As opposed as I am to people using God’s name in useless ways such as an exclamation (“God!” or “Oh my God!”) or an expletive (“God d**n it!”), admittedly, this is not what Scripture means when it tells us not to take the name of the Lord in vain.
Read C. Michael Patton’s blog entry on this issue, particularly point #3. He makes it clear that while many of us would never think of saying “God d**n it,” we commonly take His name in vain without realizing it. Read it, and then think twice next time before you proclaim God told you such and such.
Thinking to Believe 
November 14, 2007 at 2:53 pm
I enjoyed that article and agree. And it is ironic perhaps because in class this past week, the professor mentioned that taking the name of the Lord in vain is not referring to profanity (as we know it) – that was not the intent of the commandment. According to the professor, taking the name of the Lord in vain is using the name of the Lord in unhealthy practices. Basically, attaching the name of the Lord, the person of God to those things which He actually has not part in.
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