Sadly, for some folks today, the only time they hear the name of God or Jesus, it is connected to a swear word. For many, the taking of the Lord’s name in vain has become a habit in their conversation.
But we, as Christians, may well break the Third Commandment more often than any obviously abusive non-Christian who is swearing and cursing. What does this commandment actually teach? The third commandment warns us not to use any name of the Lord in a disrespectful manner. One seemingly innocent way we use God’s name in vain is with our common use of euphemisms. A euphemism is a mild, seemingly harmless word or phrase used as a substitute for a more direct or vulgar term, such as Gosh, Dang, Darn, Gee, Golly, “OMG,” Doggone.... etc. Probably each and every one of us are guilty of using euphenisms from time to time.
The writers of the Old Testament even used a euphenism when they substituted a J for a Y for Yah-weh and then the interpreters later mistakenly translated Jehova instead of Yah-weh. The Jewish scribes were so fearful and respectful ...
