(Read Exodus 20:7)
Good morning. Well, from the skit that the girls did for me, you can probably tell where we are headed this morning. As we continue our series that looks at the 10 Commandments, this morning we will look at command # 3. Last week we looked at the first 2 commands, You Shall Have No Other God’s Before Me and You Shall Create For Yourself No False Idols. This morning we are going to look at a Command that I think effects almost every one of us in some way at some point in our lives. Command # 3, Do Not Misuse The Name Of The Lord. Before we get started though, let’s just open with a word of prayer.
Each week I want t read the whole text, so let’s look at it again this morning. Exodus 20:1-17 says, “ribbon”
Very few things bug me as much in life as hearing someone take the Lord’s name in vain. It urks me even more than when I hear someone say a cuss word. When I hear someone cuss I automatically make value judgments about that person, now I know that’s not right but immediately I put them into a stupid category. Now not necessarily uneducated, because there are a lot of educated and seemingly intelligent people who talk as if they had been to hell for a post-graduate course with the devil himself as their speech instructor. But they just sound stupid to me when I hear them cussing. William Ward once said “Profanity is the use of strong words by weak people”
But it’s different when I hear God’s name being misused, in a way I cringe inside, because it’s a personal thing to me. They are not just using a cuss word, they are talking about my God, and my Savior. But the Lord’s name is misused frequently and the sad part is that even believers have become immune to hearing it. And we should never become so unconcerned that we begin to become immune to God’s name being misused. In fact, it should bother all of us when we hear someone use our God’s name in any way that it was not meant to be used.
Most of us know the third commandment from the King James Version: “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” We usually consider it a commandment against bad language: cursing, swearing, and profanity, right?
Well, the word vanity, used often in the Old Testament, means “to empty of content, to make irrelevant.” And that’s exactly what the third commandment is all about: emptying God’s name of significance; making it irrelevant; identifying God as something He is not.
A lot of people often empty God’s Name of meaning. They devalue God’s name when they take holy things lightly. One way is through the thing that pops into our minds first, profanity. A few years ago, the movie Gone With the Wind celebrated its 50th anniversary. At that time, the media recalled the commotion that was created when Clark Gable used the word, “damn” in that movie. Today in 2006, if the worst word used in a movie is “damn,” then it’s probably only got a “G” rating.
In Matthew 12:36-37 Jesus says, “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
You see, what you say carries an acquittal or a condemnation with it. And that is especially true when we use God’s name in vain. When we empty God’s name of it’s meaning, we are bringing judgment on ourselves. Another verse that warns us of this can be found in James 3:2-10. Here in James 3:2-10 we read about our language. It says, “1”
The tongue is a very difficult thing to try and control, and more times than not it gets us into trouble. The things we say, really do carry meaning with them, and if we are not careful, can give people a bad image of who we are.
Now, the main point that goes along with this command is that we are not to use God’s name in the wrong way. Vulgarisms or “cuss words” are not what this commandment is all about. Sure, you can apply that to this command, but it is not the focal point of the command. In fact, I bet there are those of you here today that are bothered or surprised that I said damn in my sermon, but you go around using the Lord’s name in vain regularly.
The problem addressed in this command is not disgraceful language, but disgracing God by the way we use His name. The command not to take God’s name in vain is far more important than avoiding profanity. It’s about our regard for God and how speech either confirms or contradicts our allegiance to Him.
So what’s in a name? In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo asks what’s in a name, is not a rose still a rose by any other name? Romeo might have had a point there, but when it comes to God, there is a lot in a name. The answer to that question is especially vital when the Lord’s name is in question.
Now this is a bit humorous, but let me share this with you:
In the journal of the American Medical Association, Dr. Howard Bennett presented his personal study of the various names of people in the medical profession in the United States. In his study he found 20 doctors named Needle, Probe and Lance. 20 more doctors named Drill, Scope, Bolt and Pin. Dr. Bennett found 19 physicians named Fix, Cur and Heal and 74 doctors named Brilliant, Able and Best! But imagine the reluctance of a patient who visits doctors with names like Klutz or Croak! Or how about the patient that goes to a Dr. Kevorkian who is an oral surgeon, no relation to the Dr. Kevorkian of Michigan.
Today we may be amused when a person’s name actually “fits” his or her character or profession. People loved it when in college I worked in the library. They thought that job fit me well with the last name “Book.” But in Bible times, however, a person’s name typically reflected something of his character or personality. Naturally, then, God cares deeply about how His own name is used. So what’s in a name?
A name stands for the reputation of the person who bears it. Jesus emphasized the majesty of God’s name when He said, in Matthew 6:9, “This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be your name.” You see, God’s name is to be honored and magnified. Therefore, a new sensitivity should mark our words about Him.
So the question is why? Why is this command here, we know the what; Don’t misuse God’s name, but why? In order to understand why, you have to first understand how much more there is to this command then simply the name of God. You see, misusing His name reduces Him. Any time that we diminish and trivialize the name of God by making it lower and less respected we reduce the glory of God. We reduce it to a saying or a phrase that gives significance to what we are saying, but it lessens God. We may say, “oh my god,” and we “swear to god,” and in doing that we make God smaller than what He really is.
So why do people do it? I really don’t know, but I found a list recently entitled: “Ten Reasons I Swear.” Maybe it will give us the answers that we are looking for. Here are the 10 Reasons I Swear:
It pleases my Mother so much.
It is a fine mark of manliness.
It proves I have self-control.
It indicates how clearly my mind operates.
It makes my conversation so pleasing to everybody.
It leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind as to my good breeding.
It impresses people that I have more than an ordinary education.
It is an unmistakable sign of culture and refinement.
It makes me a very desirable personality among women and children and respectable society.
It is my way of honoring God.
Well, maybe not, but if those aren’t the reasons why people use God’s name carelessly, then why do they? Sometimes it is very much a reducing issue even if they aren’t aware of it. They are reducing God down to something smaller than He really is.
I can’t tell you how upset I get when people say, “oh my god.” And it isn’t just non-Christians, I hear us saying it too. But, let’s see what that command says. The entire commandment reads “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name.” Did you catch that? Anyone who misuses the name, even Christians will be held accountable for what they say. In another translation, this verse ends by saying, “I will punish anyone who misuses my name.”
Like I said, this isn’t always unbelievers either. When I hear a non-Christian misuses God’s name it bugs me, but when I hear a Christian misuse God’s name it really bugs me. Surely you can’t be serious Josh, how would a Christian misuse God’s name, we don’t usually cuss? Well, we don’t use it as a cuss word or a swear word but we do use it as if it were just another collection of letters. You’ll hear people say “God this, or God that” or “Oh my God.” But listen up, if you use God’s name and you aren’t speaking about God Himself or speaking to God Himself, then you are misusing God’s name.
It isn’t just a word, it isn’t just a name, it’s not a word that we use to emphasize a point, it is a holy word, which names a Holy God. So don’t mess with that. The worst thing that I see Christians doing, and they don’t even realize how big a deal it is, is using God’s name in a manner that is not worthy or respectful to God. And that really upsets me. How can we come and sing songs to God, and then use His name like it is some kind of cuss word. I don’t know, but I do know that it really urks me.
Now this command is not just a command about the way we speak either. It’s also a commandment concerning the way we live. When you call yourself a Christian then you are calling yourself a follower of Christ, you are in essence taking His name on yourself. And when your life does not reflect your commitment as a Christian then you are misusing His name. When you call yourself a Christian but then you live your life like the devil, what does that say? What are you doing to the name of Christ with the way you are living? Are you using it in vain?
This morning each one of us who takes on the name of Christ needs to examine our lives, we need to search our innermost heart, our deepest motives, and our attitude toward other people. Then we need to ask ourselves this question; “Can God sign His name to our lives?” We need to look at our daily schedule, our routine, and our priorities and ask; “can God sign His name to that list?”
Then we need to look at our physical life, at our bodies, the temple of the Holy Spirit. What do your activities, recreation, sex life, service, work, diet, maybe even the way you drive your car say about the one whose name you carry?
Can God sign His name to every activity of your physical life? And that list is almost endless isn’t it? Does God co-sign His Holy Name in your check book? What about your home, your habits, your moods?
How about your marriage? Do you remember the opening line of your wedding ceremony? It probably went something like this, “Dearly beloved; we are gathered here today in the sight of God, and in the presence of these witnesses.” It was in the sight of God that you promised to love, comfort, honor, and keep your spouse. It was to God that you promised to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.
Can God sign His name to your life? Does your life honor His Holy name? If so then you are keeping the third commandment and you are doing a great job of keeping a command that not everyone can say they have obeyed. If your life does not honor His Holy name, then you need to say, “I’m sorry.” Do that and then start over. Begin living your life today that honors God’s Holy name and stop using it in vain.
In closing, maybe we need to make Colossians 3:17 our guide. Maybe we need to live by what it has to say as a way to avoid violating the 3rd command. Colossians 3:17 says, “2”
Let’s Pray |
