Minced Oaths

[MySweetLord]

Minced Oaths

Set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith
and in purity. -- 1 Tim. 4:12, NIV


As a teenager I read an article titled, "Minced Oaths." The writer
pointed out that as Christians we do not use vulgar words in our
conversation, nor do we blaspheme God's holy name by using it in
senseless fashion or as an oath. Nevertheless, unless we are extremely
careful, we take God's name in vain by using "minced oaths."

That's about all I recall of the article. I remember more clearly that
Mother had taught us as children that we must not say "gee" or "jeez,"
because they were an abbreviated form of Jesus' holy name. Nor should
we say "golly" or "gosh," because those words referred to the Holy
Ghost.

In our area English immigrants were something of a novelty, and their
patently English exclamation of "gorblimey" or "corblimey" was, Mother
said, a corruption of "God bless me." She also told us that our hearty
friend, who closely resembled John Bull himself and began most of his
conversation with "bai jove," was unwittingly blaspheming God by
saying, "By Jehovah."

All this led to my growing up to be extremely sensitive about the name
of any member of the Trinity being used lightly. Nowadays I shudder at
the way "gawd" and "good lord" are used in every sentence some people
speak.

When I visited a new neighbor some months ago, I noticed that she was a
prime offender. She is a lonely person, so I dropped in every week.
Occasionally I tried to talk about God's love, but she reacted so
harshly that I gave up and simply paid friendly visits.

I don't remember how much later it was that I noticed her catching
herself each time she said "gawd." Now, at least when I am visiting, it
has dropped out of her vocabulary. Perhaps teaching by example is
useful for unbelievers also.

We often use words and expressions without knowing or thinking about
their purpose or meaning. It might be good to do a vocabulary
inventory. We also need to immerse ourselves in God's Word each day,
focusing on God's power and grace. Then our words and lives will be a
witness of beauty, with nothing minced.

-- Goldie Down

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