About Jesus - Steve (Stephen) Sweetman

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Violating The Third Commandment

 

Exodus 20:7 in the King James Bible reads:

 

"Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."

 

Exodus 20:7 in the New International Bible reads:

 

"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name."

 

I was raised in 1950's and 1960's King James Bible style Evangelical Christianity where I perceived we believed the third command told us to not use the name of God as a swear word.  The NIV's translation of the third command tells us to not misuse the name of our Lord. 

 

The Ten Commandments were originally given to the Jews, the ethnic people who bore the name of their God.  New Testament Christians are those who bear the name of Jesus, much like I bear the Sweetman family name.  When the Jews, Christians, or I, abuse or disgrace the name associated with us, we misuse that name, and thus, bear that name in vain.

 

It is a mistake to use the name of Jesus as if it was a magical formula to end a prayer or claim something from God that we feel we deserve.  The phrase "In the name of Jesus" as it applies to Christians means that because we belong to Jesus we bear His name, and thus, we must represent Him accordingly.  Anything we do as Christians that disgraces or misrepresents Jesus and His name misuses His name and violates the third commandment.

 

Such violations have been an ever-present problem throughout Christian history.  When Emperor Constantine and his successors Christianized the Roman Empire in the fourth century with their attempt to convert the Roman kingdom into the Kingdom of God, they misused Jesus' name and violated the third commandment.  When the Holy Roman Empire fought Muslims in the name of the Cross of Christ, it misused Jesus' name and violated the third commandment.  When sixteenth-century Christian reformers killed believers in Jesus name for perceived heresies, they misused Jesus' name and violated the third commandment. 

 

When Christian ministries promote themselves for financial gain in the name of Jesus, they misuse Jesus' name and violate the third commandment.  When Christians use the name of Jesus for self glorification, they misuse Jesus' name and violate the third commandment.  When Christians publically argue and fight in the name of Jesus over social/political positions, they misuse Jesus' name and violate the third commandment.  When Christians promote their preferred political party in the name of Jesus, they misuse Jesus' name and violate the third commandment.  When Christians drape the Cross of Christ in a national flag, whether literally or metaphorically, they misuse Jesus' name and violate the third commandment.  When Christians misrepresent Jesus in any way shape or form, they misuse Jesus' name and violate the third commandment.      

 

Taking the name of our Lord in vain has little to nothing to do with swearing.  It has everything to do with bringing disgrace to Jesus' name and misrepresenting Him to those we have been commanded to introduce to Jesus.

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