November 3 - Commandment#3 - “O.M.G.- It Must Not Be”

Commandment#3 -  “O.M.G.- It Must Not Be”

“No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won’t put up with the irreverent use of his name.”  (Exodus 20:7) 

We live in a day where people are very trite about the use of God’s name.  Television shows and movies are inundated with “God‘s Name” being used as an expression of anger or superficiality.  I’ve always been perplexed why when angry, a person doesn’t use a bad person’s name.  For instance, in a moment of rage, it’s more logical to yell “Hitler” or “Stalin” but “God” is the go-to-phrase as it elicits a more potent response.  Even in the Instant Messaging and Texting World, “O.M.G.” (“Oh My God”) has become as prevalent as rocking chairs at a retirement home.

Some names are so well-known that they’ve become synonymous with a product. For instance, most of us don’t reach for a “tissue,” we reach for a “Kleenex.” “Band-Aids” and “Scotch Tape” are example of this as well. Companies know the importance of their name, even putting trademarks on it so no one can use it wrongly. I saw a coffee shop in Bethlehem with the name “Stars and Bucks.” No one would touch that one in Palestine but in the U.S., you would have more attorneys on that than Lady Gaga has outfits.  Companies enforce copyrights and trademarks because they don’t want anyone infringing on their names. They want their names guarded and so does God.

We are His representative and our words really do matter.  When Salvation Army founder William Booth was dying, there were some legal matters to tend to. His lawyer said to Mrs. Booth, “If you can get him to sign these papers, matters will be executed much more smoothly.” The problem was that he was drifting in and out of consciousness, and often delirious. They were finally able to wake him long enough and he grabbed a pen and started singing the papers. After he died, they discovered that he hadn’t signed his name. Instead on every paper he had signed the name “Jesus.”  That was the last name on His mind and the One that he held so dearly.

The name of Jesus is a big deal. Acts 4:12 says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Romans 10:13 adds “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Philippians 2:9-11 states, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In the Message version of the third commandment, we read, “No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won’t put up with the irreverent use of his name.”  (Exodus 20:7)  The King James Version references the idea of it being used “in vain.”  The word “vain” means “empty and useless, nothingness, wasted, with a worthless purpose.” We take God’s name in vain when we use it in a casual and careless way. It’s tantamount to saying, “Your name is worth nothing in my estimation.” Or to give a more literal translation, “You shall not lift up the name of the Lord your God for nothingness.”

Let me just say that while this shows the reverence for God that is due His name, we are invited throughout the Bible to call Him by name. God does not forbid the use of His name but its misuse.  The writers of the Scriptures would even wash after writing the name of God.  Even the beautiful blessing found in Numbers 6:22-27 involved God putting His name on His people: “‘[Yahweh] bless you and keep you; [Yahweh] make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; [Yahweh] turn his face toward you and give you peace.’ So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

I remember reading about a soldier in the army of Alexander the Great who deserted his post in battle. When asked his name, the soldier stuttered in fear: “Alexander, my Lord.” To which Alexander the Great said: “You have three choices. Fight, get out of the army, or change your name.” I sometimes wonder if God is thinking something like this: “How dare you slap my name on a life like yours?”

It is not as much the sinner that God takes to task for cursing His name as much as it is when His people called by His name misuse it. When we are the ones to use profanity, we profane His name and we don’t revere it through our lives. Too often we have cringed at unbelievers who use God’s name as an expression of cursing, but how much more damaging is it when a believer maligns God’s name by his actions and attitudes!. Remember that these commandments were not given to unbelievers, they were given to God’s people.  If we get so offended by people using God’s name loosely in conversations, maybe we should become very upset when we see ourselves as Christians live or act in such a way as to bring reproach on the name of Christ!

A faithful believer can literally induce a sense of reverence for God’s name in unbelievers if their lives reflect this reverence in word and deed.  What you call God is a big deal to Him because His name reflects His nature and He’s spent eternity building His name. We could say that it's copyright protected. I show respect for Him when I handle His name with care.

Terry Risser

Reflections:

1)   How have you handled God’s name in the last year?

2)   What can you do through your life that will endorse God’s name…through

      worship? Through edification?  Through speaking His name reverently?

Consider reading the Word today:

Copyright 2014- Terry Risser