The SECOND
COMMANDMENT tells us not to do it, but what does it really mean
to take God’s name in vain? The dictionary tells us that it means
to use God’s name in an irreverent or disrespectful manner.
Swearing a false oath is also a vain use of God’s name.
Realistically, almost anytime you mention God’s name outside of
prayer there’s the danger of using it in vain.
Jesus taught us to
pray, “Father, hallowed be Thy Name” (Luke
11:2). The psalmist writes “Glorify the Lord with me and
together let us exalt His Name” (Ps 34:3). Yet, whenever you
say or hear “oh m’God, oh m’God” as an exclamation, or
even more pronounced as “oh … my … God”, it is most
certainly not done in a reverent manner. Listen carefully this
week. That increasingly popular way of self expression can be heard
many times each day, in school, at work, or especially in movies and
on television. Even worse is when the name of our Savior is used in
a drawn out expletive. The excuse that it’s just a bad habit is a
weak one. At some point those using God’s name in vain become
aware of their speech and willfully choose to continue.
In Matthew
5:34-37 Jesus warns against invoking holy names and places even when
swearing oaths, indicating that our word alone should be good at all
times and that emphasizing it with an oath “comes from the evil
one”.
Perhaps it’s
time for everyone to read and heed the little known second part of
the second commandment where it explicitly says, “For
the Lord will not leave unpunished the one who takes His name in
vain” (Exodus 20:7). That statement alone should
make us more aware of our patterns of speech and help us realize the
importance and holiness attached to the name of our Creator.
To
quote an Old Testament writer, “Let not your mouth form the habit
of swearing, or habitually utter the Holy Name” for that person
“will not remain free from sin” (Sirach 23:9-10). Instead, let
us all join with the psalmist in exclaiming “May my mouth speak the
praise of the Lord, and may all flesh bless His Holy Name
forever and ever” (Ps. 145:21).
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