Monday October 15th, 2018 Deuteronomy 5:1-21
You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God? (verse 11)
This a controversial commandment, one of the least mentioned in Christian circles today. The Lord’s name used in vain, peppers movies, television, books, etc. It’s become acceptable in our culture to swear or curse. There’s little or no reverence for God’s or Jesus’ name. The Lord’s Prayer plus many scriptures state that God’s name is holy, to be held in respect and not be misused. Why is only our Christian God’s name used for swearing? It is because there’s no power in any other name. When used wrongly, the speaker is trivializing, demeaning, devaluing God, and God’s sanctity, strength and significance. The speaker is revealing their character. “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Luke 6:45, Good News Translation). It also gives false representation of God, for God is holy, just, loving and forgiving.
We, as Christians, should guard our tongues from the use of foul language, coarse jokes, lewd expressions. We are to present ourselves as respectful examples of Christ. The world is listening. Let’s not empty the cross of Jesus by what we say. If hearing someone swear reviles or upsets you, it’s the Holy Spirit prompting you to act. Remember, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”
Please forgive me, Lord, for when I have misused your name. Amen. — C/GW
Contributed by Misused Names
This a controversial commandment, one of the least mentioned in Christian circles today. The Lord's name used in vain, peppers movies, television, books, etc. It's become acceptable in our culture to swear or curse. There's little or no reverence for God's or Jesus' name. The Lord's Prayer plus many scriptures state that God's name is holy, to be held in respect and not be misused. Why is only our Christian God's name used for swearing? It is because there's no power in any other name. When used wrongly, the speaker is trivializing, demeaning, devaluing God, and God's sanctity, strength and significance. The speaker is revealing their character. "For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." (Luke 6:45, Good News Translation). It also gives false representation of God, for God is holy, just, loving and forgiving.
We, as Christians, should guard our tongues from the use of foul language, coarse jokes, lewd expressions. We are to present ourselves as respectful examples of Christ. The world is listening. Let's not empty the cross of Jesus by what we say. If hearing someone swear reviles or upsets you, it's the Holy Spirit prompting you to act. Remember, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name."