TO HONOR HIS NAME!

TO HONOR HIS NAME!

Ex 20:7 KJV

7 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.

          Adam Clarke’s Commentary explains: “This precept not only forbids all false oaths, but all common swearing where the name of God is used, or where He is appealed to as a witness of the truth. It also necessarily forbids all light and irreverent mention of God, or any of His attributes; and we may safely add to all these, that every prayer, vociferation, etc., that is not accompanied with deep reverence and the genuine spirit of piety.”

          Yesterday, on the south steps of the capitol in Austin, I saw a man dressed in a pink pig costume carrying a sign that said “Lawyers are pigs.” This was done in the name of free speech and expression. This man, while freely exercising his rights, dishonored that right by acting foolishly. Similarly, speaking in a way or behaving in a way that dishonors or causes confusion regarding the person and nature of God takes His name in vain.

          Invoking the name of Christ invites His presence at a gathering. He promised that “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matt 18:20) Notwithstanding, every assembly of three can’t be called a church. The Westboro Baptist Church of Kansas dishonors the Baptist name as well as the name of Christ by disrupting the funerals of fallen soldiers and now threatens to disrupt the funeral of an innocent nine year old girl gunned down in Arizona. This wildly irrational group should be stripped of the name “church” as well as the name “Baptist.”

Dear Lord, I have taken your name! I am a Christian. Help me to not take your name in vain either by my speech or my actions. AMEN