Here's a conversation I had with a "Christian" regarding Blasphemy

how do you know this person is a "devout Christian?"

from your blog, i read his response and followed him to his blog (which you could have done too) and saw nothing Christian at all about his blog. from looking at all the websites that he cites, i think he is agnostic or atheist (i.e. evil-bible.com and infidels.org). so no embarassment necessary!

PS: He would probably be very offended that you called him devout.

I have had some who said they were christians tell me that sometimes you just have to cuss in orde to get a point across. In natural it would seem that sometimes the agreement would be there but that means using earthly weapons to fight a spiritual warfare.

While reading this it is obvious we are all in a mess truely. God and Lord are not the names of God and in fact many use god and lord to refer to false gods.

I agree though that noone has a fear for God anymore, most don't know His name. Can't really attack His name if you don't know it though, but the wickedness of the heart seems to be at it's peak. If the name of God where to be used more by the people who claim to love Him then it would be blasphemed.

You think God is embarrassed? Shame on you friend, I know His heart is broken because we have been lead astray and don't even know it.

I am with you Jim, because He is my Lord and my God.

I can't help what others do but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.

Typically these questions are leading towards some design in setting forth a name prequalified as being worthy of being used towards God; i.e. Jehovah, Yahweh, YHWH, Yeshua, etc. We have this passages in Hebrews 1:1

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, (Heb. 1:1)

Here God is English for the Greek Theos (Θεὸν). It is used about 1300 times in the NT and some 3000 times in the LXX (Greek Old Testament).

In Exodus 20:3 the LXX uses theos (theoi). Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Theos is translated from the Hebrew word elohiym (אלהים). The iym denotes plural. This is a general name for God or gods from 'el' ( אַיִל (Strongs H352).

When we come to the prohibition of using God's name in vain we have the specific name YHWH (Tetragrammaton):

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD (YHWH) thy God (Elohyim) in vain; for the LORD (YHWH) will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

In the KJV all caps for LORD in the OT is the Tetragrammaton (YHWH). You will notice no vowels. Because it is not known how to pronounce this word and in an attempt to reverence the name the word 'Hashem' (shem) is often used by Jews in place of YHWH.

So the use of the word God is simply a translation of Theos and Elohyim respectively. To believers there is but one God so we associate the name God with the one true God. We associate the name God as identifying the Creator.

For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is 'one God' (εἷς Θεὸς), the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. (1 Cor 8:5, 6 emph. added)

The commandment is do not take the NAME of the Lord in vain. Yes, He is our Lord and our God, but that isn't His name.

Also, what if it is refering to saying you are taking His name in refrence to saying you are His child but you actually are not? Example would be saying you are a Christian when in fact you have never been.

The commandment is do not take the NAME of the Lord in vain. Yes, He is our Lord and our God, but that isn't His name.

I'm not sure I would concur with this. God and Lord are certainly attributes, but we have this passage from Psalm 22 quoted by Jesus:

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? (Psalm 22:1)

Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? Clearly Jesus was calling out to a person and not just to an attribute. He is using 'Eli' in the singular, which would come over as God in English.

Awesome! and very true. May I ask this one thing? Did Jesus ever refer to His Father as Eli before this in the Gospels?

What does it mean to take a name? Consider a wife who takes a man's name in a marriage covenant. what does taking that name imply? How might having that name for herself become "in vain"?

How might God's chosen people, Israel, have taken his name in vain? In other words, how might they have called themselves by his name, as his people, and it become in vain - that is, of no use?

What about today? Who are the ones who take God's name in vain? Is it not all professing CHRIST-ians who are not actually his through the new covenant relationship. Their self designated label in vain. They have a form of godliness but not its power. They do not abide by the first two commandments: love God with all their heart, mind, and strength but have put their trust elsewhere: idols. Christ is not their spiritual "husband" and thus they do not enjoy the privileges associated with that relationship: the Spirit, protection, provision, etc.

Diane

Lovefirst's: May I ask this one thing? Did Jesus ever refer to His Father as Eli before this in the Gospels?

The more common term given that the lingua franca of the times was Greek, was Theos (Θεοῦ).

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Θεοῦ). (Matthew 4:4)

This is the first use of Theos by Christ in Matthew. We have another verse where the use of Theos (God) as His Father.

Jesus said unto them, If God (Theos) were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God (Theos); neither came I of myself, but he sent me. (John 8:47)

Hope that helps. :-)

The more common term given that the lingua franca of the times was Greek, was Theos (Θεοῦ).

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Θεοῦ). (Matthew 4:4)

This is the first use of Theos by Christ in Matthew. We have another verse where the use of Theos (God) as His Father.

Jesus said unto them, If God (Theos) were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God (Theos); neither came I of myself, but he sent me. (John 8:47)

Hope that helps. :-)

This is very helpful indeed. Thanks!