A Little Bible Q & A For Your Day

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Date: Jun 10 2016 5:00 PM

Hey Everybody,

I hope things are going your way. Here is a little Q & A for your Friday.

The Question:

Dear Brother: I am in prison, and I've heard other inmates arguing with inmates or officers, and when things don't go their way, they will say, 'God bless you.' Are they really blessing these people, or using God's name in vain as a curse?

The Answer:

The command is found in Ex. 20:7, "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain" The meaning of "vain" is: "to not effect, to no profit, empty, worthless." There are several ways this command could be violated.

First, to be an Israelite meant wearing God's name and being under His covenant with Israel. There was, then, an obligation to keep the commandments of the law. Second, to swear an oath by God's name meant one had to be telling the truth, or God's name was used in vain (Deut. 10:20). Third, any casual use of the name of God (such as what we call a "by-word"), in which God's name is used without purpose or meaning.

I cannot judge the heart of the one who says, "God bless you." He may mean exactly that. On the other hand, I knew a man several years ago who used that expression when it was clear he meant something else! If he hit his thumb with a hammer, he would say," God bless it!" in a tone of voice that conveyed the same message as though he had substituted another word for "bless." All of this simply emphasizes what Jesus taught in His gospel, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matt 12:35-37).

I hope this helps.

Have a great weekend!

Mitch Robison

Enon Church of Christ

1366 Enon Road

Webb, AL 36376

[email protected]

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