Podcast: The Trouble with Swearing

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“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

I’m sure you know the story of the boy who cried wolf. I’ll repeat it in brief. There was a shepherd boy who was bored one day in the field, and so he ran into the town, crying out, “Wolf, wolf!” The people of the town, anxious to rescue their sheep, hurried out to the field, but there was no wolf. The next day the boy did it again, and again the townspeople ran into the field to find the sheep peaceably grazing. But on the third day, there really was a wolf, yet when the boy went to town for help, none would help him. He returned to the field alone and was himself killed by the wolf.

It is a very strange habit we have, taking the Lord’s name in vain. Can you imagine if we started cursing by using a loved one’s name? If every time you got angry, you said, “Mom fix it!” or “Dad’s car!” It doesn’t even make any sense, and it would certain annoy the person whose name we are using.

Yet we do it with God. We call upon His name and power without meaning it. We say, “Damn it” of “Bless you,” but we say them not as a loving and heartfelt request to the Lord to do these things, but as a burst of frustration or just out of habit. We are like the boy who cried wolf. We keep using God’s name, and yet we don’t really want Him to come.

And let me clarify here. Using the Lord’s name in vain is not talking about using four-letter words. That can be offensive speech, but it’s not this. Using the Lord’s name in vain is to either use or imply God’s name without meaning it. So something goes wrong, and you say, “Damn it!” Are you really requesting God to damn something? Or is it just something you say? When someone sneezes, and you say, “Bless you!” are you really asking God to bless that person, or are you just saying it? By all means, pray for someone’s blessing! But mean it when you say it. Finally, when you’re in an argument or something, and you may say, “God knows the truth,” are you truly requesting God to come bear witness for you, or are you just making a statement you think will help you win?

This is called blasphemy, which is simply disrespect against God. And I know a lot of you are thinking, “Who cares? I mean, it’s just something I say. I don’t mean it to be disrespectful.”

If you are thinking this, I understand you. I used to think the same way. But consider this for a moment. What if the people around you, who said they loved you, started using your name as a curse word? How much would you like it if you son used your name to vocalize his anger and frustration?

God gave us life. He created this world and everything in it, from the clothes you have on to the breakfast you had this morning. He guides your every step. And we respond by using His name as a curse word.

This is exactly why Jesus drove the money-changers out of the temple. In their greed, they had brought disrespect to the Father by using His place of worship to make money. Jesus saw their blasphemy and drove them out. He was likewise stern with the Pharisees, who showed off their righteousness, calling upon God at all times, and yet their hearts had no love for the Father. They used His name in vain.

Which is something Jesus never did. In all ways did He show His love and respect for the Father.

I am guilty of this sin. We all are, save only Jesus. And it is through Him we can be forgiven. In repentance and belief we can be saved from ourselves and restore our relationship with Him.