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Words....

handy

handy

Member
As many of you know, I was not raised in a Christian home. My parents were backslidden Christians until I was around 18.

Consequently, I grew up learning things and experiencing things that weren't "biblical".

One of these "things" was cussing. Now, I don't really recall either of my parents taking the Lord's name in vain. They would use cuss words, but not bandy about God's name.

One of the things that we picked up on was that, instead of saying the Lord's name in vain, was to say things like "gosh durn" or "golly gee".

Currently, I am taking classes at our new church to become a member there. And, yesterday, during the membership class, we were discussing not taking God's name in vain. The pastor equated things like "gosh durn" and "golly gee" as being just as bad as using God or His name.

I don't know if I agree with this. This seems a lot like hedging the law; making something that really isn't addressed as sin, to become sin, just to keep one further away from sin. (Doesn't make sense, but that is pretty much what hedging the law boils down to.)

What do y'all think? If I bang my thumb with a hammer and say "dag blam it", is that sin?
 
I always thought that it was about what was put behind the words. Not what the words themselves mean. Language is just our way of expressing our feelings and thoughts.

In a way when I think of God's name. Its not he word God that comes to mind, but the idea of God himself. The word God differentiates around the world, so that alone isn't his name. So the idea of Golly or Gosh being an insult to God's name isn't the sin. The act of Calling on God and Mocking him is what matters, and I truly believe that many even inside the church have forgotten this. :)
 
Oh come on. Saying blatantly things like that is just wrong, but gosh darn it and the like..........um no..
 
handy said:
As many of you know, I was not raised in a Christian home. My parents were backslidden Christians until I was around 18.

Consequently, I grew up learning things and experiencing things that weren't "biblical".

One of these "things" was cussing. Now, I don't really recall either of my parents taking the Lord's name in vain. They would use cuss words, but not bandy about God's name.

One of the things that we picked up on was that, instead of saying the Lord's name in vain, was to say things like "gosh durn" or "golly gee".

Currently, I am taking classes at our new church to become a member there. And, yesterday, during the membership class, we were discussing not taking God's name in vain. The pastor equated things like "gosh durn" and "golly gee" as being just as bad as using God or His name.

I don't know if I agree with this. This seems a lot like hedging the law; making something that really isn't addressed as sin, to become sin, just to keep one further away from sin. (Doesn't make sense, but that is pretty much what hedging the law boils down to.)

What do y'all think? If I bang my thumb with a hammer and say "dag blam it", is that sin?
Click to expand...
well the word says that anything that is not of faith is sin. So when you do that are you doing it in faith?


We also are not to be speaking vain- idol words but to be speaking as the oracles of God.

Is there any profit in speaking those ways?
 
There was once a day...

We were at the table enjoying our family meal. The atmosphere was quiet and peaceful. At our table, when my children were young (I'm a grandpa now) - family discussions were encouraged. Thankful prayer was offered before most meals and we all have fond memories of those times.

There came a day though, and during a conversation, my youngest (perhaps 6 years old at that time?), dropped the "F-Bomb". Dead silence followed. The family shot quick glances at me, wondering about my reaction. Did he hear it at school? . o O (( "What would Dad do?" ))

"Son? After dinner, please remind me to speak to you about this."
My good son averted his eyes from my glance, looked down into his plate and replied, "Yes, Daddy."

The meal continued and the peace of our home remained with us. After dinner, my son dutifully reminded me of our need to speak about what had happened. "Yes, well now... we need to go to the bathroom and discuss this in private." I am certain that he had been wondering how much "trouble" he would be in for the slip of the tongue. He would find out soon enough.

When we arrived in the bathroom we stood there, in silence, for a couple moments. The boy had his head hung down, looking at his feed and was doing a little "hem-haw" shuffle. "Go to the toilet and open the lid," was all I said.

"What?" he asked.

When there was no reply from me except silent expectation he did as directed and opened the lid of the toilet. I continued, "Okay, this evening you spoke a naughty word. Now I want you to be silent until you are told otherwise. Do you understand me?" My tone was moderated, not severe, but the command tone of one who is used to being obeyed was in force.

"Yes, sir." was his reply.

"Your obedience is accepted. Continue to obey me now." I told him. His eyes opened wide and I saw the thought trace its way through his mind. He was very puzzled about what I was going to make him do. The idea of a self administered "swirley" had occurred to him and I could barely hold back the smile and chuckle that nearly found its way into this "dramatic moment".

"Okay, I want you to say THAT word again. Say it into the toilet. Do so now." After a second or two of deliberation, the "F-Bomb" was dropped once more. "Say it again," was my command, and again, my son spoke that single naughty word. He looked puzzled but continued to obey.

"Now, I want you to keep on speaking that word into the toilet - but as you do? Think of other naughty words that you know. Think of them, don't say them. Not yet."

The toilet was being "carpet bombed" now. A trace of enjoyment entered my good son's voice as he got the hang of the new "game".

"NONE OF THAT, YOUNG MAN! - THIS IS NOT A GAME!" I barked.
All seriousness was immediately restored.

"Okay, stop now." "Flush the toilet and those words you spoke with it,"

<*flush*>

"Now, I want you to speak the other "bad words" you know. One at a time. You may repeat them if you need to, but try to say them all." Five minutes of trying to swear is a very long time. After about 30 or 40 seconds the "normal" bad words are all used up. The "D" word, the "S" word, are gone. Repetition is employed.

My tone gentle now, "Try to use them all, it's okay to repeat - but I want them all out." He was encouraged.

As he continued to swear and cuss into the toilet, I began to explain.

"Son? Think about it. These are just words. It isn't polite to say them and it is especially rude at the supper table. But they are words and nothing more."

"Flush the toilet again and remember your lesson today."
"We are done here."

<*flush*>
 
Sparrow,
I always enjoy reading what you write. God has gifted you with such a talent to use the proper word in your story telling.

Handy,
My wife gets after me when I say "darn it". While I am not associating those words with the nasty words, she does... So, out of respect for her, I refrain from saying "darn it" but instead, simply let out a grrrrrrrrrrrr
 
I have often thought of this and being someone who used to swear a lot......a lot. I had to teach myself not to swear. I had to control my tongue everytime I spoke. I must admit there are sometime it slips out.

What concerns me more than the swear words was the way in which the swear word was said. THE THOUGHT BEHIND THE WORD. I think we need to look at the Bible to the way we are supposed to be. If any word comes out in another spirit then it is wrong whether it starts with a F or a S or a D.
Watching American TV from South Africa, yes we get all your shows, I am amazed at how many people say: "Oh my God" when confronted with something shocking, Good or Bad. I find that wrong. Gods name just becomes a random statement with no reverence to His holiness or His sovereignty.

So Handy y response is: Focus on why you say golly gee, if its because of a bad thought or feeling, deal with the feeling. Then the amount of times you say golly gee with reduce.
:twocents
 
I'm bad about saying geezzzz/golly/geewhiz/dang/shoot or oh my goodness graceous, or Lord have Mercy, and at times when I see something that is disheartening to me I will say Oh my God, Lord help me but not in anger. When I say Oh my God when something that is ugly [like a bad car accident] hits me in the face, I feel like the Lord knows my heart when I've said this, because my spirit is racing with Lord protect me, or Lord my heart is in distress from what I see, what do I do, or Lord don't let this stay in my spirit or my mind.

Like when I found my brother-in-law's room mate dead a few weeks ago. When I realized he was dead, I said Oh my God, but in my spirit I asking Lord help me to handle this properly...or if I seen something that is just so ungodly, that I fear the spirit of it getting on me...I will say Oh my God, but in that statement in my spirit, I'm asking for HIS leadership in the situation in how to act/speak/do/what to ask in HIM/what to pray. It's like a spiritual whirlwind of asking what to do in my simple statement Oh my God....and instantly the Lord leads me step by step in what to do next.

I personally think it's what in the heart when it's said....I could be wrong.
 
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