Questions and Answers

Euphemisms are substitute words or phrases that are considered less offensive ways of expressing something. For example, instead of saying, "Your dog died," you could say, "Your dog went to sleep" or "Your dog didn't recover." This is an appropriate use of a euphemism.

Then there are euphemisms for what are considered vulgar or coarse terms. Such euphemisms may or may not be acceptable depending on societal standards and context.

But some euphemisms are wrong even when society deems otherwise. Often people use euphemisms for the names of God and Jesus, such as "gosh," "golly," "gee" and "geez." What many people don't realize in using such terms is that they violate the spirit of the Third Commandment, which says, "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain" (Exodus 20:7). To use God's name in a vain way means doing so in a casual or idle way.

While the use of euphemisms for God's name may not be as bad as using the actual names, since there may be a sincere intent here to avoid violating God's command, it constitutes a violation nonetheless. Modifying God's name so as to avoid technically using it while still retaining a similar sound is itself a form of treating His name in a cavalier, unacceptable manner.

As a matter of respect for God, we need to remember that His name is holy (Psalm 111:9). Saying one of God's names, or even a euphemism for God, when we are upset or angry does not honor Him. Neither does using His name, or a euphemism representing His name, when we really aren't thinking of Him. Using euphemisms in these ways violates the Third Commandment.

Of course, this is not to say that God will hold us guilty for being completely unaware that some word we use is a euphemism for His name. But we might be guilty of negligence in our speech, as all of us have a responsibility to be careful in what we say (Matthew 12:36-37), which includes looking into such expressions. This applies all the more once we are aware that such substitute expressions exist and that we shouldn't use them.

Answer: We are pleased to hear that you are trying to stop smoking and seeking information about God's perspective on the subject. Obviously, you recognize the fact that smoking is dangerous and harmful to your health and anyone else's who breathes any secondhand smoke. Indeed, many people have fought the same battle you are fighting. Some find it easy to stop smoking; others find that is a very powerful addiction for them and very hard to overcome.

Scripture does not mention smoking specifically. However, it deals with smoking-related issues in principle. For one, the highly addictive nature of smoking means that it becomes a spiritual enslavement. As the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 6:16, "Do you not know that to whom [or what] you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey . . . ?" Furthermore, as all credible medical authorities agree, a smoking habit will lead to the destruction of one's health. And God through Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says that taking care of our physical bodies is a spiritual responsibility.

Smoking can also be harmful to the health of innocent bystanders. And Jesus said that caring about our neighbors is also one of our highest spiritual responsibilities (Matthew 22:39-40). These scriptures and others show that Christians should not smoke.

The November-December 2002 issue of The Good News, a bimonthly publication of the United Church of God, an International Association, included a whole section about health concerns and what the Bible has to say about them. One of the sections focused on smoking, with an article titled "Smoking and Health: The Often-Overlooked Key". This article has a lot of additional information about smoking, including some points on quitting.

The last half of the article gives a number of biblical principles against tobacco use. Included in that issue of The Good News are also several smaller articles dealing with smoking that can also be found at the previously cited link. One is a personal experience with smoking and another covers some alarming facts about smoking addiction. There is also a list of reasons for not smoking. We wish you success in overcoming smoking!

Answer:The Bible reveals that one of the purposes for God bringing sons and daughters into His family is so they might rule as kings and priests on the earth when Jesus returns to establish the Kingdom of God (Revelation 1:6; 5:10).

When Jesus returns to earth, the saints (that is, all true Christians, whether they have died or are still living) will rise in the air to meet Christ. As 1 Thessalonians 4:17 explains: "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."

Too know where we will be for the 1,000 years between the first and second resurrections (see Revelation 20:5-6), we need to know where Christ will be during this time. When Jesus returns, He will descend to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem to fight against the nations that will oppose His leadership (Zechariah 14:1-4).

Jesus and the risen saints following Him will defeat these armies. Projecting ahead to this time in vision, voices in heaven say, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ" (Revelation 11:15).

After defeating the armies gathered against Him, Jesus will take over the physical kingdoms of this world and His saints will then begin ruling over the nations here on earth. As Revelation 5:10, cited above, makes clear, the saints will be "a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth" (NRSV).

Christ likewise earlier stated, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). Christians do not go to dwell in heaven when Christ returns; they will be on earth, ruling over the Kingdom of God.