There is an ever-present disrespect for God and spiritual things in our world today. One of the areas that shows this disrespect for God is in the use of His name. As I listen to young and old alike, television shows, commercials, see texts and read emails, I am both appalled and offended at the disrespectful and vulgar way in which God’s name is so flippantly and vainly used. Sadly, this vain use of God’s name easily rubs off on Christians as well. In Exodus 3, Moses encountered God in the burning bush that was not consumed. God thundered from that fiery shrub, “…Draw not hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). God placed a warning to Moses and to all mankind that when we deal with Deity, we are before Holiness and should stand in reverential awe before Him! There is no more “holy place” than the very name of Almighty God. Sadly, we are living in a time when instead of taking off our shoes regarding the name of God, mankind is tracking up His holy name. Consider with me this holy ground and our attitude toward it as we consider the name of God.
His name is revered! The Godhead was clear in giving the Law to Moses and Israel that God’s name was to be respected. The third commandment was clear, “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” (Exodus 20:7). When God restated the Law to the next generation, His command regarding the holiness of His name did not change (Deuteronomy 5:11). Jesus reminded mankind in His model prayer that even in approaching God in prayer we must be careful of how we use His name, “…Hallowed be Thy name” (Matthew 6:9b). God’s name is to be respected and revered! Therefore, we should never use God’s name in vain. Examples of using His name in vain include but are not limited to: (1) swearing to God (when questioned as to the truthfulness of a statement, some say “I swear to God that is true”). This is a misuse and vain way to use the name of God! (2) OMG known as netspeak or chatspeak, which are letters standing for “Oh My…”) (3) Oh G**or dear Jes**. (Often when something troubling or tragic happens, people will be heard to speak God’s name vainly in this context). (4) Euphemisms of Deity’s name are just as condemning. Euphemisms are simply the rewording of things to sound less offensive. For example, “go to powder your nose” means go to the bathroom. The words are different, but the meaning is the same. “He passed away” is a less offensive way of saying “he died.” Euphemisms that take the name of Deity in vain include but are not limited to “Gol, Golly, Gosh, by George,” all of which are euphemisms referring to God. “Geez, Gee, Sheez, Gee-wiz (Jesus-wizard), cripes (Christ), Jeepers, by Jingo, Jeezers, bejeezers (by Jesus)“ are euphemisms referring to Jesus. “Jiminy Cricket, Jiminy Christmas, Jumpin’ Catfish, Jeepers Creepers, Jeezy Creezy, Judas Christopher, Jason Crisp,“ etc. all refer to Jesus Christ as well. Euphemisms have become so commonplace that we often have forgotten what some of them even mean. We must guard our tongue, for God’s name is revered!
His name is reserved! Humanity did not name God! God revealed Himself to us and allows us the blessed privilege to reverentially speak His name. God copyrights, trademarks and patents the name or names that refer to the Godhead! No man has the right to change, misuse or wear God’s Holy name. Can you imagine some man demanding to be called “God”? Yet, there are scads of so-called religious leaders who demand to be called “reverend”! Dear friends, only God is reverend! “He sent redemption unto His people: He hath commanded His covenant forever: holy and reverend is His name” (Psalm 111:9). Not only “reverend” but God is also holy! There are no such things as holy cows, holy smokes, holy terror, holy mess, or holy hell! God’s name alone is holy (Psalm 99:9). We must reserve names that apply to Deity to the times in which we are praising, praying or preaching!
His name is rescuing! There is rescuing power in the name of Divinity, so much so that “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). We are to “repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38), thereby “calling on His name” (Romans 10:13-17; Acts 22:16) for salvation. The terrible sins of many Corinthians were washed away when they enacted the power of Deity’s holy name (1 Corinthians 6:11). His name is “Wonderful” (Isaiah 9:6). No wonder the wise man declared, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10).
Our attitude toward Deity is clearly seen in the way we use or misuse the Holy name of God. One does not have to go far today to hear the disrespect that the world has for spiritual things through its offensive use of God’s name. Dear friends, may it never be so among us! May we understand that God’s name is revered, reserved and rescuing. The next time you open your mouth to use the name of God, consider carefully because you are standing on holy ground!
