Positioned for Disaster
"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 (ESV)
It is unacceptable to do or say anything that diminishes the character or name of God. We lose the wonder and awe of God when we use His name in common references. Some have resorted to using God's name in vain when they hit their thumb with a hammer, or are surprised at some event that has taken place.
Christians seem to use God's name in vain to gain authority. For example, they may say that God has told them to take one job over another, or to divorce their spouse. Since taking one job over another is not clear in the Scriptures, no one can counsel them on this matter because nobody knows more than God. Those who say God told them to divorce their spouse are clearly wrong because God's Word teaches us to commit to each other in marriage. Either way, the people using God's name are doing so to give their decision authority and silence counselors.
We are positioned for disaster whenever we begin to use God rather than love God.
When I taught school in a heavily Jewish neighborhood, many of the children were taught never to say the name of God and would always refer to God as G-D. I am not sure that is what we should do, but I am sure we should not use God, His name, or anything about Him casually or disrespectfully, and only those who do not know Him would do so.
Exodus 20:7 (ESV)
It is unacceptable to do or say anything that diminishes the character or name of God. We lose the wonder and awe of God when we use His name in common references. Some have resorted to using God's name in vain when they hit their thumb with a hammer, or are surprised at some event that has taken place.
Christians seem to use God's name in vain to gain authority. For example, they may say that God has told them to take one job over another, or to divorce their spouse. Since taking one job over another is not clear in the Scriptures, no one can counsel them on this matter because nobody knows more than God. Those who say God told them to divorce their spouse are clearly wrong because God's Word teaches us to commit to each other in marriage. Either way, the people using God's name are doing so to give their decision authority and silence counselors.
We are positioned for disaster whenever we begin to use God rather than love God.
When I taught school in a heavily Jewish neighborhood, many of the children were taught never to say the name of God and would always refer to God as G-D. I am not sure that is what we should do, but I am sure we should not use God, His name, or anything about Him casually or disrespectfully, and only those who do not know Him would do so.
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