Tuesday, 27 June 2017

Three Ways to Use God's Name

It doesn't take too many days before you hear someone speak the word "God."  If you look up the definition of capital G-o-d, I'm pretty sure you won't find a couple of the meaning though. 
  • G-o-d:  an exclamation meaning "Wow" often preceded by the words "Oh my" I heard this over and over yesterday by our Para Transpo driver. "Wow, did you see that rain, Wow look at all the trees out here, it's like a jungle." (he was from Africa), "Wow, I'm not getting out with that dog there. Wow, what are those? Elk? Wow, is that a farm of them? Wow..."
  • G-o-d: an exclamation of anger. Tone much differnt than above examples. Funny that lots of atheists use this one. My husband asked an atheist co-worker once why he used God's name so much if he didn't believe in God. That was puzzling! The co-worker said he'd have to think about that one.
  •  G-o-d:  a proper noun - used in reverence referring to the Creator of the universe, the all wise, all knowing, all present, holy, eternal, judge and Savior.
 I have to admit, when someone uses G-o-d in either of the first two ways, it feels like a knife stabbing my heart. I expect it does to the Holy Spirit in me as well. Perhasps I am feeling the Holy Spirit cringe. It would be similar to someone using one of my daughter's names lightly, as if it, and thus they, had no value, no importance. In vain. An empty word.
Or, it would be like they blamed my girls for everything bad in life. even if they never talked to my girls or got to know them.

My predicament then is what do I do/say when this happens? I have been praying recently for wisdom regarding this.
I see it as an open door. After all they are the ones that have brought up God, not me. All I have to do is have my heart right, and my questions ready.

I expect I will not have too long to wait to get some practice.

No comments:

Post a Comment