Taking the Lord's name in vain: It's not about cussing

Here is the first section of my thoughts regarding this topic: TAKING THE LORD'S NAME IN VAINMost of us learned the third commandment when we were very young. It says,"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord your God in vain."Ex. 20:7I understood this to mean: Don't cuss using God's name. I will never forget when I was in Grade three and one little boy broke that rule. There were dire consequences for him. For some time after that all the school yard conversation seemed to be absorbed in discussion about that incident. We all got the message: Those who didn't want to get in trouble didn't dare get caught using bad language (with God's name) and those who wanted attention used God's name profanely to get a rise out of everyone.Conscientious people are offended when they hear the Lord's name used in a profane way; and rightly so. Those who were raised respectably learned not to speak God's name wrongly. Instead they might express strong emotion by using toned-down expletives 'Gee!', Gosh!' or 'Golly!' or Gee whiz! But for some (like my religious authorities at the time) even those words were considered to be 'unwholesome talk' [Eph 4:29]So what do you say when your thumb gets bashed by the hammer? Do you shout out, "Praise the Lord anyway!"? Is this more pious than saying, "For Christ's sake!" After all, we are supposed to praise him all the times. But we should do all for his sake, too. What about saying "For Pete's sake!" Is that not taking Pete's name in vain? (Oh, but Peter was only an apostle!)Strong's Concordance clarifies the meaning of "vain" by giving some other meanings: deceptive, falsely, lying, idolatry, uselessness [7723 shav, Hebrew]I don't think that the New International Version of the Bible gets these meanings across clearly enough. It simply says: "You shall not misuse the name…"I will attempt to describe my thoughts on the meaning of this commandment:Taking a name - the implicationsWhat does it mean when we take on someone's name? The marriage tradition gives us a good analogy. A woman can't take the name of any man just because she likes him or his house, or because he is good looking and has lots of money. She marries a man only after he has invited her to be his wife. Through a promise, he receives her into a permanent covenant relationship with him. She promises to remain faithful. She surrenders her own surname and takes the name of her husband. She becomes the Mistress (Mrs.) of ___(his name) and receives all the rights and privileges associated with that relationship.In many cultures marriage has been a form of social security. The woman had a secure place to live and be provided for. Her responsibility was to raise children under her husband's name. In turn, the husband promised to protect and provide for her. She and the children were safe. As long as she remained faithful, she was also safe from other men taking advantage of her. Taking the name of her husband had a lot of implications. It was not just a name.If however she divorced and kept the surname of her ex-husband, the rights and privileges of that relationship could no longer be assumed. Legally she was not the mistress (Mrs.) of her husband. She was only using that name nominally. Everyone would realize that.Taking God's name - the implicationsWe can't freely take God's name just because we like it. God's name is only for those whom he calls and receives into a permanent covenant relationship with him. He receives the genuinely repentant person - those who leaves their ways of sin and calls on him for salvation:"Everyone who calls on the NAME of the Lord will be saved."[Rom. 10:13] More here, Taking the Lord's Name in Vainincluding: "Taking his name: the awesome priveleges"Taking the name "Christian" in vain. "The Consequences of taking his name in vain" (very serious!!!)"The solution" (repentance)Diane

Amen! Thank you for this Diane.Romans 8:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.Did we ever read this verse? This verse doesn’t say: For whosoever shall call the Lord shall be saved, but it clearly states in every translation I have read: For whosoever shall call UPON THE NAME OF the Lord shall be saved.It is for this reason that Jesus told His disciples that we should ask the Father IN HIS NAME, for each time we do this; we call UPON THE NAME OF our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.It is for this reason that Paul writes that those who are truly saved have received the Spirit of Adoption, or, the Spirit of His Son, by which we cry out: Abba! Father! If we don’t have that urge within us, maybe we should re-read our Bibles and find out why. Paul told us to be imitators of him, as he was of Jesus Christ. He NEVER told us to be imitators of him, as he was of Stephen, or any other human being or group of human beings in the entire New Testament.

This article showed a different side to what is commonly taught. What it comes down to, is reverance to the Lord.I had a friend when I was in High School. For his age, I'd have to say that he was an amazing witness in his daily life- you could just see that he lived differently than most did. One of the things that I learned to respect the most from him was his respect for the Lord. Not just in his walk and talk, but in everything.One day I was getting a ride from him after school- he drove an old broken down suzuki samurai. Well, on the back seat was his Bible. Well, our group of people needed some space, so I moved to set the bible on the floor to free up the seat. Almost as soon as I started to move, he truned around and said, "please don't do that. Could you hold it? That's a very important book you have there." (now, I don't remember word-for-word, but that was the jist of it)Now, he didn't bow down to the Bible at night, or anything like that. Don't mistake it as him making an idol, or anything. But his reverance ran so deeply...Anyway, I respect that. Your witness can lie in your reverance. It shows.Again, I liked this article. It's good to see an outward change come from an inward one. Cool website, too, Diane.Grace and Peace...

This article showed a different side to what is commonly taught. What it comes down to, is reverance to the Lord.Well, I think it means much more than that. It means, don't call yourself a Christian if in reality, you are not trusting in him, loving him with your entire life - your hearts, soul, and mind, and if you "have other gods before you", other idols in your heart. This issue is revisited in Revelation in the letters to the seven churches (You have lost your first love. This interpretation seems unusual to us, but it is repeated through out scripture, including the curse for disobedience: "for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless". I ask myself, why do we always assume that this has to do with cuss words. If that was the correct interpretation, then why would God place it here - near to top of the ten commandments. Is that really the most important issue that God has with people? What about the heart issue - from where all else overflows? Jesus said, "Few find the way". Those who think of themselves as Christians, but aren't one of God's, don't wish to have their deception uncovered. Their interpretation of this verse (bad language) fits far better into their legalistic frame of mind where the a focus is on outer behavior. this interpretation absolves them of their own rebellion. This shallow interpretation is really the result of following the "different gospel" that Paul speaks about in Galatians. (That is WORTH checking into!!!)I suspect this thread is not of interest to the vast majority. Their greater desire is to avoid anything that may bring innner conviction, and instead their interest remains on something outside of themselves; example: the "sinnners" out there - (like those who swear and cuss), false groups, issues, etc etc. Just watch and see........ I wonder if I will be proved wrong..........Diane

I am revisting this thread (under a slightly modified heading) because I think it ties in with a present discussion about communion. The Communion/Eucharist ritual is common to all denominiations under the umbrella of "Christian". (ie The Bible is their holy book). Taking communion when one is not truly born of Christ's Spirit is taking the Lord's name in vain. It is useless, in vain, pointless. That would include the vast majority of professing "Christians"Diane

Sister Diane wrote: suspect this thread is not of interest to the vast majority. Their greater desire is to avoid anything that may bring innner conviction, and instead their interest remains on something outside of themselves; example: the "sinnners" out there - (like those who swear and cuss), false groups, issues, etc etc. Just yesterday as I was listening to the streetpreacher mp3s suggested here by one of the members, this very same thought came to mind. That is, how Ray Comfort's method of using the law to bring about the need for repentance to the non-believer. And one of his questions speaks of cussing. I thought to myself about the very superficial understanding most have concerning this particular law of God.I am sorry that I did not see your thread earlier.Paul wrote:Rom. 2:17 Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, 18 and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. 21 You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? 24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written. God is not glorified by those who say they are the people of God and yet show no evidence of the grace that has been given them through the power of the Holy Spirit. Because of this false witness, the heathen say, "Your God has no power." There is much meat in this thread to be chewed, but out of time for now.God has blessed you Sis.In ChristJeff

using the law to bring about the need for repentance to the non-believer. And one of his questions speaks of cussingI suppose this approach may work for the pagans, but those who were brought up respectably and haven't heard those words around them are not as inclined to use them. The real concern: The vast majority of professing Christians who never cuss areFAR MORE GUILTY of taking God's name in vain than cussing pagans. Pagans do not TAKE GOD'S NAME. They don't pretend to be Christians. The more appropriate questions should be: "Are you trusting in the things of this world, even thought you claim to trust in God". Are you calling yourself a Christian but are worried a lot or hate someone? - or whatever other symptoms of taking God's name in vain.Diane

I have a slightly different take (although it's built on these thought given)Commandment One : Don't COMPARE God to another - He has no equal.Commandment Two : Don't CREATE a God to suit your self - He has no equal.Commandment Three : "I have a NAME, therefore I have a personality. Don't disrespect it" - He has no equal.Everyother commandment is God looking out for us, and our brethren, and asking us to treat each other with respect. The first three is God simply saying, return me the same courtesy.Anyway, that's my two cents.

Sister Diane wrote:"Strong's Concordance clarifies the meaning of "vain" by giving some other meanings: deceptive, falsely, lying, idolatry, uselessness [7723 shav, Hebrew]"The words deceptive, falsely, lying, idolatry or uselessness convey to me as one who willingly misrepresents the effective working of God's grace in one's life. When one professes to be a disciple of Christ and yet by one's actions proves otherwise. I forget who said this but I will try to paraphrase his thought."When one professes Christ on Sunday and then denies Him the rest of the week by his or her actions, this the world finds unbelievable." What is it that the world finds unbelievable? Is it not the the lack of power to change one's life in a way that would actually demonstrate to the world the "good news?"John 17:4"I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 "And now O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. 6 I have manifested YOUR NAME to the men whom You have given Me out of the world...10 And all Mine are Yours, and Your are Mine, and I am glorified in them...22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one; 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the WORLD MAY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SENT ME, AND HAVE LOVED THEM AS YOU HAVE LOVE ME."To take the name of the Lord in vain, to me is to deny the work of the Holy Spirit, to quench the Holy Spirit, and then to blaspheme the Holy Spirit. To take the name of the Lord in vain, means that salvation has not been accomplished in the individual. Those who do not "HALLOW" God's name, are those who refuse to be one with Christ and the Father. Thus it is all vainity. One seeks to be something he or she is not and God does not take this frame of mind lightly.In ChristJeff

To take the name of the Lord in vain, means that salvation has not been accomplished in the individual. Scripture says this a thousand ways.Examples: Many will say "Lord, Lord.... They have taken his name .... in vain. The nation of Israel: After experienciing all those miracles and tasting the goodness of God, they rejected God, and so their title as God's chosen, was in vain. "They did not enter his rest".(see Hebrews) The church of Laodicea: "You are neither cold or hot (neither a professing atheist nor a genuine Christian) God said, "I am about to spit you out...." (Their Christian label was in vain for sure!)Galatians speaks all about "taking the Lord's name in vain." Following the "other gospel" is taking his name in vain. "A man reeps what he sows." So if he trusts in the flesh (ie legalism = the other gospel), he reaps the results: alienation from God.Yes, it's all about rejecting all that Christ came to do - atone for sin and bring salvation. Also, consider that every Christian denomination hands out labels in vain - they promise those who comply with THEIR standards the title: Christian. That includes those who promise salvation to everyone who once "asked Jesus into their heart" . Statistics say that only 5% of those who claim to be born again really are. Well, I don't know how you can tell, but I suspect that this estimation is not an exageration. Any more?? I'd like to make an article out of the Biblical examples. Diane

Diane, I see what you're trying to say, and I agree that taking the Lord's name in vain is indeed a transgression of the commandment, showing that work needs to be done in the individual. But to say that someone who has used that name in vain (as in a swear word) is not saved in kind of crazy. We all fall short, and we're all working on something or another in our lives. But unlike that statistic asserts, you can't judge a person's salvation, especially based on their faults.Now, I'm not justifying this, just to make myself clear. I agree that those that the Bible speaks of that are quoted as saying "Lord, Lord", and still perishing, have used the name of the Lord in vain. But I also believe it's a totally different context than of the commandment. Don't confuse them just because the word is the same- it's not saying the same thing.Grace and Peace...

But to say that someone who has used that name in vain (as in a swear word) is not saved in kind of crazyWhy don't you take a quick peek again at the article at the beginning of the thread? That will help you understand why I feel that the third command is not about saying swear words. It's about taking Fred Bickle's name and calling yourself Mrs. Fred Bickle when really he is not your husband. You just think he is. You have taken his name in vain, because you won't receive any of the priveleges of that marriage relationship - which really doesn't exist. And He will say, Depart from me, I never KNEW you"Diane

Alright. I see what you're saying. I think it was just a little unclear on that point. But I agree with what you mean.Grace and Peace...

Sister Diane wrote:I'd like to make an article out of the Biblical examples. Many times in my reading of Scripture, certain thoughts come to the forefront of my mind. The substance of these thoughts form a kind of path that the Lord is taking me on so that I might come to some understanding which I have no clue as to where He is leading. Yet as time passes the understanding is realized by His method. Here alittle there a little, line upon line, precept upon precept. I believe your thought about this commandment is one of those events which light the path.As I read again through the OT I will search for the grace that God provided to the OT saints that enabled them to obey this command. I suspect there is much to be gleaned of this mystery that is revealed in the OT. As I read through Psalms and Proverbs, as I read through Jeremiah and Isaiah I am sure that there will be words of God provision for those who are faithful. The nature of God never changes. Where God calls God also provides.In ChristJeff

Listen to these Scriptures and how they speak of sacrifice.1Sam. 15:22 So Samuel said:\t“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,\tAs in obeying the voice of the LORD?\tBehold, to obey is better than sacrifice,\tAnd to heed than the fat of rams. Hos. 6:6 \tFor I desire mercy and not sacrifice,\tAnd the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. Rom. 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Now listen to the portions of Psalm 50:4 \tHe shall call to the heavens from above,\tAnd to the earth, that He may judge His people: 5 \t“Gather My saints together to Me,\tThose who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.” 6 \tLet the heavens declare His righteousness,\tFor God Himself is Judge.14 \tOffer to God thanksgiving,\tAnd pay your vows to the Most High. 15 \tCall upon Me in the day of trouble;\tI will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” \t\t\t\tDo you see these faithful and by what type of sacrifice are they His? Listen to those who offer the wrong type of sacrifice and what God has to say of these who take His name in vain.16 \tBut to the wicked God says:\t“What right have you to declare My statutes,\tOr take My covenant in your mouth, 17 \tSeeing you hate instruction\tAnd cast My words behind you? 18 \tWhen you saw a thief, you consented with him,\tAnd have been a partaker with adulterers. 19 \tYou give your mouth to evil,\tAnd your tongue frames deceit. 20 \tYou sit and speak against your brother;\tYou slander your own mother’s son. 21 \tThese things you have done, and I kept silent;\tYou thought that I was altogether like you;\tBut I will rebuke you,\tAnd set them in order before your eyes. 22 \t“Now consider this, you who forget God,\tLest I tear you in pieces,\tAnd there be none to deliver: 23 \tWhoever offers praise glorifies Me;\tAnd to him who orders his conduct aright\tI will show the salvation of God.” Do you hear in this Scripture the 3rd Commandment? Again, “What right have you to declare My statutes,\tOr take My covenant in your mouth, 17 \tSeeing you hate instruction\tAnd cast My words behind you? Do you hear the words that judges those who take the name of the Lord in vain? Do you see the list of acts that by them they that do them are judged?In ChristJeff

These scriptures are all proclaiming the exact same message: Do not take God's name in vain. Thank you, I will keep these references. I suspect that you have only gleaned the surface. Again: We need to be careful how we interpret scripture. When our interpretation seems to be a stray thought, not repeated anywhere else, then we need to beware. Let the wider context interpret. To limit the third commandment to swear words really misses the mark, as far as I'm concerned. But it's a handy interpretation because it keeps us from facing our own hypocrisy. Diane

I believe there are probably many different ways in which we take the Lord's name in vain. A couple that come to mind are;Any time His name is used, especially in prayer, without the awe and reverance that it deserves.Any time we make a promise to the Lord and then break it.In Christ,Ron

There is a spiritual precept in which we as His children become one with the Son and the Father. His children will grow to be like Him. Just like there is an opposing spiritual precept where those who remain in bondage to Satan become one with Him. With this thought in mind, I would like to point out another verse sited in Psalm 50.21 These things you have done, and I kept silent; You thought that I was altogether like you;God declares that those who "cast my words behind you" fail to come to an understanding of who God is. Those who reflect the carnal nature and not His are judged by these words. "You thought that I was altoghter like you..."Those who give the sacrifice God has always required will be blessed in this way. 23 Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.” To choose to remain the way we always were and yet claim His covenant sets us in violation of the 3rd commandment. What is His warning?21 These things you have done, and I kept silent; You thought that I was altogether like you; But I will rebuke you, And set them in order before your eyes. 22 “Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces,The ten commandments teaches one that he should fear Him who created all things. In ChristJeff

Ezekiel 33:23 Then the word of the Lord came to me saying; 24 Son of man, they who inhabit those ruins in the land of Israel are saying; "Abraham was only one, and he inherited the land. But we are many; the land has been given to us as a possesion."Here again we see that a people have claimed the covenant of God. And here again we will see that they have taken the Lord's name in vain. 25 "Therefore say to them, "Thus says the Lord God; "You eat meat with blood, you lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood. Should you then possess the land? 26 You rely on your sword, you commit abominations, and you defile one another's wives, Should you then possess the land? 27 'Say thus to them, "Thus says the Lord God, "As I live, surely those who are in the ruins shall fall by the sword, and the one who is in the open field I will give to the beasts to be devoured, and those who are in the strongholds and caves shall die of the pestilence...." Here we see once again the penalty for taking the name of the Lord in vain. What does Scripture say as to why these people stumble? 30 "As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and the speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, "PLEASE COME AND HEAR WHAT THE WORD IS THAT COMES FOR THE LORD."31 "So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as MY PEOPLE, and they hear your words, BUT THEY DO NOT DO THEM; for with their mouth they show much love, but THEIR HEARTS PURSUE THEIR OWN GAIN. 32 Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, BUT THEY DO NOT DO THEM. 33 "And when this comes to pass--surely it will come--then they will know that a prophet has been among them."How do they fail? They choose not to do what they here. Yet they know God and yet they claim His name. Luke 8:14, "Now the ones that fell among thorns and those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity."In ChristJeff