In Vain

In Vain

We commonly think of this as swearing. But then again, swearing in observable practice is usually only vulgar gutter language. One exception. For some reason no matter what religion -- even atheism -- the phrase "Jesus Christ" is used as an expletive, a phrase that indicates something is not quite right according to the speaker, or just simply a curse. Some people can’t seem to talk without expletives spicing up their language.

What does the commandment really say?

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. [KJV]

Exodus 20:7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. [NIV]

Exodus 20:7 You shall not make wrong use of the name of the LORD your God; the LORD will not leave unpunished the man who misuses his name. [NEB]

This is not swearing or cursing -- or is it? When someone asks God to Damn something or someone, is it a curse or is it a prayer? Is there a difference? When someone cries out "Jesus Christ" when he hits his thumb with a hammer, is it a curse or is it a prayer? What’s the difference? And is this wrong use of the name of the Lord?

I have been around people who are very holy who love to use holy sounding phrases intermixed in their communication -- praise God. My understanding -- praise God -- of the term -- Hallelujah -- "expletive" -- bless God -- is the interjection –"praise Jesus" -- of a word – glory -- to continue the rhythm of – bless the Lord -- speech, even though – thank you Lord -- it isn’t needed. Is that misuse? How is the name of the LORD used, anyway?

My limited understanding of the Hebrews is that they were so afraid of this commandment that they effectively eliminated their word for the Name of God from their language. When I receive or read Jewish literature in English, God is spelled G_d: just in case. Our English translation that we say is "Jehovah" seems to be a representation of the theoretical pronunciation of the acronym that represents some ancient words that was the name of God -- and "Yaweh" is not it? "Yaweh" seems to be the acronym or symbolic representation of whatever God’s name is, but of course there are no vowels in Hebrew and Hebrew scholars can’t consider a complete discussion in fear they may accidentally pronounce the name of God and misuse it. The Tetragramatron, (YHVH) Yud Hey Vav Hey, is even avoided and it is only a representation in English of the letters of the Name.

If the Name of God is effectively unknown and lost to human practice, how can we possibly misuse it? If the sounds were accidentally stated, would something magically happen? Why would God, or G_d, make a rule that is virtually impossible to break except by accident? Does God damn people over accidents?

THE NAME

Frequently, to avoid the accidental misuse, the term "the name" is used instead of G_d. If only such due diligence would be used to understand the prophecies concerning Messiah and how Jesus met those requirements. But their willful blindness resulted in us hearing the message -- according to Paul. Jesus made some interesting claims about the use of His name.

Mark 16:17-18 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

Matthew 18:19-20 "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three come together in my name , there am I with them."

Matthew 18:2-6 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.

Mark 9:36-41 He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

38 "Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us."

39 "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.

John 14:11-14 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name , so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name , and I will do it.

ANYTHING? Did he really mean that? He said it again.

John 16:23-28 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

25 "Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."

CREATIVE NAME

Use of the Name of Jesus is a creative act. It is not so much the what, but the why.

James 4:2-3 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have , because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you . Away from me, you evildoers!'

Notice the success. The prophesy did occur in the name of Jesus. The demons were driven out. The miracles really happened. But Jesus called them "evildoers." Something was wrong. Is this using the name of the Lord in vain?

Acts 19:11-16 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.

13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15[One day] the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

When we use the name of Jesus -- in any context -- what is that name we are using?

I AM THAT I AM

Exodus 3:13-15 Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?"

14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

15 God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers — the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob — has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.

Jesus identified himself with that name.

John 8:56-59 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."

57 "You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"

58 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

MISUSE.

Here is the difficulty: we can’t use the name of the Lord because we might accidentally use it in vain and break the commandment. However, we are to call upon the name of the Lord.

Romans 10:12-13 "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

What is the purpose of the commandment?

Saul was a perfectly good Pharisee doing the "LORD’s" work killing Christians. Then one day, he encountered the LORD.

Acts 9:1-6 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

5 "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.

"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6 "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

Then there are Aaron’s two oldest sons.

Leviticus 10:1-3 Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said:

"'Among those who approach me I will show myself holy;

in the sight of all the people I will be honored.'"

Aaron remained silent.

Religious zeal for the sake of zeal is not necessarily right or good in the eyes of the Lord. Cain presented and offering that was wrong.

Genesis 4:2-5 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Doing things in the name of the Lord? Or doing things in the name of the Lord?

This is the Christmas season and there seems to be more conflict with the Christ in Christmas this year than previously. However, we also know that most -- maybe all -- of the Christmas celebrations have little to do with Christ. His name is said, sung and printed, but in vain? "Seasons Greetings" makes more sense as a greeting because Christ is not invited during the shopping expeditions, the office parties, and most of the present unwrapping. I am not sure that He is the reason for the season. All of the stuff -- all the traditions -- all of the practices -- all of the decorations -- everything about Christmas has no "Christian" origin. Even the nativity scene is questionable because the 13-year-old Mary is always in her mid-20s and looks like she is from northern Europe. Okay. I yield there was a manger, some angels in a field, and shepherds came to see -- but the wisemen came later and the star was later.

Lord, Lord, didn’t we have Christmas parties in your name and exchange presents? It is interesting that an event like that happens when the two witnesses are killed.

Revelation 11:10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts , because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

The second commandment is having a religion calling on the name of the Lord, but never knowing Him. That is misuse. That is using the Lord’s name in vain. He will say, "Sorry I never knew you."