×

REFLECTIONS: What’s in a name?

“Hey Dad,” said Clare, “our Sunday school teacher told us to research the Third Commandment.”

“What have you learned so far?” asked Dad.

“I looked up Exodus 20:7 in my Bible,” said Clare, “and it said, ‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.’  I understand that if I take God’s name in vain, I’m guilty, but what does ‘in vain’ mean?”

“You are right about the guilty part,” said Dad. “Let’s try translations and commentaries written by those who understand original languages. Here’s the NASB translation,” said Dad, “It says, ‘You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.'”

“That makes sense,” said Clare.

“Here it is in a paraphrase called ‘The Message,’ “ said Dad. ” ‘No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won’t put up with the irreverent use of his name.’ “

“That’s serious,” said Clare.

“It is,” said Dad, “and recently I’ve heard you and your friends use three letters and God’s name when you’re talking about a cute guy or a hard test.”

“Are you talking about OMG?” asked Clare. “It’s just a saying.”

“I looked it up,” said Dad “and a meaning is ‘O, my God.’ There are a couple of things I’d like you to read,” said Dad as he went to his computer.

Clare read: “God, Christ, the cross, the things he is and the things he did are great, and they’re weighty… So… taking the Lord’s name in vain is more than “O my God!” or “Jesus Christ!“… The positive way to look at it is to revere God, love God, delight in God, know God… and then out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak.” (http://www.desiringgod.org/interviews)

“What’s in my heart comes out when I speak,” mused Clare.  “But I don’t think bad things about God even if I say ‘Oh my God.'”

Read this from Calvin’s Commentary,” said Dad.

” ‘God’s name is profaned whenever any detraction is made from His supreme wisdom, infinite power, justice, truth,…God’s name, then, is taken in vain, not only when any one abuses it by perjury, but when it is lightly and disrespectfully adduced in proof of frivolous and trifling matters.” After reading, Clare said, “Well, I suppose that cute guy is a trifling matter.”

“I’ve wondered why God’s name is chosen for exclamation,” said Dad.  “Why don’t we say, ‘Oh my Samantha’ or ‘Oh, Peter’ or ‘Joshua Robert’?”

“That sounds ridiculous,” said Clare.

“Why?” asked Dad.

“Because… well…I don’t know,” said Clare.

“I believe we are desensitized to the value of God’s name,” said Dad. “The enemy doesn’t want God to be respected and treated with dignity so he will try to get us to think less about God and more about trivial matters.”

“I never realized I was breaking the Third Commandment,” said Clare.

“A bit ago you made a good point about your mind and heart,” said Dad. “There’s a verse about that. ‘Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things,” (Philippians 4:8)

“In other words,” said Clare, “I need to fill my mind with thoughts of the good qualities of God so the same good words come from my heart and mouth because I remember how honored God’s name is.”

“You’ve learned a lot,” said Dad.

Helen McCormack and her husband David are members of Wycliffe Bible Translators and serve from their home in Minot.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today