"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." – Exodus 20:7
God treasures His holy name so much that He commands all of His people never to take it in vain. We, however, at times do take it and bring shame to it, whether consciously or unconsciously. Sadly, many of us don't even think about it.
It's a Serious Thing
The Old Testament tells us that God doesn't like it when His name is maligned or misrepresented by His very people, those who are called by His name. He actively acts when His name is at stake. After all, He's God, and His name is very holy – the name above all names.
In Ezekiel 20:9, God says He will not let His name be profaned: "But I acted for My name's sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles among whom they were, in whose sight I had made Myself known to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt."
In Isaiah 43:11, God said He will not share His glory with others: "I will rescue you for my sake – yes, for my own sake! I will not let my reputation be tarnished, and I will not share my glory with idols!"
In Psalm 106:8, the Bible says that He saved us because that's who He is – our Savior: "Nevertheless He saved them for His name's sake, that He might make His mighty power known."
These, and many other verses, show us that God's name is a serious matter. Doesn't that mean we should take it seriously, too?
Here are a few ways we dishonour God's name, and use it in vain.
1. When We Who Profess to be Christians Don't Grow in Christ-likeness
We who carry the name of Christ don't carry it like an additional credential so that people would like us, we carry it because we declare that we have died with Him, and have been raised to new life in Him. If we are real Christ-followers, then we must live a life fitting for it.
"...for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." (see Galatians 6:17)
2. When We Who Profess to be Saved from Sin Act Like We're Unsaved from Sin
This often takes the bait. Many Christians are so proud of their affiliation to church and the religion that at times it becomes more of a status symbol rather than a privilege. Friends, when we become saved and publicly profess our allegiance to Christ, we actually declare that we are breaking up from sin!
Christ's blood purchased our forgiveness, His death has broken the power of sin in our lives, and His resurrection justifies and gives us hope and the grace we need to say "no" to sin. If we are truly saved, then let's act like it.
"Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?" (Romans 6:1-2)
3. When We Who Proudly Say "I Am a Child Of God" Act Like We're Children of the Devil
Jesus once sharply rebuked the Pharisees for being 'sons of the devil' (see John 8:44). They take pride in their standing as religious leaders and Bible scholars, yet they fail to do what God wants: to love Him above all, and love others (see Matthew 22:36-40).
"But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, "You must be holy because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:15-16)
