OMG?
Flo Rida and his $500,000 chain. Image by DerekG.com
Did you catch Flo Rida on the Today Show the other day? Yeah, I didn’t either. But I caught a highlight of his performance in my news feed and noted an oddity. Flo Rida was on the show singing a song about a certain part of the female anatomy, while wearing a $500,000 gold chain with Jesus’ face on it. As you can see from the included photo it is a serious piece of metal. And it is just another example of the degradation of Jesus and God in society. When asked about his chain Flo Rida said, “Its a sign of success. I put God first in everything I do.” Really? Maybe it’s time we take a look at what God really wants…
Last week I wrote about the popular phrase “What the…?” and the issues that it presents especially among young kids. This week we’re going to take a look at the oft used acronym OMG. You see it and hear it everywhere you look…Facebook, Twitter, TV, radio, even that popular drawing game. The acronym that stands for “Oh my God!” is a commonplace term in the vernacular of so many teens and twenty-somethings, even older generations use the term freely. God has never desired to be commonplace or an exclamation that someone squeals when they see a great pair of shoes or are frustrated by their favorite sports team.
A long time ago, people understood the reverence that should be used with God’s name. The ancient scribes who worked on some of the earliest transcripts of the Bible actually had a cleansing ritual when they wrote the name of God. In Exodus 20 three of the ten commandments deal with the respect that God is due: No other gods before Me, no idols, do not misuse the name of God. Back then, and today, the name of God was/is to be reverenced, holy and special! In the Old Testament we can see the consequences when God’s people drifted away from Him.
So if we use the acronym OMG what does it say about us? What does it say about our heart and our attitude towards God? Matthew 12:33-37 tells us that by our words we are justified and by our words we are condemned. If we throw around God’s name (or Christ’s name) in a trivial way, or as an exclamation, or with foul words… What does this say about our heart? Verse 34 says that our words come from the overflow or abundance of our heart.
I understand that in our society the vast majority of people will see nothing wrong with belittling the name of God. The choices in the lives of so many people show no respect for God so why should their words. This is really written for Christians who should know better than to use the name of God so casually. I cannot tell you how many times I have cringed when I hear fellow believers saying, “Oh my God! I love that dress” or something like it. We praise God together and now you are using His name as a common exclamation?
This phrase and acronym are especially troubling as a parent. When our oldest daughter was three we had to correct her from saying, “Oh my God!” She didn’t learn this at home and she didn’t learn it from any of our relatives. She learned it at church and she learned it when we were out and about. Our daughter is now five and can clearly tell you why we shouldn’t use God’s name so casually.
So what can we do?
- If you say/write OMG, “Oh my God”, “Oh my Gosh”, or any other variant of the Lord’s name as a common exclamation, stop now! Obviously there is a proper context for calling on the name of God, and God wants to have that relationship with us. But using His name as a common exclamation is not appropriate for His people.
- Teach your children that using God’s name in a common setting is disrespectful to God. If any of these terms have become commonplace for your child make sure to correct this behavior.
- Lovingly correct family members and Christian brothers and sisters if you hear them say such things. Challenge them to think about how great God is and how much their use of His name in this manner belittles Him. Also ask them to consider the challenges they are placing on your family as you try to teach your children to love and respect God.
- If you hear others using God’s name in vain, perhaps that is an open door for you to share the truth of God’s love and how incredible He really is.
The OMG trend will come and go but God will remain. As believers let’s make sure that our language reflects the honor and glory that we see in God.
If you’d like to consider using this post as an article for your church bulletin I have written a 400-word version of this post that you can download here. Also, make sure to check out my continuing family worship series as we study the book of David >>> Week 33 – Bathsheba
Can I make copies of it and when someone uses anything from dad gum on up (or down…whichever is more appropriate) just staple a copy to their back ? But SERIOUSLY: I am very proud of you for tackling this linguistic cancer that is so rampant that most people don’t even realize what they’re doing. Thank you ! File these away under your Best Of category for some time when you have re-runs. ………………..ted……………………..
Thanks Ted. I think stapling this to people my defeat the purpose…but I know what you mean.
Great post! This term, or any that misuses God’s name, aggravate me more than anything, it is amazing how many brothers and sisters use “OMG” as freely as they do.
Thanks Beryl! Good to hear that this aggravates people who are younger than me.
Great post Jon, I’m not very religious, but I agree with this. I say both God and Christ’s name the wrong way at times. My father corrected me a few times growing up, and I correct my kids (3 and 6) if I hear them say it. Even if we do not have strong religious beliefs (which my kids do b/c of my wife), it is still important to be respectful. Quick story which made me read this article: Sunday morning we were at a parade in my hometown. Apparently these days they have a ‘judges table’ at some parades and we sat right next to this table and unfortunately the LOUD SPEAKERS. The announcer used “oh my God!” as an exclamation during the parade! I looked at my wife in disbelief and said, “Is he supposed to say that?” Even though I say it sometimes, I know it’s wrong and I wouldn’t say it over a loud speaker at a parade for hundreds of people (including kids) to hear!
Thank you very much for your comment Bryan! I appreciate the thoughts you shared and your efforts to be careful with God’s name. Sounds like we are in the same boat with little ears that hear this said way too much. It is an added challenge in parenting that is quite similar to the prolific amount of swearing I overhear in conversations everywhere. Thanks again for your feedback!
Thank you Jon, for your very direct, straight forward post. And thank you for the very specific instructions of what to do about it. This is one of those things that we often let slide by, and into our ears and head and out our mouth without thinking. We need to have our awareness raised.