Lord's name in vain

[Pamelasv]

What exactly is using the Lord's name in vain?  I believe it has something to do with other than accidentally saying 'oh my ...!'  Things of that nature.

[missmuffet]

Because of the greatness of the name of God, any use of God’s name that brings dishonor on Him or on His character is taking His name in vain. The third of the Ten Commandments forbids taking or using the Lord’s name in an irreverent manner because that would indicate a lack of respect for God Himself. A person who misuses God’s name will not be held “guiltless” by the Lord (Exodus 20:7). In the Old Testament, bringing dishonor on God’s name was done by failing to perform an oath or vow taken in His name (Leviticus 19:12). The man who used God’s name to legitimize his oath, and then broke his promise, would indicate his lack of reverence for God as well as a lack of fear of His holy retribution. It was essentially the same as denying God’s existence. For believers, however, there is no need to use God’s name to legitimize an oath as we are not to take oaths in the first place, letting our “yes be yes” and our “no be no” (Matthew 5:33-37).

There is a larger sense in which people today take the Lord’s name in vain. Those who name the name of Christ, who pray in His name, and who take His name as part of their identity, but who deliberately and continually disobey His commands, are taking His name in vain. Jesus Christ has been given the name above all names, at which every knee shall bow (Philippians 2:9-10), and when we take the name “Christian” upon ourselves, we must do so with an understanding of all that signifies. If we profess to be Christians, but act, think, and speak in a worldly or profane manner, we take His name in vain. When we misrepresent Christ, either intentionally or through ignorance of the Christian faith as proclaimed in Scripture, we take the Lord’s name in vain. When we say we love Him, but do not do what He commands (Luke 6:46), we take His name in vain and are in danger of hearing Him say to us, “I never knew you. Away from me” in the day of judgment (Matthew 7:21-23).

The name of the Lord is holy, as He is holy. The name of the Lord is a representation of His glory, His majesty, and His supreme deity. We are to esteem and honor His name as we revere and glorify God Himself. To do any less is to take His name in vain.

http://www.gotquestions.org/Lords-name-vain.html

Edited September 3, 2015 by bopeep1909

[Your closest friendnt]

What exactly is using the Lord's name in vain?  I believe it has something to do with other than accidentally saying 'oh my ...!'  Things of that nature.

I think that it has something to do when someone intents to deceive someone and is using the name of Gog as his witness, to convince someone that he is telling the truth.  The same thing when people lie under oath. Or where people denie their involvement and use the name of God. But for believer and their consience not to lie to deceived for their advantage.

we have stories in the Bible, where people lied and were bless by God. They lied to protect and not to defraud or to faulshly accuse. Some times they lied and it was the will of God to do so.

Careful of those oversensitive and in bondage to fear somehow, which I don't want to mention, 

some people quickly say God told this and that, but if they desire to here from Jesus and got confuse, there is not intent involve, if there is intent involved its another matter. If it is a matter of consience, let it be with them, the same as food. 

[gdemoss]

When you became one of his people you took the name of God upon yourself.  To take his name in vain is the same as to call him Lord Lord and then don't do as he says.  

[Guest shiloh357]

What exactly is using the Lord's name in vain?  I believe it has something to do with other than accidentally saying 'oh my ...!'  Things of that nature.

What it means is that we are not use God's Name to swear by falsely.   Basically, do not use God's Name in a vain oath.     That does not excuse people who use God's Name in a profane way.   We should only refer to God in holy ways and in ways that glorify Him. 

[gdemoss]

Pamela, this came to mind today.  Notice that it refers to how a person behaves?

Pro 30:9

Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

[Retrobyter]

Shabbat shalom, Pamelasv, and happy new year (Ro’sh haShanah)! As of Sunday evening (erev Tishrei 1), it will be the year 5776. 

What exactly is using the Lord's name in vain?  I believe it has something to do with other than accidentally saying 'oh my ...!'  Things of that nature.

It’s using the name of God as a talisman or a lucky charm. When one takes God’s Holy Name - haShem - the Tetragrammaton - and thinks that they can use that Name to control God and acquire things or power through that Name, he or she is trying to wrench control from God and make himself or herself God in His place! It’s similar to how a Christian will wear a cross around his or her neck or a Jew will wear a magen David or a “shield of David” (often called a “star of David”) around his or her neck, thinking to ward off evil and protect themselves from danger in some superstitious manner. The Hebrew word translated as “thou shalt ... take," “tisaa',” means “you (singular) shall ...  lift.” The word “lashaav’,“ translated as “in vain," means “to desolate” or “to ruin.” Thus, the phrase means “you shall not lift the Name of ADONAI to desolate or ruin."

[Guest Butero]

Some believe it is actually saying God's name in a vain manner, which would be Jehovah or perhaps Jesus Christ.  Others think that just saying the word God in conjunction with a curse word is using the Lord's name in vain.  I don't claim to be able to say for absolute certainty, but since Satan inspires so many people to say G.D. when they get mad, or holler the name of Jesus Christ in anger, I tend to think that is using God's name in vain, so I won't do it.  Just reasoning this out, I question why you would use the name of God in such a fashion?  Even if you want to curse, why bring God into it?  Still, there is disagreement over this subject, and I have no way to prove conclusively that this is correct, but why take chances? 

[GoldenEagle]

God's name is precious. I most often hear people taking Christ's name in vain. It really bothers me. This has been an interesting read.

 

God bless,

GE

[Leonardo Von]

On 9/2/2015 at 10:16 PM, Pamelasv said:

What exactly is using the Lord's name in vain?  I believe it has something to do with other than accidentally saying 'oh my ...!'  Things of that nature.

 

On 9/10/2015 at 7:05 AM, gdemoss said:

When you became one of his people you took the name of God upon yourself.  To take his name in vain is the same as to call him Lord Lord and then don't do as he says.  

On 9/11/2015 at 5:06 AM, gdemoss said:

Pamela, this came to mind today.  Notice that it refers to how a person behaves?

Pro 30:9

Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

Dear sister Pamelasv,

 

Grace and mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

·        “Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.” (Proverbs 30.8,9).

 

As the brother Gdemoss said, to take the name of the Eternal in vain is to affirm that we are of Jesus, we cry out Lord, Lord (see Matthew 7.21-23; 25.11; Luke 13.23-28), but still refuse to do His will.

It is good to remember that the Eternal wants to identify with those who are His. See these examples:

 

·        And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.” (Exodus 3.15)

·        “Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.” (Daniel 3.29).

·        “I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” (Daniel 6.26,27).

 

May Jesus help us to make His name ever more holy through our lives, so that everyone can identify the difference between the holy and the profane, between the pure and the unclean (see Leviticus 10.10; Ezekiel 22.26; 44.23).