring it on! Let’s chat about a lesson from a shopping trip.
I am a lone wolf shopper! If I have to shop, I hunt down my merchandise prey alone. That way I have time to think and strategize about the mission!
When I shop, I like to get in, attack, and then get out! No fooling around. Precision and quick strikes! Browsing is a very bad word to me! I do my browsing in magazines and blogs, not stores! And long check out lines makes me want to leave everything in my cart and head for the nearest exit!
This week I had a shopping experience that stopped me in my tracks, shopping cart and all!
I had to make a trip to a “big box store”. UGH! THE worst!!! What is it about malls and big, big stores that suck the life out of me? They make me tired! Well, anyway, I needed several items so off I went with a shopping list and my fastest sneakers!
On my shopping list was a white quilt. I wanted an inexpensive one to sew into a seat pad for a bench. While perusing the bedding aisle, I came across a pillow that said, as proud and sweet as possible,
OMG!
It was all girly and cute and pink and glittery and propped up in the teen aisle!
OMG!
This little pillow, all cute and oh, so girly made me feel sick! It literally had a visceral effect on me. I wondered how many little girls or college girls or grown-up women would be thrilled to find that cute and girly OMG pillow!
The pillow was adorable, but the message was not! And I am not being overly dramatic! Let’s look at why this catchy phrase that is a part of our collective jargon is so so wrong!
Let’s head straight to the Bible for the answer…
YOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD YOUR GOD IN VAIN, FOR THE LORD WILL NOT HOLD HIM GUILTLESS WHO TAKES HIS NAME IN VAIN. Exodus 20:7
To understand this verse it’s critical to know what a person’s name means.
In ancient times, one’s name was very important. A person’s name symbolized their character. Who they were, and what they were all about.
A name carried with it all the attributes of the bearer! I don’t know if you are old enough to remember your parents saying, “Don’t do anything that would hurt our family name”! Because our names represent who we are. Even though it was considered old-fashioned, when our children were growing up we taught them that our name and their name was important and went with them throughout their lives. And that they needed to be careful of their actions because what they did would be associated with their name!
When God says to not take His name in vain He means not to use His name when it does not represent His character!
The word vain in Hebrew (the original language this verse was written in) is LAS-SAW… pronounced SHAV.
It carries the meaning of worthlessness, emptiness, and vanity, with no good purpose.
God is saying don’t use my name in any other way than to proclaim who I am. Protect my character and my glory! When we use God’s name “in vain”, or in other words for any other purpose, we defame God! Think about that!
Let’s look at what else God says about His name…
AND MY HOLY NAME I WILL MAKE KNOWN IN THE MIDST OF MY PEOPLE ISRAEL, AND I WILL NOT LET MY HOLY NAME BE PROFANED ANYMORE. Ezekiel 39:7
The word holy is KODESH in Hebrew. Said, ko’-desh. It is the idea of something so special that it is “set apart” from anything ordinary. Kodesh means sacred and something dedicated or set apart for a special purpose. God’s holy name is set apart to be used only for the proclaiming of his character… his Glory!
Not only the word “God ” is holy but all other names He goes by are too!
FOR THIS REASON, ALSO, GOD HIGHLY EXALTED HIM (JESUS), AND BESTOWED ON HIM THE NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, SO THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS, EVERY KNEE WILL BOW OF THOSE WHO ARE IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH AND EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER. Philippians 2:10-11.
The name of Jesus, the NAME, is so great and Jesus is so magnificent that His name is set above all others. And at the very mention of “Jesus” all creation bows in honor and subordination to Him. And everyone should sing the praises of Jesus and acknowledge Him as Creator of all and Owner of all and over all! And when we give Jesus’ name this correct honor, we glorify God!!!
Why then, do we use God’s name and Jesus’ name as a curse? As empty words? God says when we do so we will NOT BE HELD GUILTLESS!
The bible is full of verses that tell us that God’s name is special. That His name is holy and should not be used in a way that would discredit, disgrace, and hurt His character.
I was in a long line at a store (UGH!) and there was a woman in back of me complaining about the wait. She finished her rant with “Oh, God!” I turned around and said, “You ARE calling on the right ONE, you are just using the wrong tone”.
Should we not stand up for God’s name? Of all the things we protect shouldn’t that be the most important.
If you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior YOU carry His name! You are a CHRISTian. Isn’t it important to protect your family name?
I honestly think if people knew how detestable using God’s name was, they would stop! It is worse than using the foulest and most vulgar words.
I prayed for every girl or woman who would buy that sweet and sparkly and horrible OMG pillow. I prayed they would come to know that OMG is not a cute saying, but a curse! I pray that we all know the beauty and grace and mercy and Salvation behind the great and glorious name of GOD! And we give God’s name the respect it deserves and treat it as if we were walking on holy ground!
May the awesome God of the universe bless you and by His holy name give you peace!
To learn more about the NAMES OF GOD, click HERE.
Amen! Thank you so much for having the courage to take a stand and share this.
You are welcome, Karen.
Well Said!
Thank you for this powerful and thoughtful post. I totally agree.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! I am in the same camp with you on this subject. It just upsets me to no end to hear or see this in print!!!
HIS name is only to be honored and praised!!!
Thank you for this post. My family knows never to say this in front of me. Not to say my adult children don’t do it when I’m not there even tho they know my feelings on this. It makes me physically I’ll to hear it and honestly I know many church goers and Christians who say OMG frequently.
Excellent post Yvonne. I just feel ill when I hear this phrase, even worse because usually it is not just said once but repeated multiple times – it is pulling the name of God down to the most meaningless level. We need to be aware of our words and how we are representing Christ through our use of them.
I couldn’t agree more. It’s so sad that now days some Christian youth speakers and pastors somehow think it’s “cool” and “acceptable” to interject swear words when they speak. This breaks my heart and certainly must grieve God’s heart. Thank you for speaking out on this topic. God bless.
Thank you so much for addressing this common issue in today’s society! It makes me cringe when I hear it or especially used so freely on social media. I have always taught my children and now grandchildren that using that phrase is not acceptable. God’s name is not to be used lightly or in a flippant manner, He the HOLY GOD of the universe and our precious SAVIOR and LORD.
Thank you for this post and for standing up on a public forum for what a lot of feel. God bless??
I tell my students that the use of OMG or O, my God is my number one pet peeve. When I was a child, it was considered cursing.
I’m with you, Yvonne, and God bless you for your courage and testimony.
I love you !and your Sunday posts. While I think you are the master of decorating , your Sunday words of wisdom are the most important information you share. Thank you, thank you thank you❤️
Amen. So well said.
Thank you for writing about this. I cringe every time someone says it.
I resolved years and years ago to only use God’s name in a prayer or a blessing. I also do not use other bad words. It is not who I want to be. I say God Bless every time an ambulance goes roaring past me. Just to give a tiny blessing to the patient and the crew. I am often offended by the language I hear on tv these days. I know that makes me sound ancient, but it is how I feel. And why do stand-up comedians feel they must sprinkle the F bomb into every joke. Don’t they realize their routine is funny without profanity?
Thank you SO much for speaking up about this!!! I have felt like I’m the only one who sees how harmful this is-to our society as a whole, to our families, to individuals, and to our Lord.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
We are the same kind of shoppers! ? And, we have the same concerns about how God’s name is used. It’s a shame so many do not understood the importance of using God’s name in only a holy, honoring, obedient way. Thank you for this message.
I feel the very same way! I’ve been hearing this for almost 50 years and it STILL makes my skin crawl and puts knots in my stomach! I’m glad that I’m not the only one! Thank you!
Yvonne, How heart breaking that OMG is one of the first “Text words” that most people learn!
Every reader here should spread your message that this is NOT harmless, especially as you stated to our younger generation who all feel that they must speak in slang to be cool to their peer group.
Regarding John 1:1… A woman I worked with was always saying “Oh my word!” She often told people not to use OMG, because they were taking Lord’s name in vain. But, to me and according to John 1:1, isn’t “Oh my word” the same thing as using OMG? (Asking because she is a pastor’s wife, and that confused me…
I’m not sure Gayle, but when someone says Oh my word, they are not alluding to Jesus the WORD but in essence giving their word about something. Just my thought.
Yvonne, Thank you for speaking out. I agree 100%. Sadly, many believers have failed to understand this. Habits are hard to break but perhaps your words will help someone to have a new insight to this and pass it on!
I hope so. I wrote this post not to condemn anyone, but to tell the truth about God and His beautiful character. And why as a member of His family we do not honor and protect His glorious name. Let’s bless God and others by using His name to give thanks, glory, and honor and praise.
Great post, Yvonne! How we need to “stand up” and “speak up” for the Lord! How our world has changed. It bothers me, too, when someone blurts out OMG. Whenever I can, I speak up and say: “Please don’t talk about my Friend like that It hurts me to hear you say that.” Sometimes they say: “What?” or “Why?” and it gives me a chance to let them know that I believe in God It always makes your heart feel good when you can share the Lord with someone.
Have a blessed week, Yonne, and thanks for being special YOU!
Thank you for this article ! I fully and completely agree with you! I was raised that using God’s name in vain is wrong. I’m so glad that my parents taught me this. Thank you!!
I always thought when I used OMG it stood for Oh My Goodness! Never thought of it in any other way.
Thank you for this. I’ve shared it on my social media. I hear this phrase and others as well and it’s as if ppl don’t know they’re taking the Lords name in vain or just don’t care. I hope it sheds truth where it’s most needed. Thank you. Rhonda
I feel just this way about OMG. Unfortunately, I caught myself typing it just this morning. We are to be in the world but not of the world. We need to come to personal and collective repentance for breaking that, or any, commandment. Thank you.
Thanks for your post. Many people use “OMG” in their everyday conversation, even children. It seems to have become a slang word. Upsets me when I hear them speak!