Is saying OMG or words like ‘geez’ wrong?

[Chad]

The idea of “taking the Lord’s name in vain” is first found in Exodus 20 when Moses receives the Ten Commandments. The third commandment states, “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). What does this mean? How does it apply to terms like OMG and geez?

Taking the Lord’s name in vain is to speak of God with irreverence or disrespect. 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.

The same principle is true when a person uses an acronym such as OMG or a word like geez (the first syllable of Jesus’ name) or gosh (a modified form of God). If the intended meaning is to be disrespectful toward God and His name, the word should not be used. However, some people use OMG without any thought of its connection to God’s name, and that’s what makes this question difficult.

We could all use the reminder that our words carry meaning. As people who follow Christ, we care deeply about helping others and honoring God. We must ask ourselves, “Do these words help others and honor God?” If we are honest, we will probably admit that words such as gosh do not. It may not be easy to change a long-standing habit, but we must seek to speak words that build up one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11) and honor the Lord.

James 3:9-10 speaks of the tongue as a powerful part of the body: “With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” Our goal is to be consistent in our use of words, so they would serve as a blessing to God and to others.

Paul wrote, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17). This stands as our basis for evaluating terms such as OMG and geez. Does using these words give “thanks to God the Father”? If not, begin working to remove these words from your conversations and texts in order to honor God “in word and deed.”

Is saying OMG or words like ‘geez’ still taking the Lord's name in vain?

 

[PrayerWarr1or]

The Lord delights in those that fear him and follow his word. I have often found myself almost saying his name in vein and then my instincts kicked either a little too late or just before I say it. I end up diverting a lot of times to saying "oh my gee". But even this is something to work on and the Lord truly delights in His children who follow that commandment as there are so many multitudes who crudely do not.

 

[Gloria]

Matthew 12:36I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak

Matthew 5:37But let your communication be, Yes, yes; No, no; for whatsoever is more than this comes of evil.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Its been my experience that when a person asks Jesus to be their Lord and Savior and follows through on that request regularly, things that displease God, such as treating His name disrespectfully, stop being part of one's behavior as His Spirit takes over our hearts. I can't stop my bad habits, only He can do that. Why do we act like we're still under law (Thou shalt not...)?

SLE

 

[james1523]

The situation today is that non-believers use the name Jesus and God in public in a blasphemous way, but believers are too afraid to speak the name of Jesus in public in a genuine way.
It should be the other way around, believers unafraid to use the name in public and unbelievers afraid to disrespect it.

I don't think God's name itself is evil. It all depends upon the heart. A Christian and a non-Christian may both say "Oh God" but one may be calling upon His name and the other using is as a curse word. As Christians we are supposed to call on the name of the Lord often, especially in times when we are troubled, in distress etc.

If an unbeliever says "Oh Jesus", their heart may be wrong, but at least they are using the name Jesus. This proves that the name of Jesus is the only name that carries real power in the world.
If an unbeliever says "Oh "expletive" Jesus" , then it really upsets me, because they are then abusing the name and person of our Lord and Saviour.