Hello World,
the image from the ABC News' "Nightline" piece...
Back in September 2009, when I saw that ABC News’ “Nightline” did a feature on the popularity of the exclamation “OMG” and explored if such an exclamation is taking the name of the Lord in vain, I realized there must be a Christian or at least a Christ-friendly person in their ranks…
Reporter John Donovan interviewed high school students from the Washington Hebrew Congregation youth group in Bethseda, Md. who have surely been taught the Lord’s name is not to be used lightly…
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
As Donovan spoke with them about how they used this exclamation via text or in casual conversation, you could visibly see the students connecting what they had been taught versus their actual behavior. It was enlightening…Donovan also explored how the view of taking the name of the Lord in vain has softened over the years in this country (God help us)…In fact, in years past, words like golly or gosh, which dated back to the 1700s according to Donovan, were developed to avoid wrongly using the name of the Lord. And if one did use the name of the Lord in vain back then, that person was severely criticized…
But that has all changed, the Parents Television Council reports that in 2007, 95.9 percent of the uses of the name God in primetime television were in vain…I mean, even my e-mail provider has a OMG emoticon…I confessed I used it too until this report reminded me of the seriousness of this oft-forgotten and ignored transgression…(Thanks John Donovan for this reminder!)
While I’m on my soapbox, people often the name of Jesus Christ as an exclamation as well – which is a sin…plain and simple…
Anyway, I had planned to write a post about this report, but I must have forgotten…but the report came back to memory when I heard one of Usher’s new songs on the radio a few weeks or so ago…The title of the song is “OMG.” In Googling this song, sometimes it sounds he is saying, “Oh My God” and sometimes it sounds like, “Oh My Gosh.” Well, even if it is the latter version, the title of the song suggests that he is wrongly calling on the name of the Father…
Now, I am a big fan of Usher’s music dating back to my college days at UGA…but I plan to turn the station whenever I hear this song…It makes me uncomfortable…The Lord is our Creator, Father and Savior – not our lil homie…we do not have the right to use His name casually…
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not one of those Christians that believes that every singer should be singing Christian songs all of the time…but I do believe that every Christian whether they decide to be a gospel singer or a secular singer should respect the name of the Lord at all times…
That’s why in spite of what people say about Kanye West, I still like him…He always speaks from the heart – even if it’s controversial or ill-advised…And I think that his song “Jesus Walks” was groundbreaking…And he properly addressed Jesus Christ in this song in spite of its controversial language and themes…Ultimately, he displayed his desire to be in the presence and counsel of Jesus Christ…in spite of his propensity to sin…
The truth is we are all sinners, but that is no excuse to not try to do right, when we know something is wrong…
Any thoughts?
P.S. Thank God Jesus walks with me!!!
Heard a version last night that is “oh my gosh” …. so perhaps he changed or altered it due to complaints/concerns
That really could be…
I was just discussing this with my family on a trip to Indiana, and I concur that whether it is “GOD” or “GOSH” the intent is still the same. Just because I throw my index finger up as opposed to my middle one, it means the same thing, which is something that I try to explain to my young sister….hopefully one day she will understant lol