Thoughts on Discipleship by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

OMG: A COMMANDMENT BREAKER??

A sage once said, “People may get so heavenly minded that they are of little earthly good!” This is especially true when the intellect is disengaged in favor of whatever may be generally accepted as right. This then becomes the devil’s playground. Please think for a moment with me!

I have witnessed folks being verbally chastised for using the letters “OMG,” understanding it means “Oh my God!” as breaking one of the ten commandments (although the letters could stand for several other expressions). This arises from an unwillingness on the part of the chastiser to bother himself to learn what is being said in the commandments.

The commandment in question is found in Exodus 20:7, “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in Vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” The general ASSUMPTION here is that “vain” means frivolously, flippantly, and with little to no cause. It is not the purpose of this article to approve bad language, but to emphasize that there is a distinct difference between bad language and breaking that commandment, and the truth is surprising.

There are some half dozen or so terms in the ancient Hebrew language that are translated “vain.” This English term is largely, and correctly, understood to mean “for nothing, frivolous,” but the Hebrew word in the commandment, “Shav,” is mostly used to indicate “in connection with a falsehood.” God hates a lie. The devil is the father of it. Other words are used to better indicate the English idea of “vanity.” A false witness is abhorred, and rightly so since the gateway and road of life is guarded by and dependent upon truth.

So, bad language is understood for what it is. Cursing is understood for what it is, but false information believed is deceitful, and it carries the power of condemnation. Who is it then who breaks this commandment? Not the cursing sailor or the Christian who chooses questionable expressions, but it is the false witness including a supposed minister who speaks biblically condemned doctrine as being correct in the name of God. Though it may be tangential thinking, it may be far better to hear a sailor cursing than an Osteen type minister who lies about God’s Word with a smile on his face reminiscent of a wave on a slop bucket. In case the reader feels the writer has himself gone off the deep end, it would be well to pause and read again 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. What Holy Writ contains is more than interesting!

FOR THOUGHT: Do you agree that a falsehood is in fact a lie? Does bad language which should be disdained, necessarily constitute a lie? Does a false plan of salvation spoken from a pulpit constitute a lie? Which then breaks the commandment? Does this help you to see the Bible in a more serious way?