Because of my book and devotion to not taking the Lord’s name in vain, my very best friend brought to my attention a podcast she “happened” to catch. She listens to many broadcasts on various subjects as she goes about her day. This particular topic was what words people hate to hear or say.

A mom called in and stated her kids hate it when she uses the word retarded. I am 56, and I remember that ugly word used as derogatory slang in my elementary and middle school playgrounds. While trying to make themselves look “cool,” mean kids said it to anyone they wanted to belittle and insult. Their attempt was to imply the other kid was foolish, weak or perhaps just not dressed to their standards.  I have not heard it for years, so I’m guessing that particular mom might be around my age.

Another caller then phoned in. His voice sounded like a young adult male and he claimed himself as gay. He expressed how he hates hearing the phrase That’s so gay! He said it was offensive to him. The host wholehearted agreed with his belief. Exclaiming, “Oh, that’s so gay!” is offensive to gays and they concluded it should never be said so as not to insult anyone who is gay. Although they believed the phrase as inappropriate, they did not go into specifics about why they believe this way.

The host then excitedly went on to share her phrase, which she has no problem exclaiming. Apparently she does not believe it to be offensive to any One, because she did not indicate it as “inappropriate.” Her expression of choice is “I love to say ‘G** damn!’ ” 

My instant thought was really? You love saying that?

To ask God to damn someone is to ask they be condemned by Him; to suffer eternal punishment in hell. This means forever. I do not know the life of this host, but is she implying her life so bad that each and every day, she feels the need to have God damn many of the people/occurrences around her?

Because as believers if our heart is right with God, asking Him to damn something  is not a sin. King David had a heart for God, yet he still asked God to damn his enemies: Arise, LORD, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice. Psalm 7:6  If this is true and each day she awakens to a miserable existence, then she should turn towards God, asking Him to lead her from all this turmoil she suffers.

She should listen to this Christian song written by C.J. Blount titled “Place of Freedom.”   It truly inspires one to “lift my hands” and worship; to “shout for joy at the mention of His name.”  Both beautiful responses to the title name God. Sung by Highlands Worship.

On the other hand, if her life really is not that horrendous and she simply is using God as an exasperation, then she is daily breaking His third commandment. She is choosing to use His name in vain as a form of momentary exclamation! At one point during her talk the host did mention that she “loves Jesus.” But I could not comprehend if she loves Jesus Himself, or, if she meant she also loves using the name Jesus as a form of exasperation.

The reason I was confused was because she ended the segment with a story where she was almost run into by a bike rider. As she saw the rider coming towards her, she said she screamed, “Good J****!”

Obviously happy with her word choices, she laughed while telling that story. The male caller who was still on the phone also laughed and referred to her exclamation as “Oh, that’s a good one!”

Seems they were very concerned about not hurting individual’s feelings here on earth (which is a compassionate act) by not using the word gay. But neither expressed sensitivity towards Christians (or God) who know the title name God to be holy. They quite easily hurled our Creator’s name in momentary defamation, just like those schoolyard bullies had no trouble hurling retarded all those years ago.

What this host and caller misunderstand is, they are not targeting Someone who is foolish, weak or perhaps just not dressed to their standards. Their target here is greater than their “cool” perception of themselves. God is a:

• Mighty Warrior: The great day of the LORD is near— near and coming quickly. The cry on the day of the LORD is bitter; the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry. Zephaniah 1:14  God never looses His battles.

• Strong: “Sovereign LORD, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do? Deuteronomy 3:24  Only God is powerful enough to do all things.

• Dressed in a robe dipped in blood: He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. Revelation 19:13  Jesus’ blood is saturated into His robe, blood that washed away our sins, blood that offers us salvation.

But here is the good news for my best friend who “happened” to hear this particular podcast: our Almighty God can always turn something trashy into something sweet smelling! After hearing our Lord’s name tossed and laughed at on that show, she said she will forever be aware of never taking God’s name in vain. Blessings.

Click the Facebook tab below to share this understanding of lifting up His holy name as we start the new 2016 year.