Again, an old testament law.

To be honest im trying. "GOD DAMM FUC#ING ASS#OLE!!!!"

Absolutely. You should refer to him as Mr. Damn. He prefers to be addressed by his last name.

Define misuse.  Like would saying that he will be joining you, in order to get a better table at a restaurant be considered misuse? I wonder if the Pope's hands are clean on this one.

Jesus H. Christ, this is a goddamned important issue. His assholiness would never tolerate this. Remember not to post the word "GOD" in front of a mirror, because then you would be referring to him as something akin to Lassie or Rin-Tin-Tin.

guilty as charged - this is probably my weakest point.....working on it.....

Goddamn. What a load of crap.

I hate hearing people say that. its very disrespectful

I believe that the definition of taking the Lord's name in vain isn't correct. People, for so long have equated that with swearing, using God's name with cursing. I believe that what it means is to use God's name when you're manipulating anything to go your way.

I hate when people do this!!

I'd actually like to hear a sermon on this topic from a minister I respect. Exactly what does "misuse" (or "take the Lord's name in vain") mean?

Except we don't know his name...as per Old Testament. Therefore we can misuse his name. Not that this worked for any of the thousands who have misused his name to kill or keep others down (crusades). I'd say killing in His name is misuse of the worst kind

I LOVE GOD but it's so hard to not say God Damn It because it's sort of slang to me I didn't know it meant actually daming your God.
I also believe this commandment means do not call yourself God as well, it goes back to the commandment "Do not worship anyone but me"

Bad consequences here although the lightning bolt thing doesn't happen much these days.

"...for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." Is that a threat? And down we go...

It really bothers me when people say - I swear to God. Just say - honestly, for real, I give you my word, whatever... God is omnipotent and good and forgiving. Don't make him sad!

I think we're all guilty of this one.

This is one I have been guilty of mny times and have curbed it. Now, instead of using His name in any way I try to say something like " oh, mercy ". It is a bit better. I think a lot of so called Christians take His name in vain in other ways too... like when they speak as though they know God and all they're doing is reiterating what their pastor or other church house elder said at worship service. If you don't study and find something out for yourself, I think it's a misuse of His name to say anything about Him. There are many other ways of taking The Lord's name in vain.

- What this commandment means/application - It means not to use God's name in a jovial, silly, or nasty way. Expressing frustration by saying, 'Oh g--' is violating this commandment. Or using the Lord's name in any derogatory or insultingly light way ie in a way which is disrespectful eg saying 'For the love of g--.' They may not be using God's name as a bi-word, but they are using it in an insultingly light way and also as a way of expressing frustration. If you are going to say 'G--,' do it in a way which is actually praising Him or you generally have a question (a relevant one, not just merely testing someone out) about God. But DO NOT say: God, Lord, Jesus, Holy, Christ as a casual way of expressing frustration, in a joke aimed at God, certainly not as a bi-word or just saying it casually eg when some people want to express amazement or humour, they say, 'oh g--.' I absolutely hate this, but DO NOT say 'holy ---' ie with a sware word at the end. That is disgusting and God will NOT hold anyone guiltless who breaks this command (not unless they repent). God took this commandment very seriously and put this commandment above even murder! God gave us this commandment because for a start, His Name is awesome and Holy and is to be deeply venerated. Also the name of a person is actually the thing which identifies a person eg the name Julie. There is actually a meaning to that name and that name actually affects the spirit of that person ie it identifies their soul. So when you are talking about God, you are identifying Him, ie that Person is the ruler and creator and sustainers of life, ruler of the universe and everything in existence, all-powerful and competent etc. So the name God identifies who He is. To use His name lightly is insulting and is like me eg fancy me if I wanted to sware say, 'Oh Julie' and that was your name? That is taking from your dignity if your name is Julie, also her spiritual significance. So as you can see, it is quite an in-depth and serious subject and God didnt give us this command just because He felt like it, there is a very serious and deep and good reason for this command. God deserves the most respect out of anyone because He is the highest ordered and ranking creature in existence. Using Gods name in vain is worse then going up to the president and saying, I dont respect you, you are an idiot. Or You mean nothing to me. And God really wants to be loved, so you can imagine that is a very insulting thing to do. Besides, it is the same principle to why you dont go around calling your parents by their first name. It is disrespectful. How is society at observing this Absolutely terrible, in fact, this is worse then the adultery one. This is definitely a minus 1 star. I get so sick of people saying, oh my g. Or, gthat was big etc. It is just common language to use His name in that way. Maybe one of the devils tricks is to get us to break that command so much that the name of God means nothing to people ie when you witness about Jesus, they just think whatever ie it takes the meaning out of the name to make His name like a cliché. There is just no shame in peoples hearts at using His name in that way and people couldnt care less if you told them it was wrong. At least with adultery, even an atheist knows thats wrong! But I suppose since there is this evolution movement, people just break this commandment because they dont even believe in God to begin with. But that is absolutely no excuse, and God will not hold anyone guiltless who uses His name in that way. Ie on judgment day, He wont forgive you. It will just be something He will always be angry with you about UNLESS: - If you have broken this commandment Well, we are lucky that God is also infinite in mercy and is extremely understanding. Put it this way, if when Jesus being fully God, with all the dignity and power He had was not only spat at, but beaten and killed in a gruesome way could say Father, forgive them for they know not what they do, well I certainly think He will be more then willing to forgive anyone who has broken this commandment. Especially atheists, they really dont know what they are doing, not that it makes it OK. God will continually forgive you for all sin but you have to first give your life to Jesus, receive Him and repent. Even if you are a Christian and you know this commandment well and you still slip and do it, God will certainly forgive them because the blood of Christ wipes away our sin (well they would have to ask for forgiveness). But even if it were the old question if that person broke that command then got hit by a car before they had a chance to repent? Well I believe because of the blood of Christ, they would definitely be forgiven. But nevertheless, it is not a command to take lightly and it is a terrible sin that we arent even aware we are committing.