Feasting at The Table - Oh my God! Swearing or Nah?

DISCLAIMER: Please listen to this presentation in context. I do not intend to misrepresent God or cause any one to feel uncomfortable in the process. Amen?!

Oh my God!

Do we make such exclamations as Christians or is it calling the Lord’s name frivolously? 

Because when we hear people say that, it’s not a prayer, or is it? I really want to know. 

Because I continue to hear many people, even right here on this platform, whether it’s in devotions or testifying, saying that phrase.

I hear it and it troubles my spirit to be quite honest. 

Even sometimes I find myself saying the enemy is messing with us, and it triggers me to the point where I know I need to stop using that terminology. 

I have also heard preachers using the word crap on the pulpit. 

Even in the YouVersion devotion for today discussing Romans and how we ought to do right by God, I see the writer asking for us to think back to times when we QUOTE UNQUOTE screwed up. 

It was a reference to the many times we hurt someone and nothing we do can make it right and comparing  that to when we disobey God, saying basically that we can only get righteousness by faith in God. 

So I need clarification. Is it ok to use these terms as Christians?

I did a study which I will present and then I’d love to hear from you. 

And may I please ask, that as we trust the Holy Spirit to guide us to a general consensus at the end, know that this is what this ministry will promote going forward. 

I seriously believe it is time for us to clean up our language as Christians. We can not speak like the world does. 

The phrase “Oh my God” might not be swearing in the way we often think of it, but let’s hear what the Bible says about how we should use God’s name.

There’s definitely a call for reverence and the respectful use of God’s name throughout scripture.

Exodus 20 verse 7 MSG “No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won’t put up with the irreverent use of his name.”

This is one of the Ten Commandments and warns against taking God’s name in vain or using it disrespectfully.

And this is emphasised in Leviticus 19:12 ““Don’t swear falsely using my name, violating the name of your God. I am God.”

Then we can look at the beginning of The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6 verse 9 which starts by addressing our Father in heaven with reverence.

In the book of James chapter 5 and verse 12 it says “And since you know that he cares, let your language show it. Don’t add words like “I swear to God” to your own words. Don’t show your impatience by concocting oaths to hurry up God. Just say yes or no. Just say what is true. That way, your language can’t be used against you.”

What is this saying to us? Watch your words. Speak simply and truthfully. We don’t have to call on  God or heaven as a witness, unnecessarily.

So some people will say I am a Christian and so when I say oh my God, I know who I am referring to, it’s not a joke or I am not swearing. 

I would urge us to study James 5:12, which emphasizes the value of straightforward, honest speech. We ought to let our words prove that we trust God to take care of us in His right timing.

We call on God simply and honestly, keeping our language true and uncomplicated. No need to reinforce our words by calling on God’s name to emphasise what you’re saying or swearing by His name.

So I would conclude by saying that scripture demands that we treat God’s name with great respect. 

Some people use these terms casually without even thinking twice. Maybe because the company you keep talk like that and even worse. 

But may I suggest that we all need to be mindful of the catch phrases we pick us from our unsaved friends.

Romans 12:1-2 warns us against conforming to the world. 

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”

Let us always remember to give God the reverence He deserves. 

Psalm 96:4-5 “For God is great, and worth a thousand Hallelujahs. His furious beauty puts the other gods to shame; Pagan gods are mere tatters and rags. God made the heavens— Royal splendor radiates from him, A powerful beauty sets him apart.”

And Revelation 4:9-11 “Every time the Animals gave glory and honor and thanks to the One Seated on the Throne—the age-after-age Living One—the Twenty-four Elders would fall prostrate before the One Seated on the Throne. They worshiped the age-after-age Living One. They threw their crowns at the foot of the Throne, chanting, Worthy, O Master! Yes, our God! Take the glory! the honor! the power! You created it all; It was created because you wanted it.” 

In our speech Family, we are called on to recognize God’s holiness, power, and sovereignty, and to always approach Him with the respect and honour He deserves.

aub - 30 October 2024

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