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Taking The Lord’s Name In
Vain
Written by David Banks
“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
Nothing bugs me more than to hear someone say the Lord’s
name in vain. It is especially disturbing when I hear a Christian
say it. Certainly, using the Lord’s name as a cuss word or
a curse word or a slang word must incur the wrath of God, but I
think that the concept of taking the name of the Lord in vain
goes much deeper than what we say.
When the Israelites first heard the command they heard it
straight from the mouth of God in His own voice. It is, of
course, the third of the Ten Commandments that God gave to
Israel. We do not have this precise command repeated anywhere in
the New Testament. We do, however, have the concept and like
other Old Testament commandments that are restated the
requirements are enhanced in the New Testament.
When my wife and I got married one of the greatest privileges for
me was for her to take my name. Not only was it a great privilege
but it was also a great responsibility for both of us. We each
have a responsibility to protect the reputation of this name. A
good reputation equals a good name and vice versa. I believe the
Biblical concept is similar to that. When God said to the
Israelites, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your
God in vain…” I believe that He was referring to the
reputation for which they became responsible because they wore
God’s name. They could take the Lord’s name in vain
not only by what they said but also by how they lived.
The same is true for us. When we obey the Gospel we become
Christians. We take the name of Christ. Peter wrote, “If
you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for
the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He
is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of
you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody
in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a
Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in
this name” (1Peter 4:14-16). As Christians, those who wear
the name of Christ, we take upon ourselves the responsibility of
bringing glory and honor to that name. To speak and live in a
manner that brings shame on us is to take the name of Christ in
vain. The apostle Paul wrote, “Whatever you do in word or
deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks
to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17).
To do something in vain means that your efforts and your good
intentions have been wasted. Paul wrote to the Christians in
Corinth encouraging them to live their lives worthy of the
Gospel. He wrote, “Brethren, I declare to you the gospel
which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you
stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word
which I preached to you – unless you believed in
vain” (1Corinthians 15:1-2). The clear implication is that
if you do not live in a way that honors your commitment to Christ
then the Gospel in which you believed and by which you were saved
will be of no benefit to you on the day of judgment. So at the
conclusion of this statement, Paul wrote, “Therefore, my
beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in
the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in
the Lord” (v. 58).
If you are a Christian then you have taken upon yourself the
responsibility of protecting the reputation of the name of
Christ. “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” It is sinful to take the
name of the Lord your God in vain. “For the Lord will not
hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”
Church of Christ
100 Rena Road
Van Buren Arkansas
72956