Featured Dagnabbit

I get what you are saying. Self discipline never hurts.

Let me ask you this. I heard someone say that in the south it is common for people to say, “well God bless you” when they are angry with someone. Everyone understands it is a condescending insult.

If you say “God bless you” and everyone understands it’s an insult, aren’t you taking the Lord’s name in vain?

peace to you

 

T Bubba Bechtol - "Bless Your Heart" - YouTube

 

Well I don't know if this is profanity or not but when I was a youngster in the church, one of the deacons in our church, would use this many times when talking among the brethren... My Dad would always call the deacon on it, and say I wish you wouldn't talk like that but us kids got a kick out it, when he said it in church... But don't us kids try to use it.... "Hell Fire", he would say when he disagreed with something and we would try to gather around to hear it again... I know one thing if we used "Hell Fire", we couldn't get away with it but it seemed some of the adults could?... That always stuck in my mind, even after sixty years when I heard it the first time and I guess it never made it into my vocabulary... And I guess that had a lot to do with my Dad... Brother Glen

 

A saved native man I used to counsel at a Christian mission was wont to use the Lord's name in vain.
I suggested he substitute "Buddha Muhammad" for the Lord's name.
He loved it and it worked. Not the most sanctified thing in the world, but it was growth.

 

Just to be clear, my comment was general, about whatever happens, addressing the Lord himself. If someone were to say, "Oh, Lord, that hurt!" but never thought anything of God, then he has a thinking problem to deal with—a missed opportunity ("The very hairs of your head are numbered").

And there's always the possibility that it was a bit of discipline—it was in some personal instances. Hebrews suggests we treat hardship that way (cf. 12:4-13), so why not minor stuff? And it could be used as a sort of persecution practice.

 

Getting angry at someone and addressing them is another matter. I recall hearing "God bless!" with no rebuke by parents who didn't tolerate "language." I get the impression that "Bless your (little) heart" is more a mild rebuke, but never witnessed it used.

However, since Jesus frowned upon "You fool!" (cf Matthew 5:22), taking the Lord's name in vain is hardly necessary to commit very serious offense in anger.

 

That is the perfect explanation of how it is used.

Is it taking the Lord’s name in vain to say all sorts of vile and ugly comments toward someone, and then say “bless your heart” to make it sound a little less offensive?

peace to you

 

Disingenuous

 

Jesus "frowned upon it?" A bit more than that. He said whoever shall say that shall be in danger of hell fire. But then both he and Paul said that in direct address. What does that show? That Jesus and Paul are in hell? That biblical literalism is nonsense? That words just don't mean much after all?

 

I may have lost the gist of the point in citing their example, but I have been known to use a bit of understatement on rare occasion. Perhaps "rather more than frowned upon it" would have been better. In any case, the direct reference in parentheses would easily clear that up for those with ears to hear but as yet unfamiliar with the Sermon, doncha think?

Oh, and BTW, taking my statement out of context left out the rest of the story. "However, since Jesus frowned upon 'You fool!' (cf Matthew 5:22), taking the Lord's name in vain is hardly necessary to commit very serious offense in anger."

However, since the issue has been raised, the prior verse (cf. Matt 5:21f) actually requires no "language" at all for judgment to apply. Just being angry with a brother is enough to be subject to judgment. And Jesus was contrasting this with murder, as though the two are connected, perhaps harking back to Cain's nursing his anger, then slaying his brother Abel.

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

 

Having to go by ancient memory here, but I may recall the phrase, "Bless your heart" in use. It doesn't stand out, probably because the impression was sincerity. A kid accidentally spills juice all over while trying to fill Dad's glass. Mom says, "Bless your heart. You were just trying to be helpful, weren't you?"

That's the thing about sarcasm, and language in general. The words alone may not convey the intended meaning. Context and tone, even cultural background, can make a big difference. So, bless your heart, don't think you know the intended meaning just because you hear (or read) the words, despite Bubba's tongue-in-cheek exposition.

 

That’s a good explanation. Saying “bless your heart” when you don’t mean it or you are acting in a condescending manner is disingenuous, and therefore disrespectful.

peace to you