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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
Although many people believe taking the Lord's name in vain refers to using the Lord's name as a swear word, there is much more involved with a vain use of God's name. To understand the severity of...
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Ni Jay
Supporter
Taking God's name in vain In most Western nations we continue to ask witnesses in courts to swear by the bible and promise to 'Tell the truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God'. Are we not taking his Holy name in vain every time we say this? Nimal Jayaratne PS I found this website very rewarding in clarifying difficult messages. Thank you
Gregory Tomlinson
Supporter
To take Gods name is to be called by his name like marriage, To be His. To do this in vain is to live like the world instead of being a separate holy people. A modern interpretation is thou shalt not be a hypocrite. To steal when He says do it not would be take his name in vain, to commit adultery, murder,to live carnally is to take His name in vain. The definition of "in vain" is with out fruit or pointless or without care. To use His name as a common by word is crass, ill mannered and rude, His name is not God that is who He is, Jehovah or Yahweh is His name, you do not hear that as a by word because it was intentionally left out by the scribes for fear of offending the only living God.
Dinie Vierbergen
Supporter
In our world today lots of people especially programs on the tv, people when they are suprised or shocked say frequently "Oh my god!". At first it irritaded me inmensely but I see it differently now. There are many so called "gods", so what god are they calling upon? Deffinitly not the Almighty GOD who made heaven and earth.
Salem Markus Purba
Supporter
Man was given an authority to name each living creature (Genesis 2: 19-20), futhermore, man as a living creature (Ecclesiastes 3: 18-22) has an authority to name man/woman (Genesis 2: 23), but as a creature, man has no authority to name God, the Creator of the universe (Exodus 20: 7). To take the LORD's name in vain as mentioned in the Ten Commandments, means that none of man/woman is authorized to name God the Almighty One." I AM WHO I AM " (Exodus 3: 14). Jesus taught us to call God " Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name" (Mathew 6: 9), it is the sign, how God loves the believer and follower of Jesus as the children of God (John 1: 12-13).
osaze james
Supporter
I will simply put it: taking the name of the Lord in vain is having a form of godliness and denying the power, boldly confessing him with lips and having a heart that's far from him. It's not about calling his name per se, it's about not truly living by his principles.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
What does it mean to take the Lord's name in vain? (ebible.com) Exodus 20:7 tn or “use” (NCV, TEV); NIV, CEV, NLT “misuse”; NRSV “make wrongful use of.” Exodus 20:7 tn שָׁוְא (shavʾ, “vain”) describes “unreality.” The command prohibits use of the name for any idle, frivolous, or insincere purpose (S. R. Driver, Exodus, 196). This would include perjury, pagan incantations, or idle talk. The name is to be treated with reverence and respect because it is the name of the holy God. Exodus 20:7 tn or “leave unpunished.” -- Blessings, Jack Gutknecht
Myron Robertson
Supporter
To properly understand this you must have an understanding of the laws of sonship (including adoption, which is a three stage process), covering and authority. Most Christians only equate violation of this law to cursing, even though those who properly have the authority to be called sons of God (1Jn 3:1) also have the authority to "curse" (withhold forgiveness) from any sinner, at least for a time (Jn 20:23.) This is about the authority the apostles now had after the resurrection and which the 144,000 have in the Tabernacles Age to rule (meaning to judge) with Jesus (Rev 20:4-6). The sonship laws are not shown in much detail in scripture. The three levels are circumcision-naming, in which the sons name is logged in the citizenship rolls of the temple as a son of his father. This equates to justification by faith (Romans 4) and the baptism of the crossing of the Red Sea (1 Cor 10:2), and with Passover. I am not aware of any biblical examples of the second sonship rite in scripture. This is the Bar Mitzvah (son of the Law) ceremony. After this rite of passage all males were expected to present themselves at the place where God placed his name for the Passover, Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) and Tabernacles (Ex 23:17, Dt 16:16). This is when the young man passes into youth (not adulthood) and was the day on which God spoke from the mountain top to give Israel His law. Because Israel refused to hear his voice for themselves on that day, instead sending Moses up the mountain to hear for them (Ex 20:18, 19) this feast was not fulfilled in Israel until after Jesus resurrection when the Spirit came down on the 120 people in the upper room on that day. With this rite a son begins working full time in his father's business, or is apprenticed to someone else's business, beginning the first step of possible adoption into the household of a new father. After this rite of passage Jesus felt the need to be in the temple to learn his Father's business (Lk 2:49) and most of us still do not understand what he means by this (Lk 2:50). The final step in the adoption is seen in Jesus' baptism and again at the transfiguration. In this ceremony the father gives his signet to his son, who now has full authority to conduct business in his father's name, and when he does this he makes a public pronouncement of that new authority. At Jesus baptism the Father said, "This is my beloved son in whom I am pleased," but at the transfiguration His command was stated more clearly, "This is my beloved son; obey him." This made Jesus a full and equal partner in the Father's business. This is also why Jesus said everything he did is done in the Father's name, that he only does what he sees the father do, and says what he hears the father say and that he and the father are one (Jn 5:16-47, 10:30, 12:49, 50.) The laws of sonship and authority go hand in hand so I will not address authority any further other than to say yours begins with your justification but is very limited at that time, and is completed upon your resurrection when you receive full authority as a son of God. Covering also goes hand-in-hand, but is more about the father's responsibility, which his son will later take upon himself as well. Everyone in the father's house is under his covering, whether it is biological child, servant or slave. This is why I regularly point out that under God there is no difference between family and business. All are under the father's authority, protection and name. So long as they continue learning obedience to his wishes they retain that right. Any in open disobedience are using that name in vain, and will eventually be punished for having usurped his name for doing their own desires, works and teachings because by so doing they use God's name in vain--they are not Christian.
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