I came across this site GodSpeaks which aims to spread campaigns around the USA about God's messages and teachings. They erect billboards on towns and cities all over the US encouraging citizens to find sponsors and advertisers willing to construct the signs. The billboard messages are cited from Biblical verses but tweaked a little bit to add humor and everyday wit. The site service provides the messages and the artwork.
As I flipped through the site's pages, the messages caught my attention the most. They are "simple, true and relevant" in our daily lives. After all, these are God's words. His words are always "true, simple and timeless". Yes, God still speaks. He gives us the freedom to listen.
One message is as good as a bumper sticker, "Keep using my name in vain, I'll make rush hour longer---says God". But one particular message stopped me on my tracks was "If you must curse, use your own name--God. "
I find it piercing right through sensibilities. Even if you're not spiritual or religious, this message is stabbing right smack on to anyone who just carelessly use the word of a supreme being. Many of us carelessly blurt out words that defame the name of God.I know some people don't believe in God, but still it's not acceptable for them to curse under the name of a Being who is worshipped and revered by many with fervor and piety.
People today as purveyed by media have deemed it acceptable to use the name of God in "vain". Movies, TV shows and even musical lyrics explicitly makes use of cursing through utterly lambasting God's name to convey even disparaging sentiments, violent intentions and promiscuous emotions. I have to turn off the TV or the audio player when I hear the words , "F...ng Christ". That is ridiculously over-the-top and most disturbing. How could be Jesus Christ be "F....ng?"
Why don't we use our own name instead? Yeah, use our own name if we curse. Why? Compared with God, we are nothing. Compared with God, we are helpless, defenseless little weak earthlings who are still constantly struggling, stumbling, and confused till we die. We are still lost, sinful souls who need power, strength and guidance from somebody who's almighty superior than us. We are just mere human beings. So why don't we use our own name to curse? We lie, we cheat, we steal, we puff up, we lust, we tempt, we don't forgive, we bitch, we envy, we stumble, we fall, etc. Aren't those enough to use our name to curse rather than curse using the name of God?
Is it so easy to lambaste Jesus just like that despite the love and mercy He offered and bestowed on us? Does Jesus' name deserve that type of "glorification" instead of praise and exaltation of His name because of His faithfulness, goodness, patience, love and forgiveness? Why God's name? God provides, heals, comforts, calms and loves. Hence, God's name signifies all goodness. Instead, we should spend some quiet time each day thanking Him, blessing Him and praising Him for what He has done for us and for who He is---mighty, holy and worthy of all our praise.
So, if we find the tendency to curse, I think it is more "power-packed" and credible if we use our own names. God will not make rush hour longer.
You shall not take the name of Jehovah your god in vain. For Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain"----Exodus 20:7
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What an awesome post! I sometimes wonder what God would say to those who use His name in vain. Whoever thought of this idea is brillant and I pray it will make people stop and think about how much God is hurt by people taking His name in vain. God is to be worshipped and glorified. He is to be loved. I wonder if they would just stop and think that the One they are cursing is the One who loved them enough to create them. God bless
Posted by: Valerie Lynn | August 03, 2008 at 03:49 PM
I must agree, this is a great post. I wish I would see real billboards like this in Phoenix, all we have is beer and TV show advertisements everywhere.
Posted by: Justin | August 04, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Great post, I really would like to see that billboard in every major city. Maybe the incidents of road rage would be drastically reduced.
Posted by: threio | August 04, 2008 at 07:03 PM
This is a very good write-up. Fist of its kind I have ever heard. To be sincere, the very first time i hard someone use the name of God to curse was in a movie. Come on! Unbelievable!
How on earth can one ever be able to justify that. Some will tell you it is just language. It is just the "flow". They don't really "mean" it. But wait a minute...with the name of a supreme being?
That's ridiculous. I think people should be thrown in jail for about a month when they utter something as bad as this.
Posted by: AZ Blogging | August 05, 2008 at 01:09 AM
AZ-thanks. I think of the same penalty too.
Threio--Thanks for the compliment. I am definitely sure, traffic and accidents could be reduced with all these uplifting billboard messages
Justin---Thanks. I think it should be all over in the USA. TV show and beer ads do not really help our lives at all.
Valerie Lynn--Thanks. A lot of times we hurt God but we hurt Him all the more when we deliberately use His name in vain.
Posted by: Bingkee | August 10, 2008 at 04:52 PM
Really good post. These billboards are excellent ways to get people who never really thought about God...to start thinking, maybe start searching for Him.
Posted by: Lori Laws | August 14, 2008 at 02:48 PM
Really good post. These billboards are excellent ways to get people who never really thought about God...to start thinking, maybe start searching for Him.
Posted by: Lori Laws | August 14, 2008 at 02:49 PM
Really good post. These billboards are excellent ways to get people who never really thought about God...to start thinking, maybe start searching for Him.
Posted by: Lori Laws | August 14, 2008 at 02:49 PM