This time and next we’re feeding on two very practical expressions of worship. What can we learn from what God’s 10 commandments say about not misusing His name, and about a day off each week?
Our more casual words show our real values! `The mouth speaks what the heart is full of`, said Jesus; `Everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken` (Matt 12). Ouch! And in particular, said God at Sinai, we must not misuse His names, because they reveal His nature: eg Jesus, Saviour; Christ, the One Anointed by God; YHWH, I AM. That’s why we’re not actually sure how to pronounce YHWH (some people still use `Jehovah`), because the Jews felt it was so deeply holy it should neither be spoken, nor written out in full.
But here’s an interesting thing. Even in a secular society like ours, these God-words – `God’, `Christ’, `Jesus’ – seem linked to something in us so deep or fundamental that people are forced to turn to them (along with words related to our deep sexual or physical drives) when they need words to express deep anger, amazement, pain, or grief. Nobody swears by Santa Claus – or, as far as I know, by Lenin. Somehow the names of God, of Jesus, link to a real awareness very deep in our being, whether superficially we’re believers or not…
So then: how do we actually react when we hear God’s name, Jesus’ name, taken in vain? For example in TV comedy? I remember reading Basilea Schlink talking about the serious pain it caused her, and thinking, first, She’s just too oversensitive, and then – No, she’s right… We need to deliberately foster that worshipful reaction in ourselves. (And perhaps when it’s a conversational situation we can respond: `You pray too?` `You know Him too?` Or to `God knows`: `Yes, isn’t that great? It’s so good He does!` It may lead to a fruitful conversation!) But what I find astounding is how very many believers have no problem with saying, casually, `My God!, and it certainly isn’t a prayer…
`King of the ages: Who will not fear You, O Lord, and bring glory to Your Name?` (Rev 15:4). `The LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His Name`: this third commandment feeds us as part of Exodus’ overall training in learning awe, learning the `fear of the Lord`. It’s a great, joyous privilege to know, and speak, the Name of God Himself; but a deeply holy privilege. Let’s cultivate that awareness… Lord, may Your Name be kept supremely serious, supremely respected; help me handle aright what is so supremely serious, supremely significant, supremely wonderful….
PS This command is not just about swearing. We also misuse God’s name when we use it for our own agenda or to bolster our own position. J John (see Ten: Laws of Love Set In Stone) gives the example of our casually saying things like `God has shown me`; or `Thus says the Lord`. We do want to hear God speaking; but it’s seriously wrong to claim He has spoken to us when He may not have (look at Ezekiel 13). In my own church we’ve encouraged the use of phrases like `It seems to me God may be saying`. (This lack of dogmatism also means a prophecy can be weighed with less pressure, and without it becoming, in effect, a judgment on someone’s personality; and prophecy in the new-testament-era church doesn’t anyway seem to be 100% error-free in the way old testament prophecy absolutely had to be – Acts 21:11 isn’t quite what happened, for example…)
