The term “god” has become commonplace in contemporary conversation, showing up in various forms: “My god …” or  “Oh my god” as a phrase to express excitement Some feel it shows disrespect to God to use His name in such a common, superficial way. Some say it has nothing to do with God and should be spelled, “Oh gawd.” Still others would say it is a term for deity in general, with even the Bible using the word for false “gods.” So what’s the big deal? Is it wrong for Christians to say this phrase as an emotional exclamation when something happens? Should we replace it with “Oh my gosh”?

It used to be that all writings about God, including pronouns referring to Him, would capitalize the first letter of the word, out of respect for the God of the Bible (as I am doing in this essay). The KJV and NASB versions of the Bible use this convention, while other versions do not (NIV, ESV, NET, etc.). The original Greek, from which these translations come, did not use capital letters at all, even to begin sentences.

If “God” were the name of God, then the phrase would show disrespect for God and be tantamount to taking His name in vain (that is, using it superficially). But the term itself is not His name! The Hebrew words in the Old Testament are “Elohim” and “El” (for short), both of which are translated “God.” And the Greek word in the New Testament is “theos.” In both the OT and NT, the original words are generic terms for supernatural deity. They are used for the Creator God of the Bible as well as false “gods” worshiped in false religions. It’s like the word “man.”  I am a man, but that is not my name. God is a god, but that is not His name. Therefore, when we hit our thumb with a hammer, the phrase “Oh god” is on the same level as “Oh man,” somewhat innocuous. (Note: Our Lord goes by many “names” in Scripture, the most significant one being “Yahweh”.)

Yet is that the whole story here? In our western Judeo-Christian world, the word “God” continues to carry the connotation of a Supreme being. The enemy of our souls, the one who is jealous of and opposed to God and His sovereignty over all, takes many avenues in his attempts to draw us away from our Lord. One of those efforts is to denude our terminology of significance. Whereas “Oh God” once carried meaning, as we see many times in the Bible, it has been stripped of its implication. No longer is it a call upon God in whom we trust, but an exclamation mark that has nothing to do with the supreme God who is there.

The phrase “Jesus Christ” is following along a similar evolution in our society. Most Christians don’t use the phrase as an emotional expletive, but non-Christians increasingly do. The phrase is moving in the same direction as “Oh God” and will eventually get to the point where people say, “We are just saying, ‘jesus christ,’ and that has nothing to do with the Savior of the Bible.” Will it soon be spelled “geezus kryzte” as a way of complete dissociation of Christian terminology?

So, should we use the phrase “Oh god” in our everyday speech? Rather than trying to lay down a rule, might we better ask: Does our language mean anything to us, as Christians? As those who have staked our eternal destiny on belief in the Creator God of the universe, and have humbly submitted ourselves to His compelling love, shouldn’t we hold onto the meaning of the words we use when speaking of the One who died on the cross for us? Is this a place where we might stand out in a world that strips meaning from words, communicating in fluid words that convey little sense or depth at all? Simply put, does our faith affect the words we use? May we recover and jealously guard biblical phrases, like, “Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God!” (Ps. 3:7a).