recentchristian

I put “OMG” in quotes for a reason.  I used to say “OMG” or “oh my God” a lot – just as an everyday expression – no thought put into it – just using the term the way so many others do.  I would utter it many times a day or use “OMG” in text messages or emails daily.  I would also swear – a string of 4-letter words and think nothing of it – again, this was a daily occurrence.

A few weeks ago, someone in the workplace asked me if his swearing offended me.  I told him that I’m sure he can come up with other words that can be used rather than the language that spills out of his mouth regularly (frequently every day), including racial slurs.

What I didn’t say was that him saying “OMG” offended me more than his swearing.

Using God’s name in vain goes against one of the Ten Commandments.  Using God’s name in a trivial way is offensive.

I’m saddened that it’s so accepted in society today – it’s spoken numerous times a day and sent in texts countless times every minute.  It saddens me that people don’t see just how great God is and how much we should be honoring him, and not using His name in a trivial manner.

I knew that saying it went against the Commandment so I stopped saying it shortly after becoming a Christian – I guess that speaks to just how much God means to me.  About six months into my journey, I heard other Christians (or professing Christians – I don’t know them well enough to say either way) using the term and I didn’t understand why they would God’s name in vain – at that time, I didn’t feel the offense though – I was surprised that they were using the term.

The first time I felt the offense was around the beginning of December.  Feeling the offense when hearing it, when someone else was saying it – this was something new to me and I was somewhat surprised that I felt offense hearing God’s name used that way.  So, as with my Christian experience to date, I had the experience first and then I thought about it to understand why I felt the offense.  Then I realized how much my love for God has grown – that’s God’s name that they are using in a trivial way – that’s our God!  Why wouldn’t I take offense to it?

God means that much to me, I love him that much … it made it easy for me to just stop saying/texting it.  I will text OMGosh …it’s become a substitute for me for … you know.