TAKING THE NAME IN VAIN

Exodus 20:7 reads, "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain." (NKJV).

At a minister's meeting a very shocking incident occurred. One of the ministers was making a very impassioned speech concerning the subjects of abortion rights and the death penalty. The community we were in had experienced a series of teen suicides and he blamed the suicides on the lack of respect for life the young people had been taught. In his speech he became excited and said, "We try and tell them how precious life is, but show how it can be thrown away so easily and that's nothing but BULL_ _ _ _!!". The reaction was immediate. It was not what he said, but it was his use of profanity to make his point. One minister left immediately, and others cornered the president of the organization demanding an apology for what their sweet little innocent ears had endured. A Man of God, a clergy member, a minister had actually cussed in public - OH MY!

Most of us realize that the command in third commandment is not to throw the name of God the Father, or Jesus Christ around haphazardly, pointlessly. Instead it is a command to hold the name of Jehovah in reverence and the highest regard. We aren't to use them as "magic words" in a laughable manner, or, of course, as curse words and expletives. However, as with most of the commandments, it covers so much more.

Our name represents who we are. When you use my name some might think - That's the Dr. who writes a blog each week, or that is Ruth Oberg's husband, or that's Katie Oberg's father, or that's Leroy Oberg's son. Others might think of me as - the deadbeat who left town owing 100's of dollars, or he's that drunk we saw stumbling around the town, or that's the gambling addict who was always at the casino. (PLEASE NOTE: This second set is for illustration, they are not factual). Our names are equated with who we are.

Most of us took on a new name or new title. The name "CHRISTIAN" says who we represent, whose name we claim as our own. My contention is that the worst violation of the third commandment is to proudly profess to be a born again Christian, and then live like a hypocrite, a heathen.

Matthew 6:1 TO 18 gives us three examples of hypocrisy. Verse one reads, "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven."(NKJV). The idea of doing our charitable deeds to impress the humans around us is the same idea as being an actor on a stage. In fact the Greek word we derive hypocrisy from means to be an actor on a stage. in Greek theatre the actors did not wear make-up or use facial expression to act. they instead used masks. We may try and hide behind a mask of righteousness regardless of the truth underneath. Jesus called such hypocrites "white washed tombs". They are clean and bright on the outside, but inside filled with decaying, rotting, dead flesh.

Verses 2 to 4 give the first example of hypocrisy. These verses read, "Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly."(NKJV). When people in Jesus culture wanted to distribute something to the poor they often literally blew small trumpets to draw attention to themselves. With the attention accorded them by the people, they received their desired award. To honor God, to represent God truly, the giving should have been done secretly. Only three people should know - the giver, the receiver, and God.

Verses 5 to 8 gives the second example. we read, "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. But when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him."(NKJV). A mother sat proudly on the bedside of her young son as he said his bedtime prayers. He finished his prayers by saying, "...bless mom and dad and rover and grandma, and Lord I SURE COULD USE A NEW BICYCLE!!!". He literally shouted that last phrase leaving his mother shocked and appalled. When she gathered her thoughts she inquired why he felt the need to shout to God, when God even hears whispered, even silent prayers. The boys response was to explain that he knew God heard those kind of prayers, but Grandma in the next room is almost deaf. Its obvious, his prayer was intended for Grandma perhaps even more than God. To honor God we are to pray secretly in our closet or room. The room talked bout in the passage is the treasure room where our most valued possessions are kept. We go there to pray not loud, wordy public prayers for every one's attention, but to pray secretly to one person - GOD.

The third example is in verses 16 to 18. These verses read, "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."(NKJV). It was well known in Jesus day that the Pharisees fasted twice a week, and that they made it known they were making this great sacrifice by their appearance. They would make it look as if they were half dead from hunger. In actuality the didn't eat from sun up to sun down. In other words, they skipped lunch for God. The point they did it to impress the humans around them, and not to honor God.

In our modern world think of those people you may know who are publicly professing Christians. They are proud of their church affiliations, Christian clubs, etc. their cars may have several Christian stickers and insignias on them. But these same people are the ones gathered in the lounge at work laughing at, or telling, the latest dirty jokes. Or their the ones cruising the highway in fits of road rage at several miles over the posted speed limit. The examples are endless.

Matthew 23 gives us the fate of the hypocrites. Verses 13 to 15 read, "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves."(NKJV). They will be condemned pure and simple.

Do you claim Christ for the honor you bring to Him? Or do you claim His name for what it can bring to you?

Dr. O