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| God's Name in Vain (a.k.a., "Oh my God!" "Oh my God!" How many times a day do you hear that? How many times a day do you say it yourself? How many times do you hear or say "Lordy" or "Lordy, Lordy?" How about "Lord" or "God" but neither of them used either in reverence or in prayer to the Almighty Creator? If you stop and think about it, you may say these Holy Names CASUALLY more than you realize. In fact, "Oh my God" seems to have become the "catch phrase" of our time. It is also something else: it is taking God's name in vain. The ancient Israelites considered God's name too holy even to speak aloud when they read from the Torah. Instead of pronouncing His Proper Name, which was written Y-H-W-H, they substituted one of God's titles, "Adonay" ["the Lord"]. Even in most English Bibles today, God's Proper Name is printed as "THE LORD" in small capital letters. You may recall that God told Moses on Mt. Sinai that His name is "I AM THAT I AM" and advised Moses to tell the children of Israel that "I AM hath sent me unto you." (Exodus 3:14) Jesus used the same name for Himself, claiming His Diety, when He said, ". . .Before Abraham was, I am." (John 8:58) And if there is any question that Jesus is Divine, He Himself said, "I and my Father are one." (John 10:30) In view of these facts about God the Father and God the Son, we should remember our place and reverence the Holy Trinity. (By the way, the correct pronoun for God the Holy Spirit is "He" not "It" as is common.) The Third Commandment warns, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." (Exodus 20:7) God Himself warned the human race about "trashing" His Holy Name. While profanity is rampant in our society, God is neither honored nor pleased when we disrepect Him in such vile manner. We are not even to speak His name except in worship, prayer, or witnessing, and then always only in reverence and respect. Using God's name in cursing, swearing, oaths, or whatever form of casual misuse is unacceptable and His judgment is coming on all those who disobey. The Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 4:29, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Paul also spoke the same message in Colossians 3:8, "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, fiflty communication out of your mouth." Another point to consider is that it may well be a violation of that same commandment for all those so called "Christians" whose actions don't match their words: perhaps that also is "taking God's name in vain." Afterall, Jesus, being the Son of God, asked, "And why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46) Please understand that all of us are human and under the curse of sin; therefore, we will always falter and fail in this present life. However, for those who have little regard - or complete disregard - for their sins and make no attempt to seek forgiveness, presuming on God's grace, it may indeed be a form of taking God's name in vain! Afterall, to be a "Christian" is taking on the name of Christ, as well as His character. False and deluded "Christians" are misrepresentaing Jesus, and thus "taking His name in vain." Think about it. Have you learned something today? Hopefully you will want to take this knowledge to heart and ask God's forgiveness if you have been lax in your respect for His Holy name. And if this has touched your heart, please share these thoughts with others. Together, we CAN help stem the common tide of profanity and casually "taking God's name in vain." Thanks for your consideration. Kathy (All scripture verses are from the King James Version of The Holy Bible.) |
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