The Lord God is Holy and so is His name. Yet, today’s society has made it acceptable for all – Christians or not – to disrespect God and take His name in vain.
Desecrating God’s name
Cursing
Hollywood movies, the music industry, and television and radio shows have been notorious instructors and vehicles of the way most people today blaspheme God in their hearts and speech.
Whenever angry, shocked, or overwhelmed, many systematically express their indignation, frustration, or excitement by cursing God out or using His name to curse other people out.
How many time haven’t we heard people say: “Oh my God!”, “Geeeeez” or worse “God Damnit!”? Is this a honorable way to refer to One who is all together Holy? Absolutely not!
Swearing oaths
Because men tend to be untruthful, swearing oath in God’s name and using Him as a witness in human activities and transactions developed and turned into a tradition. But here is what Jesus says about this in Matthew 5:33-37: “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord. ‘But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your Yes be Yes, and your No, No. For whatever is more than these is from the evil one”.
Mocking
The name of the Lord has become a laughingstock among this generation.
Unbelievers, atheists, agnostics, people of other faiths along with self-proclaimed christians mock the name of Jesus continually. They refer to it in their songs, jokes, and satire. They call it sarcasm, but it is more utter blasphemy.
Trivializing God’s name
Bumper stickers, t-shirts, or Church signs with messages like ‘God is my pal’, ‘Honk if you love Jesus’ or ‘Jesus rocks’ are plain disrespectful.
Giving the Lord’s name to a business or an object is desecrating His holiness by comparing Him to these mere things.
Associating His name with lewdness or perversion – such as sex work or gayness – or ungodly systems and activities – like slavery or discrimination – is an outrage.
Giving God’s name to an animal is wicked!
Naming a kid after God is just as bad. In fact, giving the name Jesus to a child does not make him a saint at all, but an education based on the Scriptures can put him on the path to righteousness.
Let’s imagine for a moment that this kid grows up and starts a life of sin, crime, and all kinds of lust. Will he be giving us a glimpse of who God is, or will he be tarnishing God’s name instead with his corrupt behaviors? Also, should the name of God be called out unceasingly to identify, correct, or rebuke an out-of-control son?
Jesus is the name that saves, as it is written in Romans 10:13: “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved”. It is also the name of the One who make intercession for us before the Father (Hebrews 7:25). Therefore, let us revere the name of Christ with all respect.
Violating God’s commandments… In the name of God
Murders in God’s name
Under the Old Covenant, irreverent and blasphemers of God in Israel were to be put to death so the fear of God would remain on the people. Under the New covenant, in which we all are now, love and mercy should prevail.
Thus, taking someone’s life is NOT okay, and killing in the name of God is an aggravated violation of the sixth commandment: “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13).
God has never instructed or entrusted His Church with such a mandate.
Christ’s command is that we love one another (John 13:34), and the only mandate He gave His church is to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
The preaching of the Gospel has never referred to coercing people into believing the Word of God and the sacrifice of Jesus-Christ for the sins of mankind. Instead, it is for all Christians to witness for the Kingdom of God before men so that unbelievers may come to repentance and willingly make the decision to know Him and live for Him.
It it not up to the believers to judge, condemn, and sentence non-believers, backsliders, and evildoers.
The Apostle Paul wrote this in Romans 12:17-21:
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
Therefore if your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Therefore, ‘Christians’ individuals, groups, and organizations that shed blood are not only taking the name of God in vain and blaspheming It, but also corrupting His Word.
False prophets and false teachings
Justifying the unjustifiable is now a practice well-established in the Body of Christ, for many false prophets have risen and are leading the people of God back to Egypt [spiritually speaking], the land of slavery, idolatry, and sexual immorality.
In order to legitimize these abuses, Scriptures are constantly being twisted and verses taken out of context, as opposed to what is written in 2 Corinthians 4:2.
False prophets distort God’s Word to cover up, validate, or condone reprehensible lifestyles: Lavish and self-indulgent for some, immoral and sinful for others.
With false doctrines like the prosperity Gospel and the Gospel of inclusion, false prophets deceive large crowds… In the name of God.
They comfort unbelievers in they sins with a false sense of security promoted by theories like universal reconciliation (that refutes the reality of hell and eternal punishment for evildoers) and entice believers to love the world and go after the things of the world (yet, formally prohibited in 1 John 2:15-17).
Jesus, in Matthew 7:15-20, warns us against such deceivers: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
Using God’s name for profit
In Matthew 10:5-10, Jesus, sending out His disciples, said to them: “… as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give”.
Sadly, it seems today like these instructions are being purposely dismissed.
There is no doubt, money is the “god” of this age, and cash fights that were originally taking place in the world have now spilled into the Church of Christ.
Starting a (mega)church has become a very profitable business for some, and using God’s name to sell goods a real money maker for others.
Thus, Countless ‘pastors’ and ‘prophets’ are running shameful schemes inside church walls to fleece God’s people of their hard-earned money and properties.
Likewise, ‘Christian’ singers along with secular artists use congregations to launch their music careers and sell their albums.
Businessmen, filmmakers, and self-proclaimed believers have also infiltrated the Church. With deceitful interpretations of Scriptures, they market and promote their agendas, goods and services, they carefully labelled as ‘Christian’.
The Body of Christ has been turned into a place of entertainment, a marketing databank, and a marketplace.
Does it sound familiar?
In Matthew 21, 12-13, Jesus went into the temple of God in Jerusalem and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.'”
The greatness of God’s name
From time of old until now, from past generations to this day, only one name has remained.
Great kings, leaders, philosophers, celebrities, etc. who have marked (positively or not so positively) their times have passed and are no more. Though some may still hold on to their legacy and works, their characters have not impacted all generations from Adam to this day – But only one has: God.
A name that saves
The name of the Lord is the only name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
A powerful name
In Mark 16:17-18, Jesus says this about the signs that will follow those who believe in Him: “In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover”.
A name like no other
Philippians 2:9-11 states that God has highly exalted His Son and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
God’s warning
Do people take it lightly to blaspheme the name of God because He has shown Himself merciful and forgiving? (Read Matthew 12:32).
Yet, God forewarned He will not let unpunished those who take His name in vain (Exodus 20:7).
Believers, non-believers, and evildoers, will all give an account before God for every careless word they have said during their lifetime.
Talking to the Pharisees in Matthew 12:36-37, Jesus said: “I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Therefore let us all understand that the name of the Lord is Holy and is to be feared and revered. Amen!