Sin Against His Holy Name

"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." (Exodus 20:7)

This is the third commandment and has still to do with our relationship with God. But there is some confusion, even among Christians, as to the manner in which we can "take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." Many believe this has to do with using the Lord's name as a curse word. It is definitely that; but it is so much more than that alone.

The Lord has already established that He is "Jehovah", the self-existent One true God. Being high above man, high above all that is created for He was not created. He was the Creator of all. Also high, therefore, is the name of "the Lord thy God" and it is a name to be reverenced above all other names. Most definitely then, to use the name of God as a common or less than common profanity, carelessly, without regard for the owner of the name, is to show such contempt for the majesty that is God; an action that should cause us to tremble in fear. But we are a people who are prone to using expletives, even those we do not consider to be curse words that still take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. Such as "Oh my God!" We remember not to use God's name as a curse word, but even what we consider to be a harmless, milder form is just as careless a use of His Holy Name. Most definitely profanity is one way to use the name of the Lord in vain.

But here's another way: hypocrisy.

When we profess that we follow the name of the Lord, but don't live up to that profession of faith in His name, in other words, we are not obedient to His commands, then we are hypocrites. And our hypocrisy causes others to blaspheme (reproach) the name of our God. It is us who bring reproach to the Name of God by our behavior. Paul accused the Jews of this very thing: "for the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written." Romans 2:24 [Paul is referring to previously written scriptural examples of this blasphemy as seen in 2 Samuel 12:14, Isaiah 52:5, Ezekiel 36:23]. But we are no different than the Jews if we judge others by their behavior and do not judge whether our own actions are in obedience to God or not. That is the definition of hypocrisy. For without fail, those who are not living a life of righteousness, are quick to point out unrighteousness in others, and are thus "hypocrites" bringing reproach to the Holy Name of God that we profess to be representing. And by so doing, by not being obedient to the commands of God, but continuing in iniquity, their worship and prayers to God are in vain as well.

Another way we take the name of the Lord our God in vain is when we swear falsely by His name. The Jews were taught to pay regard and homage to God by "swearing by His name":

"Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; Him shalt thou serve, and to Him shalt thou cleave, and swear by His name." (Deut. 10:20)

But they did so dishonorably when they swore by His name and then lied. By this they made God an accessory to their crime; again bringing reproach to His Name.

Jesus warns us not to swear at all:

"But I say unto you, Swear not at all, neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool, neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." (Matthew 5:34-37)

And James reiterates the teaching of Jesus on this point:

"But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation." (James 5:12)

Whether we call it swearing by something, or taking an oath, it is known as a promise. And in this we are warned not to "promise" anything to anyone. We are to speak either a yes or a no, but no promise or vow for we don't have the power to keep that promise or vow. The reason for this is simply that if we belong to the Lord, then we do not belong to ourselves, and we cannot be given away to others. We cannot follow Him, and go our own way as well. We cannot then promise anything of ourselves to anyone else beyond a simple yes or no; He has made us free and we are to remain free, for God's purpose and use, no one else's. We are God's to do with as He will. James makes this more clear:

"Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that." (James 4:13-15)

But we must not forget the second part of the commandment: "for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain."

God, being God, has every right to be zealous towards His honor. Who then are we who think that it is only a harmless word, or oath, or promise broken, or small sin that no one will notice. There is no harm in it, we tell ourselves. But remember that God has warned us. And He is GOD. As Christians, we are not to forget who it is we represent; whose name we can bring honor to, or dishonor.

"For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever." (Micah 4:5)

Whether it is the Lord our God, or whether it is self, or whether it is some other false god: our actions show whom we represent, whom we have chosen to worship.