Using God's Name in Vain is Wrong
Using The Lord's Name in Vain Danger
Wondering what this little study is all about? Well, it's all about
the Third Commandment:
Exodus 20:7
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.
So, what does it mean to take the name of the Lord in vain? It
means using God's name in vain. With vanity ... It is using
the Lord's name in a foul way or for prideful reasons. To take the
name of God in vain is to use the Lord's name in vain with levity
(lightly/carelessly) or profaneness. It is using the Lord's name
(that is to say God, Jesus and/or the Holy Spirit) without thought,
or without respect, as if His name had no substance, value or
importance.
Do people who are using God's name in vain even think of the Lord when they utter His name in this manner or do they "use" the most precious name of the Lord in vain mostly for "color" in their conversation?
Wow ... That's an arresting thought is it not?
When did using the Lord's name in vain begin? Who started it?
Well, as Solomon said:
Ecclesiastes 1:9
The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which
is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under
the sun.
Apparently using God's name in vain started before the Ten
Commandments were written, and it is serious enough of an offense
that the Lord put it in the top Ten.
Just to give you a little glimpse of how serious it really is, let's
look at the most "popular" phrase people use when they take the
Lord's name in vain. We won't write the phrase here, but we will give
you a definition of the word that half of the phrase is made up of:
Using God's Name in Vain For Own Use
Using The Lord's Name in Vain Fear
What does the word "damn" mean? (from wiktionary.org)
Verb
damn (third-person singular simple present damns, present
participle damning, simple past and past participle damned)
- (theology) To condemn to hell.
- The official position is that anyone who does this
will be damned for all eternity.
- To put out of favor; to ruin; to label negatively.
- I'm afraid that if I speak out on this, I'll be
damned as a troublemaker.
- To condemn as unfit, harmful, of poor quality,
unsuccessful, invalid, immoral or illegal.
- (profane) To curse; put a curse upon.
- That man stole my wallet. Damn him!
- (archaic) To invoke damnation; to curse.
- While I inwardly damn. — Goldsmith.
Noun
damn (plural damns)
- The use of "damn" as a curse.
- (profane) A small, negligible quantity, being of little value.
- The new hires aren't worth a damn.
- (profane) The smallest amount of concern or consideration.
- I don't give a damn.
Using God's Name in Vain Origin
Using The Lord's Name in Vain Defense
Okay, so what are people who don't want to hear someone using God's name in vain to do about this ever widening epidemic of irreverence?
Well, actually there are some things you can do.
Whenever you hear anyone ... A friend, a relative, a television show, a song, etc; Utter a phrase of correction with the same enthusiasm that it was used. Yes, even when you are watching television, especially with children, if it is said, respond out loud! You will be setting a great example and planting a seed in the impressionable minds!
Sadly enough, for many people, using the name of God in vain has
become habit. They use it often in front of nouns. This is the
epitome of disrespect. Perhaps if someone reminded (for many are
Christians who are guilty of this) or pointed out to them that the
Lord will not hold them guiltless, it would plant a good seed ... At
the very least, it would display your compassion for the fate of
their soul.
Acts 20:30
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to
draw away disciples after them.
There are times when something or someone makes people so mad that
the phrase comes out of their mouths.
James 3:6-10
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the
tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and
setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents,
and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil,
full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith
curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.
My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
Using God's Name in Vain Truth
No More Using The Lord's Name in Vain
Think of how terrible a thing it is to ask God to damn someone! God
doesn't want anyone to be damned. In truth ... Using God's name in
vain in that manner may have the reverse effect. Feel me?
Ezekiel 33:11
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in
the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and
live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O
house of Israel?
Let's also look at another curious Using God's name in vain trivia question. How is it that on some television stations, they will bleep out the word "hell" but they will allow the Lord's name to be spoken in vain? People can control what comes out of their mouths and make a conscious effort to stop using the God's name in vain ... If they want to.
Ephesians 4:31-32
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour,
and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving
one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Using the Lord's name in vain is definitely inspired by the enemy, so
when you hear someone do it, you can say Damn NOT God
and this
utterance will thwart the plan that the enemy wants to grow ever so
rapidly. You will plant a seed of righteousness.
What if you find yourself using God's name in vain, either in your
mind or spoken out loud ... Are you going to hell? No more than if
you tell a lie or steal a Tootsie Roll.
James 2:10
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point,
he is guilty of all.
Using God's Name in Vain Commandment
Using The Lord's Name in Vain is a No No
Do you feel like a person will go to hell for stealing a Tootsie
Roll? Fortunately our God is a forgiving God, abounding in Grace so
when and if this happens to you, whisper a sincere "God forgive me,"
and set out to try harder not to do it again.
Don't forget ... Don't be afraid to defend our Lord!
Mark 8:38
Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this
adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be
ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the Holy
Angels.
Matthew 5:11-12
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and
persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely,
for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your
reward in Heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were
before you.
Matthew 10:32-33
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him
will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also
deny before my Father which is in Heaven.
Others Using God's Name in Vain
Using The Lord's Name in Vain Summary
Using God's name in vain Reminder ... Defend the Lord and ask that whoever not use the Lord's name in vain. To yourself, to others, to the world ... Let the words of Truth go out into the universe and may they descend upon the ears and hearts thereof and let Truth overcome them and
transform their thoughts, feelings, and life!
God Bless!
