“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his
name. (Exodus 20:7 NIV)
I
confess that every now and then my lips will release a word or maybe two or
three or even that should not be spoken. I am very aware that I have
sinned as soon as something slips out of my mouth that ought not to
have.
It
is troubling; though, that it seems many do not even begin to recognize
when they have taken God's name in vain. I know many love Him; but, for some
reason they don't always recognize when they are speaking against Him.
Sometimes, it needs to be brought to their attention.
Yes,
sometimes I find myself asking others not to be swearing. No, I do
not always ignore it when people take God's name in vain; when they blaspheme
His Holy Name. I will ask them to please not take my God's name in vain;
to not blaspheme against my God. I usually stress "my God" in
attempts to make it clear that they because of their language have made it
evident to me and others who might be around us that He is not their God.
They blaspheme Him; rather, than worship Him. If He were their God, they
would not be using His name in such a manner.
There
have been times I've been in discussions (usually with younger family members)
and I've received the response with much attitude: OMG or Oh My God! (Father,
forgive me for even writing it as an example.) My response to that is usually
"I am not your God" and I walk away.
I
find the language today if often disrespectful toward God and toward each other. There
is very little respect for one another and definitely not for God in many
conversations. His name is thrown around like it was something cheap and
disposable. It is even used in conversations to bully others; to persecute
them.
Now
and then I find myself reminding people that they are to "speak with
integrity." Yes, that is when I question the honesty of their
conversations. Admittedly, the lies have to be pretty bad before I do that. I
have let people know that if they want me to understand what exactly
is going on they will have to get their stories straight. Sometimes
stories get so twisted, in order to justify one's own actions,
that it can be difficult to glean the truth from the tales. This lack
of truth-telling also blasphemes the Name of God when it is one who claims
to bear the name of Christ that is speaking.
His
Name is above all names and it is eternal. It ought not be used in rampages
meant to hurt others or to justify our own sinful ways. It can and should be
called upon for the healing of the nations. Use it wisely. May the Lord
our God bless the words of our lips that we might glorify His Holy Name in all
that we say and think and do.
God's
Peace - Pr. J
No comments:
Post a Comment