Why do people take the Lord's name in vain, or use the name of a horrible place as an expression? Perhaps because it takes its power away in the person's mind. It's not “real.”
Hence, “Jesus,” as an *expression* or “hell” as an expression (not an actual place), doesn't seem real (“Hey, it's just an expression.”).
I've yet to hear, “Buddha!!! What's wrong with you?!!!” “Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva!–Watch where you're driving!” or “Oh yeah? Why don't you just GO TO MILWAUKEE!!!” (apologies to my friends from Milwaukee — I could have just as easily said my hometown of NYC).
Jesus is a Person, not an expression. We want to be with Him and wherever He is.
Hell is a place–we do NOT want to be there…because our Heavenly Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit are NOT there.
HOLY: And while I'm at it—at the risk of offending anyone's sensibilities, excrement is NOT holy (see how “holy” has been denigrated by making it *just an expression*?)
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From Webster's 1828 Dictionary:
Holy
HO'LY, adjective
1. Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to the Supreme Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy as his heart is more or less sanctified, or purified from evil dispositions. We call a man holy when his heart is conformed in some degree to the image of God, and his life is regulated by the divine precepts. Hence, holy is used as nearly synonymous with good, pious, godly.
Be ye holy; for I am holy 1 Peter 1:16.
2. Hallowed; consecrated or set apart to a sacred use, or to the service or worship of God; a sense frequent in Scripture; as the holy sabbath; holy oil; holy vessels; a holy nation; the holy temple; a holy priesthood.
3. Proceeding from pious principles, or directed to pious purposes; as holy zeal.
4. Perfectly just and good; as the holy law of God.
5. Sacred; as a holy witness.
Holy of Holies, in Scripture, the innermost apartment of the Jewish tabernacle or temple, where the ark was kept, and where no person entered, except the high priest, once a year.
Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, the Divine Spirit; the third person in the Trinity; the sanctifier of souls.
Holy war, a war undertaken to rescue the holy land, the ancient Judea, from the infidels; a crusade; an expedition carried on by Christians against the Saracens in the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth centuries; a war carried on in a most unholy manner.
Yes Jesus deserves to be honored he is our risen savior he is Holy and love not to be spoken his name n vain
Great article! Thank you so much for reminding me that words have meaning and power. It’s sad how a lot of people also say “holy hell” as “expression” and don’t realize (or don’t want to realize) that hell is anything BUT HOLY! Or they will say “Holy Lord” without referring to God or Jesus.