Respect for God’s Name

The third commandment says we are not to take the name of the Lord in vain. This is not just cursing, but includes any careless use, including that omg thing that is now a trademark and the title of a production. Many Christians wince every time they hear it.

Yet right off, I have no claim to be above anyone else. God says those who break one of His commands is guilty of all. That is, His laws are considered as one command; to love Him with all our heart, soul and strength. When we ignore Him or shake our fists in His face, He sees the attitude of our hearts. Any breach of any commandment carries the same designation; it is sin and the Word of God is clear: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

As for taking the name of God in vain, it happens because He is not valued. Most of humanity puts some value in a name. It identifies who we are. We want our name cleared when accused, and spelled correctly when put in writing. In the Old Testament, names designated character and the hopes parents had for their children when they were first named. Any old name will not do for someone we value.

The name of God also identifies who He is, and because He has many names, this indicates His multi-faceted character. The Bible says that He does many things for His name’s sake. One of them is saving people from sin.

Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power. (Psalm 106:8)

This is one reason that those who are saved must declare their faith, particularly in a manner that makes known God’s power. That power isn’t making nice people nicer, but takes sinners from the depth of our sin and rebellion against Him and changes our hearts. Instead of shaking my fist at Him, I can now lift my hands in praise, and often in pleading. He alone can do for me what I cannot do for myself.

When I hear people curse, it tells me the condition of their heart. They hate God and refuse to give Him respect and honor. When I hear people carelessly say His name as part of their casual conversation, they reveal that they know nothing of His saving power and holiness. Note again, God saved me for His name’s sake, meaning my life should display His power, not be lived for my own glory.

That said, we who belong to God can also treat the name of God lightly. This commandment was given to us, issued right after God rescued Israel from bondage in Egypt. Yet they still resisted Him (and so do we).

But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not walk in my statutes but rejected my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to make a full end of them.

Like me, they deserved the wrath of God. They were not thankful, never mind obedient. God had no reason not to destroy them, except the mercy motivated by His name.

But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out. Moreover, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands, because they rejected my rules and did not walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols. Nevertheless, my eye spared them, and I did not destroy them or make a full end of them in the wilderness. (Ezekiel 20:13–17)

These rebels never entered the fullness of life in the promised land (which represents Spirit-filled living, not heaven) because they had no respect for His name. Whether I curse God or carelessly say something like omg, I would also show no respect for Him, revealing that my heart is not right. Such sin and carelessness calls for confession and repentance. His name is powerful. I wouldn’t lightly toss around a stick of dynamite or play with a bolt of lightning. How much more should I respect His powerful Name.

To Live is Christ — Trust revealed in words

Dishonest and unethical behavior is not limited to criminals. This morning’s news blasts the CEO’s of a large company for selling investments that they knew were going to fail, then making billions on the markets based on that knowledge. If that were not bad enough, they have “no regrets” or any sense of wrongdoing.

That scares me. A group of company executives can commit huge unethical acts of greed without it pinching their conscience. Can I also do wrong and be unaware of it? Of course. Such is the way of sin. The Bible always connects it with darkness. No one can see where they are going or what they are doing in the dark.

Since reading these verses yesterday, I’ve also been thinking about the whole matter of integrity. I’m not sure if those CEO’s had to take an oath before being questioned at their senate hearing, but lack of integrity can show up in oath-taking as well as other ways . . . 

But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. (Matthew 5:34–37)

This passage is about adding a “witness” to a promise, as if that is going to make something said more binding. The Jews did it so they could get out of the oath, claiming God’s name had not been used so their oath was not binding. However, the use of God’s name in any kind of expression other than prayer and direct reference to Him is called “swearing” or making an oath because this uses His name in an improper way.

My mind takes a leap here. I know that connected to this idea of adding some other object to an oath to give it more clout is the practice of using euphemisms. The Jews did it by swearing on the temple instead of saying “by the name of God.” That way, they substituted other words thinking that made their oath acceptable, but many other people also use substitute words to swear or make other kinds of oaths. Perhaps this is an assumption that their outburst is not offensive to God because the substitute words are acceptable. But are they?

I claim to trust God but when something happens that produces even a mild oath like “dratted” from my lips, this reveals that I’d had some personal expectations unrelated to trust. It reveals that I was banking on those expectations, not on the God who is sovereign. Had I been trusting Him, adverse circumstances would not be seen as adverse.

I’m thinking about words that could be called “Christian euphemisms.” These are not swear words by the normal definition, but they are either spelled similarly, or have a similar sound. Some examples: Oh, shoot. Drat it! Jeepers! Darn! Blast it.

While most people would not condemn these words per se, Jesus does condemn the attitude behind them. I might think that they are an “acceptable” way to express annoyance when I am not getting my way, but they reveal my attitude toward the sovereignty of God and His decisions — I don’t like it.

Most of this happens in simple life situations, like when I leave my keys somewhere and cannot find them, or a telemarketer calls while I’m creating a pie crust, or I forget to take meat out of the freezer for supper. It may sound like I’m annoyed with me or the telemarketer, but God is sovereign and in the details. He could change the timing or help me remember things.

To live is Christ means that I trust God with everything, even my memory or when the phone rings. This is a heart matter that ought to be so strong that adversity is not a shock or even a surprise that brings out sinful or selfish attitudes or words.

When Jesus was mistreated, He “committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth . . . when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:22–23).

Jesus knew who was in control and committed Himself to His Father, no matter what happened. Because His heart was right, He uttered no words of dismay or said anything that even came close to sounding like He was upset with whatever was happening to Him.

I’m sure the tests will come. What will I say if I hit my thumb with a hammer or poke myself with a sewing needle? I am confessing my lack of faith because this is important. God wants a trusting heart when things go well or when life is tough, and even when the minor stuff isn’t the way I want it to be.