Isn’t it interesting the name of only one famous person has been utilized as a swear word? In a burst of angry swearing, no one ever utters ‘Attila the Hun,’ or ‘Genghis Khan,’ or ‘Ringo Starr.’ Even in mild disgust, like when someone bites into a plastic apple, an utterance of this person’s name can surface.
Suppose you were an alien, and you landed your space capsule on a man’s shih tsu. The man rushes onto his deck while spewing over and over the name of this person you’ve never heard of: “ ________ _______, are you a moron?” (You don’t know what that means.) Then “_______ _______, you better have a good lawyer.” (You don’t know what that is.) “_______ _______, I ought to blow you to smithereens.” (How did he know the name of your planet?)
But your attention settles on the name: ‘Jesus Christ.’ Whoever that person is, he must be a real vagabond, a cruel tyrant, or worst of all, a lifelong politician. Once the man’s wife emerges from the house, screaming her own expletives using the same name, you are convinced; Jesus Christ must be the worst person living on the planet earth.
Your research, however, tells you differently. Jesus wasn’t born to royalty. His birth ranks as one of the most humble beginnings in all of history. It created no path for Him to become an arrogant overlord.
It is because He supposedly promoted a lie by calling Himself God? Granted, it would be one thing if He alone promoted the idea. But the historical record points to Him as the Messiah who would come to earth. Then the eyewitnesses around Him confirm what the historical record said, and they write volumes about Him. Since that’s truth, is that why we often use His name as a swear word. Wouldn’t ‘Jack Ripper’ be a better choice?
Speaking of promoting, what encapsulated his teachings? The historical record reveals Him exhorting principles, if diligently practiced, grows healthy relationships with both God and everyone. You scratch your head in wonder. Shouldn’t that cause everyone to heap praises of thanksgiving upon Him rather than make Him a swear word?
The historical record describes amazing physical miracles. From simple stuff like turning water into wine or commanding a lame man to rise and walk to amazing events like commanding a storm to cease and it did. He healed people from illnesses and abnormalities. Most incredible of all, He made dead people alive again. How’s that warrant turning His name into a swear word?
With those supernatural powers, why didn’t He remove the Romans from their tyrannical rule over the Jews? Anyone who can command a storm to stop could easily whip up a category 5 hurricane to wipe out an army. Is it wise for anyone to insult Him by using His name as a swear word? You might want to walk a different course, like saying ‘Jackie Chan’ instead.
Truly, the Romans got off lucky. Jesus didn’t even give them the time of day. According to your research of the historical documents, Jesus’ focus was on a bigger picture than the Roman Empire. You run across one of His most profound statements: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.” (John 14:6)
Later, He says, “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.”(John 15:6)
Into the fire? Burned? You scan His words, and discover an incredible truth: Jesus talked about eternal life more than any other person ever. Specifically, He firmly established clear divisions between Heaven and Hell.
No wonder, then, if a person is only focused on this life, while ignoring what Jesus teaches about the eternal life to come, it’s easy for him to reduce Jesus Christ to a swear word. Later on, from the pits of Hell, he will continue spouting His name as a swear word for all of eternity. Not that it would do him any good.