You Shall Not Take The Name Of The LORD Your God In Vain – A View Into The Ten Commandments

The third of the ten commandments. 

We all know it. So highly symbolic are the Ten Commandments that almost all human beings on earth – even non-Christians – are aware of their existence. It is mostly because of the third commandment that shouting ‘Jesus Christ’ in conversation is frowned upon. I’d like to challenge that notion.

The Ten Commandments, The 10 Commandments

Does your God think less of you or possibly even punish you if you utter ‘Jesus Christ’ or ‘God damn it’? That’s too bad. Mine doesn’t! My God does not exhibit human-like pettiness. He does not care whether his name is used as an expression of surprise, anger or frustration. My God does not view uttering ‘Jesus Christ’ as a sign of disrespect. The need for respect from others is purely a human notion. God transcends all human reactions and emotions. He’s an entity that is much more grand than that.

Trust me folks. Your God cares much more about other things: kindness and helpfulness toward others; supporting those in need; sense of awe at his creations; sympathy; empathy; humility. You get the idea.

Who decided that the third commandment means saying ‘Jesus Christ’ is a blasphemous act? I want to meet that person. That’s just silly. Did that person talk to God personally? Who’s to say that the correct interpretation of this commandment should not be “You are not to make use of the name of the Lord your God for an evil purpose.” That would make much more logical sense. Here’s an example. In the dark ages, the church punished, in the name of God, those who did not believe the earth was the center of the universe. See what I mean? Here’s a more recent example: clergies abusing boys and covering it up.

Be skeptical of anyone telling you what God wants of us, or what he cares about (including me). No one knows that for sure. The only thing we can do is to employ logic, intuition, knowledge, and experience to arrive at a reasonable conclusion regarding God’s wishes and plans. That is why you are bestowed the gift of intelligence. One way or another, you must use your brain to untangle the mysteries of the ten commandments.

Here’s my personal belief: God doesn’t care about words. That is just silly! At this very moment, somewhere in the world, a child is dying of malnutrition or disease. At this very moment, a desperate person is praying to his creator, and asking for nothing more than a bite of food. At this very moment, innocent American and Iraqi lives are being wasted. At this very moment, someone is dying of cancer, and his family is grief-stricken. At this very moment, a woman is giving birth to a child. At this very moment, a new star is born in the universe. God is busy!

Does your God really make an adverse note about your foul language? Not likely! Don’t be afraid to challenge conventional wisdom (even religious ones). The Church has not always been correct in its teachings or its behavior. Exercise your remarkable and awe-inspiring gift of intelligence that God has given you. Think about it.

I welcome all respectful comments, including any of the ten commandments.

McCain Is Like Jesus? Well, Perhaps Only In Georgia!

Sue Everhart, the Georgia Republican Party chairwoman, recently made a remarkable statement during the state GOP convention. Praising McCain for never denouncing the United States while he was being tortured as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, she said: “John McCain is kind of like Jesus Christ on the cross . . . He never denounced God, either.” Later she explained: “I’m not trying to compare John McCain to Jesus Christ, I’m looking at the pain that was there.” 

Please allow me to disagree! Aside from the obvious absurdity of this ridiculous statement, McCain looks nothing like Jesus. McCain is a fair-skinned Westerner with white hair. Jesus was a dark-skinned Jew with black hair and brown eyes. Don’t even think about leaving me comments about how a recent study suggests Jesus was fair-skinned and blond (as paintings portray him to be). If you reject archaeological and scientific findings about the age of the Earth and humans, you have no choice but to denounce all genealogical evidences.

Second, Ms. Everhart is confused. She made the Jesus comparison because, for a long time, she heard Democrats shouting ‘Jesus‘ when they heard the name John McCain! Besides, the Nazis made better use of such statements. Reichminister Hans Frank once said “Hitler is lonely, So is God. Hitler is like God.” See what I mean?!

Finally, Ms. Everhart (and all those who defend her statement) would benefit from doing a little research before opening their mouths for the sole purpose of placing their feet in them. John McCain, having been subjected to a program of severe torture by Vietnamese in August of 1968, did sign a confession of anti-American propaganda. I am in no way suggesting that he is any less of a war hero for doing so. Most of us would break in half the time. His service to the country should not go unnoticed. He has always felt that his statement was dishonorable, and later wrote “every man has a breaking point. I had reached mine.”

Thank you Ms. Everhart. I appreciate easy material for my post.