What does it mean to take God’s Name in vain?

Is saying OMG, "Oh My God", "Oh My Gosh", or "Gee Whiz" akin to taking the Lord's Name in vain? – Visit our Bible Question Archive on our website here: https://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/listen/archives/o/24/t/bible-question-archive
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Pr. Doug: I'm going to go to Tammy, you're on the air? Tammy in Berkeley California? Tammy: Hi. Pr. Doug: Hi. Thanks. Thank you. Tammy: I'm here. Thank you very much. I love everything you do. I love you guys with the program and I've learned so much from the online Bible study or school that you guys have. Pr. Doug: Wonderful. Tammy: We had Bible trivia at church, I was nearly unstoppable. Thank you, to God be the glory. Pr. Doug: Wonderful. Hey, how can we help you, Tammy? What's your question? Tammy: Yes. I'm always concerned about using the Lord's name in vain. I know that we're not supposed to, absolutely. It's very clear in the 10 commandments about that. I think is the third one, or am I mistaken? I was listening to the Radio Metro show, your show wasn't on yet, but it was another show. They said that if you say, "Oh my God, or gosh, or things like that, that's using the Lord's name in vain." I'm like, "Oh my gosh." I've heard people say, "Oh, Jesus Christ." I'm just like– I can imagine if you say the GD word which I don't use, but- Pr. Doug: You're wondering, is that taking the Lord's name in vain? Tammy: Yes, the GD word I know that's definitely. Pr. Doug: Let me address that before we run out of time. First of all, not taking the Lord's name in vain, it means when you say you're a Christian, you take God's name. If you're going to say you're a Christian and you don't live like a Christian, you're taking His name in vain. You see? To take a person's name in vain means that you say, "I belong to this person." Like it used to be, not so much more as it used to be, but a woman would marry a man she'd take his last name. If she takes his last name and she runs around with another man, she's taking his name in vain. That's one understanding, but it certainly does include that you should never take the name of the Lord, and they used to make vows, and they'd make oaths, and they'd make promises, and they'd use the Lord's name. You should never use the Lord's name in an oath, or a vow, or a promise, and then break it. Then also, it is certainly true that we should never take the name of the Almighty on our lips irreverently. That's probably what this other pastor was talking about. Without seeing the program I don't exactly know, but from what you said, I'm inclined to agree. I don't like when people say, "Gee whiz," because that's a derivative of saying Jesus name. Or they say, "Gosh." I know it's a habit with so many people. I used to have that habit when I first came to the Lord. Don't worry, the Holy Spirit can help you break that habit. Whenever we're using an experlative like that, Jesus said, "Let your yes be yes and your no be no." We don't need to say these things where we're not only directly taking God's name in vain using His literal name, but even using derivatives of it. I agree. I think that it's wrong. I hear kids and their– Even in church, I hear kids say, "Gosh," and I wince. I say, "What does that mean?" They don't even think about it. They don't know what it means. I say you try to educate them and say that's a derivative of wanting to say God's name in vain or some other form of it. Tammy: Because people, we have a bad–saying, "Oh my God." We have a really bad habit. Pr. Doug: People say it on the news. You hear it on television. Every time I hear it, I wince a little bit. Hey, I tell you what? We're almost out of time, but I want to give you something, Tammy, that I think will help you. I wrote a little book. It's easy to read. It's a little book called The Name of God. It's called The Name of God. If you've got a pen handy, Tammy, you waited a long time, I want to send you a free copy. Just write down this toll-free number 800-835-6747, ask for the book, The Name of God. 800-835-6747, and I'll send you a free copy. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-r9tDmvXqk