Member Since: January 24, 2008
Answers: 2
Last Update: January 26, 2008
Visitors: 483
|
| |
Why do some people think that saying Jesus's name in vain is okay while saying God's name in vain isn't? Yeah, God is our Lord but Jesus is still a higher being.
Not that my religious view matter in this question but I am not Christian which might explain my perplexity to the situation.
In class today we were reading a play and my teacher announced that if we come by a profound word we do not have to say it. A student in my class came across "God!" as she was reading out loud and replaced the word with "Jesus!" because she claimed saying God's name in vain is wrong. I know this girl is Christian.
I completely agree that we should not use God's name in vain but why should Jesus's name be any different? I of course snapped at the girl and asked about the situation. She could not give me a straight answer so I'm wondering if someone else can. Or was she just an idiotic high school student (link)
|
I agree with you. Using the name "God" in vain is the same as using "Jesus" in vain.
For myself, I am a Oneness Christian. In other words, I do not believe in a "trinity". Jesus IS God. So, it is exactly the same.
|
I am not Christian, but an answer from Christians or non-christians will work. Why is it that many things in the bible tell you to do and believe things that in America are illegal and also seem VERY immoral and hateful. I thought we were supposed to love our neighbor as ourself? For instance; deuteronomy 21:18-21; it is saying basically to kill teen girls for no reason; and Exodus 35:2; it is saying that if you work on sabbath or sunday then you should be killed; also deuteronomy 22:13-21; it says that girls that are not virgins when they marry are to be killed, what about rape? and plus, just because someone makes a mistake they should be killed? I am so confused. I was once Christian but not anymore...
Thanks for your advice, if you can answer these... (link)
|
Wow. Tough questions. I won't belittle you by trying to give some trite answer. The best one to answer your questions would be the Author Himself...God. If you have questions about His word, I would take issue with Him. He can take it and He's not threatened at all. In my opinion, anyone can ask questions but it takes someone special to seek answers. I imagine God feels something like that when we seek answers from Him.
However, here's my attempt to shed a little light on the questions you asked:
First, let me say that the very basis of the Law is hinged on two commandments; Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and then to love your neighbor as yourself. Bottomline.
Therefore, if you love God, you want to do whatever pleases Him. Then, if you love your neighbor the way you love yourself, you would never do anything to harm anyone in any way and would seek out their welfare.
Now, God knows that people are rebellious by nature and generally choose their own way, not His, and so He gave some guidelines to govern His people. This is where the Law comes in. It was there to govern.
The passages you mention (btw, the Deut 21 passage speaks of a drunken, rebellious son, not a teenage girl) all deal with obeying God's commandments.
Bear with me...
There are precepts and principles in the word of God. In other words, specifics and the reason behind the specifics. For example, Do not commit adultery is a precept...it's specific. The principle behind it is faithfulness and oneness with your spouse. Commitment. The bigger principle is to love your neighbor as yourself.
The reason (principle) for resting on the Sabbath is to rest as He rested and to give thanks to God for all He's provided.
God has always taken sin seriously. Disobedience is sin. And His word also says that the soul that sins shall die. (Ezekiel 18:20) It was a natural consequence that God set in motion before time began. Just like gravity. By the way, God also gave the consequence for obeying Him: if you keep His commandments and are just, you'll live. (Ezekiel 18:9)
As far as making mistakes...if something is done against the commandment of God and it was done accidentally or without any prior knowledge of God's commandments, then a sin offering could be made and God would pardon that sin. (Lev 4:2)
Concerning rape...if you continue down a few verses in that chapter (Deut 22) the rape issue is addressed in verses 25-29. If a woman who was betrothed (making her the lawful wife of someone) was raped, the man who raped her was to be put to death but nothing would be done against the woman...she did nothing wrong. It would not be considered adultery. If a man raped a woman who was a virgin, not betrothed, he was required marry her and never allowed to divorce her.
About the woman who was not a virgin when she married...God ordained sex for a married man and woman. It meant oneness, intimacy, commitment, a vow before God and men to take care of one another for life. For a woman (or a man, btw)to come to the marriage bed having been the sexual partner of another was (and is)against the commandment of God. The principle here again is obedience to His word. Disobedience is sin and therefore worthy of death by that natural consequence that God put in place. Again, in this case if the woman was accused wrongly, that man was never allowed to divorce here. He was to take care of her and provide for her for all his days. In those days, that equalled safety and position for that woman.
God's word should always be taken in it's entirety and context. There is never anything wrong with asking questions and seeking answers with a sincere heart.
Hopefully this helps to clear things up a little. God Bless You!!!!
|
|