Is Swearing a Violation of the Ten Commandments? - No. - Well, maybe... ???

[David Lamb]

The concept of taboo words (cue the George Carlin tape) is culturally-dependent. I told the story elsewhere (when you get old, you repeat your stories), but one of my Korean vendors told me that Korean doesn't have taboo words, so those in Korea who are bilingual use the English ones when they need to blow off steam. Cussing: One of America's most in-demand exports.

"But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell." -Matthew 5:22

Jesus's point is not that "raca" is the Aramaic equivalent of the F-bomb (the commentaries say it's closer to calling someone empty-headed); what is being highlighted is our practice of using our words to tear down one another (as the James 3:5-10 quote makes clear). It's not the word itself; it's the heart issue behind the words. And that issue crosses all languages and cultures.

And if you disagree with me, raca!

Yes, I agree that what constitutes bad language will vary enormously depending on where and when we live. I don't imagine many Americans or British people go around calling others "Raca" for example.

 

[Lambano]

Yes, I agree that what constitutes bad language will vary enormously depending on where and when we live. I don't imagine many Americans or British people go around calling others "Raca" for example.

I'll try it next time somebody towing a boat on the motorway tries to cut across 2 lanes of traffic to get to an exit he must've known was coming. (I was in the first of those two lanes.)

 

[David Lamb]

I'll try it next time somebody towing a boat on the motorway tries to cut across 2 lanes of traffic to get to an exit he must've known was coming. (I was in the first of those two lanes.)

I think what it boils down to is what is in our hearts. People here in the UK use innocent-sounding words or phrases to avoid using swear words (Goodness!, Blimey - contraction of "Blind me" and many others). But if in their hearts the thought is just the same as if they were using an actual swear word, then that is wrong too, for God looks at the heart.

 

[Lambano]

The pattern I'm seeing here is the practice of respecting everything about God, and keeping it set apart. Isn't that the definition of holiness?

 

[Lambano]

(Goodness!, Blimey - contraction of "Blind me" and many others).

The subject of sweraring has fascinated me ever since my sister bought a cuss bank back in the '70s. The cost of !*+-), *%$#, and #@{? was only 25 cents US back then; I wonder what the effect of 50 years of inflation has been?

 

[Lambano]

It's said here in the southeastern part of the US that when one of the locals tells you "Well, bless your heart!", what they're REALLY saying is not a blessing.

 

[MatthewG]

If I’m really feeling it, I love to cuss. I’ll even use the GD word sometimes. People believe God looks down on that… but God sees my heart, and actions go further than words right?

 

[MatthewG]

It's said here in the southeastern part of the US that when one of the locals tells you "Well, bless your heart!", what they're REALLY saying is not a blessing.

That’s true. As humans we really don’t give a damn at the end of the day most of the time, can walk right by a wreck and be just fine. Someone prob done called, who cares. Though not everyone may have that type of attitude. I know I am capable of just not caring at all.

 

[St. SteVen]

Read this this morning.
Tracks with this topic.
Using God's name in vain. (for personal benefit)

Hosea 4:15 NIV
“Though you, Israel, commit adultery,
do not let Judah become guilty.
“Do not go to Gilgal;
do not go up to Beth Aven.[a]
And do not swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives!’

[

 

[St. SteVen]

Read this this morning.
Tracks with this topic.
Using God's name in vain. (for personal benefit)

Hosea 4:15 NIV
“Though you, Israel, commit adultery,
do not let Judah become guilty.
“Do not go to Gilgal;
do not go up to Beth Aven.[a]
And do not swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives!’

Matthew 5:34-36 NIV
But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.
36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.

[

 

[St. SteVen]

Follow-up to the topic:

Is Lying a Violation of the Ten Commandments? - No. - Well, maybe... ???

The 9th Commandments reads: “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. - EXODUS 20:16 NIV Giving false testimony is perjury specifically, not lying in general. ??? perjury /pûr′jə-rē/ noun The crime of willfully and knowingly making a false statement about a material fact...

www.christianityboard.com

The common understanding is that "taking the Lord's name in vain" is what we have labeled "swearing", that is using the word "God" as an expletive. But is that what this commandment is referring to? In the same way we repackaged the commandment about not bearing false witness (perjury) as lying, we have repacked this commandment too. What does it actually mean?

Exodus 20:7 NIV
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Deuteronomy 5:11 NIV
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Matthew 5:34-37 NIV
But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.
36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.
37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.[a]

James 5:12 NIV
Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else.
All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.

]

 

[Behold]

Follow-up to the topic:

Is Lying a Violation of the Ten Commandments? - No. - Well, maybe... ???

The 9th Commandments reads: “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. - EXODUS 20:16 NIV Giving false testimony is perjury specifically, not lying in general. ??? perjury /pûr′jə-rē/ noun The crime of willfully and knowingly making a false statement about a material fact...

www.christianityboard.com

The common understanding is that "taking the Lord's name in vain" is what we have labeled "swearing",

Taking the Lord's name in vain, is not saying "Gd-Damn", and its not saying "JESUS", every time you hit your thumb with a Hammer or lose your temper while driving.

Here is what it means to take the Lorrd's Name in Vain.

1.) To Take The Lord's Name.....is understood as a woman, getting married, and taking her Husband's last name, as HER Name. And the consumation of the Marriage = 2 have become "ONE ".

2.) The Christian is referred to as a "BRIDE"...The Bride of Christ".

3.) When you Take His Name.... Jesus being the GROOM.....when you become a Christian (the Bride), you are joined SPIRITUALLY as (born again) to the Heavenly Groom, you are now 'in Christ'... and you have taken His Name as "IN Christ"......a "Christian".

So, how do you do that, in "vain"?

A.) You are not really a Christian, and you are pretending to be one......in fact you may believe you are one, but you're not.


Jesus refers to Christians, as "i know you".....and that is how a Man and a woman, "Join".......as He "Knows" his wife, by intimate relationship, or the "joining".. = flesh joining flesh.

This is the Same with joining Jesus, but its IN the Spirit........ and not in the flesh that we are joined to Christ..

So, when Jesus says....>"depart from me, i never KNEW YOU">...that means He is not "in you", and You are not "In Christ".

= Pretending to be a Christian, when you are not, is taking the Lord's Name "in VAIN".

 

[JBO]

Dennis Prager, a devout Jew, has discussed this very question. Briefly, his answer is that taking the LORD's name in vane has nothing to do with vulgar language. Rather it is about doing evil and claiming it is being done in the LORD's name, i.e., by the authority of God, Himself. He says the Hebrew word "nasah" which appears there would be better translated as "carry". That is, the commandment is "You shall not carry the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain".

As Prager has pointed out, this is the only commandment of the ten in which a punishment for disobeying is contained. World God really treat "swearing" or "vulgar speech" more seriously than say murder or stealing? I think we would all agree that is probably not the case and taking, bearing or carrying the LORD's name in vain must be something far more serious than swearing and instead is doing evil and claiming it is being done with God's authority. And example of such, I think, is many of the sins within Islam being carried out against "infidels".

 

[St. SteVen]

Is Swearing a Violation of the Ten Commandments? - No. - Well, maybe... ???​

Follow-up to the topic:

Is Lying a Violation of the Ten Commandments? - No. - Well, maybe... ???

The 9th Commandments reads: “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. - EXODUS 20:16 NIV Giving false testimony is perjury specifically, not lying in general. ??? perjury /pûr′jə-rē/ noun The crime of willfully and knowingly making a false statement about a material fact...

www.christianityboard.com

The common understanding is that "taking the Lord's name in vain" is what we have labeled "swearing", that is using the word "God" as an expletive. But is that what this commandment is referring to? In the same way we repackaged the commandment about not bearing false witness (perjury) as lying, we have repacked this commandment too. What does it actually mean?

Exodus 20:7 NIV
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Deuteronomy 5:11 NIV
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Matthew 5:34-37 NIV
But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.
36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.
37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.[a]

James 5:12 NIV
Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else.
All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.