Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain... - Exodus 20:7a

One hundred percent of Christians say that this verse commands us to refrain from saying phrases like "Oh, my God!" or "God damn." But they are wrong.

In the King James Version, the word "take" is translated 219 times as up, 115 times as bear, 58 times as take, 34 times as bare, and 30 times as carry. It's even translated 18 times as armourbearer.

Consider this translation: Thou shalt not wear the name of the LORD thy God in vain... Does that change what you thought this commandment meant? Does it really command anything about how we "say" God's name?

So, the next time you hear someone say "Oh, my God," stop judging them and consider how you are wearing His name!

A long time ago, someone I considered a friend said something to indicate that he and his had been a blessing to my family. I didn't disagree with him at the time, but it has always stuck with me. It just didn't feel right.

I couldn't count on all my fingers and toes how many times I've heard the term "independent fundamental baptist" pounded on a podium. And I have to admit, I've never really cared for it. It always had an air of arrogance to it. But that's just my opinion.

Fundamentalism is rigid, uncompromising teaching and practice about the absolute necessity of being in the right place, at the right time, wearing the right clothing, singing the right songs, and saying the right prayers. Fundamentalism is the fanatical pursuit and exaltation of human performance, insisting that everyone else perform the same religious rituals and rules while arbitrarily and irrationally giving blind loyalty to religious authority... From a Christian perspective, it is necessary to understand that fundamentalism within Christendom is not one and the same as the fundamentals of our faith. [source]

By Kevin T. Bauder

Once upon a time, a band of vigorous tribesmen occupied a high and arid plain. They were surrounded by snow-covered peaks, and what little water they had trickled down from the glaciers and snowfields above. Water was precious to them, for their lives depended upon it. They took care not to waste a drop.

I am above no sin. There are many things I could never see myself doing, but I'm not stupid enough to think I couldn't fall into any temptation. God is faithful and always provides an escape route from temptation and trials (1 Cor. 10:13). I just don't want to speed past my exit.

When we gave up on the 4th commandment, we opened the door to a great, exponential, downward slide... because we gave up on something that was so clearly, manifestly mandated by God. - Alistair Begg (1952-present)

Define: Conviction - a fixed or firm belief
Synonyms: confidence, creed, doctrine, dogma, eye, faith, feeling, judgment call, mind, opinion, persuasion, principle, reliance, sentiment, slant, tenet, view

I love doctrine - principles and positions. Thomas Carlyle, the Scottish essayist and historian of the Victorian era, said: "Conviction is worthless unless it is converted into conduct." And I must agree. If I do not change my behavior because of a belief what difference does the opinion really make? So I have come to learn that gathering knowledge does nothing for me unless I place that knowledge into proper action: wisdom.

But there is more hope for a fool than for a man wise in his own eyes! (Prov. 26:12) And this is why I won't stand by my convictions.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are following a different gospel – not that there really is another gospel, but there are some who are disturbing you and wanting to distort the gospel of Christ. - Gal. 1:6, 7

Friend, if you had asked me several months ago what "a different gospel" looks like, I might have mentioned Mormonism, Catholicism, or something like that. But today, I must speak out against a distortion that has personally impacted my family: the very false gospel Paul was writing about.

My life has moved beyond the turmoil of getting anathematized by men I considered friends. We've made some new friends and planted roots in a church body. I've made some spiritual strides lately: The future is unknown, and I've come to wait for it expectantly. But I'm missing something. I have cried out to my God for some semblance of closure. Proper closure accounts for all the clues and mysteries, leaves no stray ends, makes themes clear, and gives readers a sense that order is again in sight (define:closure).

Definition: belief
Synonyms: assurance, certainty, certitude, confidence, conviction, credence, credit, dependence, entrustment, expectation, faith, gospel truth, hope, positiveness, reliance, stock, store, sureness
Antonyms: disbelief, distrust, mistrust

As I look around, I cannot say that the world around me even pretends to trust God. But more importantly, I don't think I really do either.