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Story
December 1, 1916
The Arkansas Farmer
Conway, Faulkner County, Arkansas
What is this article about?
Rev. J. William Boyer's sermon on the Third Commandment, 'Thou Shalt Not Curse,' expands it to include false oaths, broken vows in marriage and church, and hypocritical living, urging accountability to God.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Thoughts From Rev. J. William Boyer's Sunday Evening Sermon on the Third Commandment, "Thou Shalt Not Curse"
This commandment means more than cursing. Making a false oath before the court, breaking a sacred vow and living a lie before your fellow men, are all violations of the third commandment.
Swearing or cursing is unnecessary, uncalled for, foolish, degrading, befouling, harmful and common. Even though a man may not mean any harm by it, still he is breaking the third commandment, and will be held accountable.
Men have cursed before me and then said, "Preacher, I beg your pardon." I always tell them not to beg my pardon so much, but go to God and beg HIS pardon and forgiveness, as they have taken His Name in vain.
Cursing is the prayer of a fool. You DEMAND that God damn another person. God is not in the damning business. He is in the saving business and you can be SAVED IF you follow the rules of Christ. Taking a vow with the name of God in it and then making a joke out of it is breaking the third Commandment.
Mental reservation is a breaking of the third commandment. Before the court the witness swears to tell the truth, and then lies, he is guilty of breaking this commandment.
You vow in marriage, BEFORE GOD, to do certain things, and then break that vow. Thus you break the third commandment.
When you accept Christ and join the church, you enter into a covenant with God and His church. You promise to follow Christ and then pay no attention to him, or very little. You vow to live a consistent Christian life and then stay away from church next Sunday, cheat your neighbor and beat some colored man out of part of his just dues. You vow to work for the peace of the church and stir up all the trouble you can. You vow to work for the advancement of Christ's Kingdom and then fold your hands and do NOTHING to win Souls for Christ.
"Thou Shalt not take the name of God in Vain."
This commandment means more than cursing. Making a false oath before the court, breaking a sacred vow and living a lie before your fellow men, are all violations of the third commandment.
Swearing or cursing is unnecessary, uncalled for, foolish, degrading, befouling, harmful and common. Even though a man may not mean any harm by it, still he is breaking the third commandment, and will be held accountable.
Men have cursed before me and then said, "Preacher, I beg your pardon." I always tell them not to beg my pardon so much, but go to God and beg HIS pardon and forgiveness, as they have taken His Name in vain.
Cursing is the prayer of a fool. You DEMAND that God damn another person. God is not in the damning business. He is in the saving business and you can be SAVED IF you follow the rules of Christ. Taking a vow with the name of God in it and then making a joke out of it is breaking the third Commandment.
Mental reservation is a breaking of the third commandment. Before the court the witness swears to tell the truth, and then lies, he is guilty of breaking this commandment.
You vow in marriage, BEFORE GOD, to do certain things, and then break that vow. Thus you break the third commandment.
When you accept Christ and join the church, you enter into a covenant with God and His church. You promise to follow Christ and then pay no attention to him, or very little. You vow to live a consistent Christian life and then stay away from church next Sunday, cheat your neighbor and beat some colored man out of part of his just dues. You vow to work for the peace of the church and stir up all the trouble you can. You vow to work for the advancement of Christ's Kingdom and then fold your hands and do NOTHING to win Souls for Christ.
"Thou Shalt not take the name of God in Vain."
What sub-type of article is it?
Sermon Excerpt
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Providence Divine
What keywords are associated?
Third Commandment
Cursing
False Oath
Broken Vows
Church Covenant
Moral Accountability
What entities or persons were involved?
Rev. J. William Boyer
Story Details
Key Persons
Rev. J. William Boyer
Story Details
The sermon interprets the Third Commandment as prohibiting not only cursing but also false oaths in court, broken marriage vows, and unfulfilled church covenants, highlighting the need for genuine faith and accountability to God.