Anyone Else Have This Problem?

sermonindex May 27, 2011

Today my landlord was over to repair something. And what does he do in the middle of a conversation? He took the Lord's name in vain. Right in front of my face! Now people, I have scripture verses pasted up all over the place, from the time you enter my front entryway they are visible. I also have them in the bathroom, the kitchen, and the office. He KNOWS my beliefs. Nonetheless, I don't think he is doing it on purpose, i really think he doesn't think about it first; it's a habit.

Anyway, every time he or anyone else does this, I am SO shocked and taken aback that I fail to even respond. Nor do I know WHAT to say. I am not quick on my feet like some people. And I never see it coming. NEVER. So i am left standing there in shock with no rebuke or reply or anything. Then when he leaves I fret that God will be angry at ME for not having said something but I don't even know what to say! If i were to get angry and rebuke such people they then can turn around and start doing the behavior even more, just to try to provoke me. Someone did in fact do that at my workplace back many years ago when one woman I DID confront numerous times about this received my GENTLE rebukes with offense. In addition to this, so many people talk like this that I am very tired of policing other people's behavior! I don't feel it should be my job to police other people's speech or behavior. I also don't think that most people realize what they are saying nor do they mean any offense to me and if i were to rebuke them they would be hurt and driven further away from Christianity. Plus, I cant expect lost sinners to behave like anything but lost sinners.

What should i do? What should i say? Anything? I am horrified.

L

lylewise May 27, 2011

This happened to me yesterday and I was thinking similar thoughts.

You said, " I cannot expect lost sinners to act anything but like lost sinners".

I would agree with This fully. What good will it do me to appeal to the correction of certain behaviors if there is no internal change driving it. This should an area where our discernment antenna should go up and we should be very sensitive to the one before us. Super large chance that there is one in our midst that we should look for the opportunity to minister to. We would also realize if this be the case that we have a new addition to our prayer life. We can see the things that offend us and try to stop them. It is good that we are offended for we should be sensitive to sin. However most we come into contact are the walking condemned, just as we were before Christ. I can see no good in asking one to clean the outside of their cup when the inside is filthy and empty.

Another couple thoughts maybe worth talking about might be the ways that We take his name in vain.

S

StarofG0D May 27, 2011

I have had this to me on numerous occasions. Some times I say something, some times I do not. Sometimes they hear, some times they do not. I have one lady that I correct her often (I work with dementia residents in a nursing home), and every time she says it she looks at me. It is funny the things they remember and the things they do not...

K

Know-Him May 28, 2011

I know a man who is bold in his witness for Jesus. When someone uses the Lord's name in vain he uses it as an opportunity to witness by saying something like this - "So you know my friend then?" To which he normally gets a confused response of "Who, what friend?" He will reply "My best friend, you just mentioned his name." He uses the fact that they have used the name of Jesus to open a conversation about Jesus. Just a thought.

sermonindex May 28, 2011

I can see no good in asking one to clean the outside of their cup when the inside is filthy and empty.

Well said. But even John the Baptist rebuked Herod for taking his brother Phillip's wife.

I just need to know whether God is going to be angry at ME for not saying something to that person. But i never know what to say! And being that it is my landlord,he might just say right back to me, "It's my property and I will say anything i like!!" I mean, legally it is his property.

I have scriptures taped up all over my apartment but they are mostly for my own benefit and memory. If i were to tape up the scripture verse about taking the Lord's name in vain it might be viewed as nothing more than self-righteous, so i havent done that.

sermonindex May 28, 2011

I know a man who is bold in his witness for Jesus. When someone uses the Lord's name in vain he uses it as an opportunity to witness by saying something like this - "So you know my friend then?" To which he normally gets a confused response of "Who, what friend?" He will reply "My best friend, you just mentioned his name."

Good idea, but i never get the chance, being frozen in shock. Like i said, i am really slow to react to things, i am not quick on my feet. The guy is already continuing talking by the time i regain my balance. Also, if i embarrass him or anyone else with something like this they will just take offense just the same as if i had rebuked them; people see through stuff like this.

sermonindex May 28, 2011

I would let the spirit lead you in this, but ephesians 5 says that we are to reprove the works of darkness. My wifes family purposely uses the name of the Lord in vain in front of me especially when many of them our around and they mock God, in my case I try to not let them get to me. I even stopped going over their as much because of it. If you read in Psalm 1 and even with jeremiah they said to not sit with the mockers and to avoid them to honor God. In your situation, let the Spirit lead you and take examples from the prophets and apostles and Jesus and how they approached it. They had no fear of the mockers and guess what if they mock you back or make fun of it or do it more remember that is suppose to be the normal reaction of the ungodly.

sermonindex May 28, 2011

Probably my first three words were curse words, and after that I could strip wallpaper with my tongue. THEN someone got my attention.

I have worked in very tough environments, and have heard all that I had spoken before myself. Most times now though people just don't swear around me when they get to know me. The most interesting is to see a person with the foulest of mouths talking, and then I walk into the room, and say nothing.

I have said various things to people (examples below), but my life is probably the biggest testimony.

"I used to speak like that until I learned I was going to hell, so I decided to do something about it." I only say this to people who know from where I came.

"Isn't it amazing that God is so powerful even those who despise Him can't refrain from using His name. Why do you think that is?"

"Buddha damn it, doesn't work so well, huh?"

"If you ever want things to work out better, a good place to start is to stop asking God to damn things. Enough will be damned without asking for more."

When people apologize to me:
"Don't apologize to me, I am just a man like you, take your apology to the God who you have just offended. That is what I had to do."

Remember: In general, lost people are like crocodiles, if you sit above them and poke them on the back, you will learn they are pretty hard on that side, and about all you will do is annoy them; BUT if you come from underneath, their soft belly is exposed so that you can more easily get to the heart. I admit though that it takes more courage to come underneath a crocodile than it does to just poke him on the back ;-)

OJ

C

Christinyou May 28, 2011

There is only One that will convict the dead heart.

John 16:7-13 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

We can ask for the reproof and conviction, and lead our life by what they see. We don't take the Lords name in vain, and no silly or course jesting.

In Christ: Phillip

sermonindex May 28, 2011

Cyan

Ultimately, you have to remember that you have no right to be offended at the sin of another. All offense is against God. Once that is thoroughly worked through you, it will be easier to care those who used to offend you.

OJ

L

Lysa May 28, 2011

CyAn wrote:
And what does he do in the middle of a conversation? He took the Lord's name in vain.
...
What should i do? What should i say? Anything? I am horrified.

The Lord has graciously allowed me to not be offended by the language skills of another person - especially a sinner (acting like a sinner). And besides, my ears aren't going to hell by hearing it! Love covers a multitude of sin!

Lylewise gave you excellent instruction; I would hope you would pray about it and learn to love them in spite of their offensive language and pray not let their outer man offend you so much and that you would learn to look past their outer man in order to see the broken inner man.

God bless you,
Lisa

L

lylewise May 28, 2011

Relax! It is not your work to save a man. You are to tell of the truth and let God do the rest. The burden we place on ourselves concerning evangelism is impossible to carry if it requires our perfect delivery in order that one be saved. We are the means to the truth, God is the one who changes the heart using the truth He has given us (and gives us) to speak.

What do you say? What note do you reference for the appropriate scripture? If we pursue this action, once the individual is saved we will in some way, large or small, share in the credit. Yet the credit is not ours to share in. We are the unprofitable servants.

One of the greatest tools of the saint has all but been removed by the church. The reason is the infiltration of so many who call themselves Christians but who are not. What is the tool? THE TESTIMONY! Every saint has one. It is the change that comes with regeneration. I was dead and now I am alive. I loved sin and now I hate it. I hated God and now I love Him. I saw the world but know I see the world for what it is. Just expounding on these things through you testimony will speak volumes for it is antithetical to the world. It is your God given miracle. How many in the N.T. were healed in the physical and went and told everyone they came across. We have been healed in the Spirit. Once dead but now brought to life. A testimony is a powerful thing and very biblical.

If I go to a very nice restaurant and the waiter tells me they have the best Beef Welliington on this planet, I will not hesitate to ask him if that recommendation comes by experience. If he says no, that he was merely saying that because he was told to, I will not order the Beef Wellington. If however he loves it because he has never had any better than this, well then............he definitely has my attention.

ybiC,

lyle

L

lylewise May 28, 2011

Ex: 20:7 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain for the Lord will not hold guiltless anyone who takes His name in vain.

Yes we do not live to earn salvation through the commandments, for we now have the things of God upon our hearts. However we still get pulled back into living under the law through the religion of man. This religion seeks to make the abstention of various things a form of righteousness that the man can now accomplish apart from Christ. It is most dangerous. So we abstain from the GD word and somehow we have separated ourself from the world and accomplished a good work. Thereby missing the true instruction of God in Ex 20:7

In many a conversation God's name is thrown around like a beach ball. Since His testimony is without refute, men will throw His name into the mix to support many a thing that God does not approved. He told me this....., God must be......,God is doing......, God has......., God will........., God wants.........,God is.........., Must be God.......... One could go on and on of the abuses that occur with the use of His name. Yes there are times when these statements are correct but there are probably many more when they are not. So often we do not consider of Whom we are speaking. Caution and reverence is due His name. He is worthy of much greater than the idle talk that sees Him at times a rubber seal that validates the ill considered words of the Christian.