I Took The Lord’s Name In Vain….Again
Posted on 03.06.07 in Faith and there are 6 comments.
The other night my husband and I watched the movie Cinderella Man. It was very good and mostly quite clean.
However, there was one scene in which one of the main characters repeatedly took the Lord’s name in vain. At the time, it didn’t really bother me, though. I noticed and I thought, “Hmm...is this okay?” but we kept on watching.
I’ve been thinking about it a lot the past few days though. Is it really so bad for an unbeliever to “take the Lord’s name in vain?” I’ve always been taught it’s really, really bad, but is it really?
What does it mean to take the Lord’s name in vain, anyway? Is it just when someone says, “Jesus Christ” without being in prayer or discussing a spiritual topic?
Maybe it’s something different than we’ve been taught. Perhaps we as Christians do it far more often than all those “bad, bad” people around us.
Perhaps, when I pray for Jane’s grandmother’s cancer without fully believing that it will be healed, maybe that’s taking the Lord’s name in vain.
When I invoke the name of Jesus without stepping out in faith that there is real power behind it, perhaps that’s truly what it means to take the Lord’s name in vain.
What do you think?
There are 6 comments.
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The Comments:
That is a good point, Kat. I am studying at a Christian university in Nashville, and the professor of my first Bible text class brought that up when we studied the 10 Commandments. She said that using the Lord’s name in vain isn’t just saying the name without meaning it. It’s using it when you don’t believe in what you are saying, as in prayer (what you said), and it’s also saying you’re a Christian and not acting like it. She said that claiming to live under God’s authority and not showing it is just as bad as using His name without meaning it or believing it.
Mar 07, 07 at 12:24 am
Kat, Andrew Osegna blogged about this a year and half ago, and I still think it’s one of the best blog posts I’ve read. Here’s the link: http://www.andrewosenga.com/blog/2005/08/14/the-third-commandment/.
Mar 07, 07 at 08:38 pm
Oh I don’t know, I don’t do it and teach my children not to but I don’t have answers about what other people do I’m afraid.
Mar 07, 07 at 10:02 pm
Kelli,
Wow. That sounds like a great class. I really like what your professor had to say about claiming to live under God’s authority and not showing it.
Stephen,
Excellent blog post. Thanks for linking to it. It certainly adds some food for thought…
Michelle,
That’s the thing, I’ve never “thought” I’ve taken the Lord’s name in vain, but now I’m wondering if I have and if I do rather frequently.
Not in the typical sense of saying God’s name as an expletive, but in the sense that if I’m going to pray and claim God’s authority, then perhaps I’d better actually believe there is real and immediate power behind that prayer. Otherwise, am I praying and ultimately using God’s name… in vain?
Mar 08, 07 at 07:28 pm
I just might have put you in the “bad people” catagory if I hadn’t just about let out a Name in vain myself this morning while talking with a friend on the phone.
I think of praying as a little talkin’, but mostly listening to God, and it doesn’t feel in vain unless I’m half hearted or simply going through the motions.
Mar 09, 07 at 07:12 am
Something to think about. I think you’re right. I’m guilty of reading through prayer requests and not really turning them over to God. I think that could be “taking the Lord’s name in vain.”
Also, I’ve been guilty lately of actually taking His name in vain. I’ve never done that in all of my 35 years, but I’ve done it a few times lately, and it really bothers me (especially since my children could have heard me!). I think what my mother said is true. She told me when I was a teenager to watch what I listen to and what movies/TV I watched because it would affect me. She always said, “Garbage in, garbage out.” That is so true. When you hear cursing, it’s hard to get it out of your head. Now I’m praying that God will “create in me a clean heart.” When I start to use His name, I turn it into a prayer to Him and thank Him for another day.
Via the Feed
Kelli
Mar 06, 07 at 11:31 pm