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About Jesus - Steve (Stephen) Sweetman
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 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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