April 6, 2016

“‘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.” Deuteronomy 5:11

“What does this mean?
We should fear and love God so that we do not curse, swear, use satanic arts, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.” (Martin Luther’s explanation to the Second Commandment – Small Catechism)

“…although it is impossible to enumerate all its misuses. Yet, to tell it in a few words, all misuse of the divine name occurs, first, in worldly business and in matters which concern money, possessions, honor, whether it be publicly in court, in the market, or wherever else men make false oaths in God’s name, or pledge their souls in any matter. But, the greatest abuse occurs in spiritual matters, which pertain to the conscience, when false preachers rise up and offer their lying vanities as God’s Word.” (Martin Luther’s explanation to the Second Commandment — Large Catechism)

Taking the Lord’s name in vain, as some call it, or misusing the Lord’s name is not difficult to describe. In Luther’s explanation from the Small Catechism, he offers two angles for us to consider, the negative and the positive. The negative is to misuse the Lord’s name in cursing, in swearing oaths, or deceiving others in His name – just to name a few examples. Of course, this is not particularly easy since there are so many examples of how people do misuse the Lord’s name. It has become such a part of everyday vernacular for so many people. So I am glad that Luther offers positive ways we should use the Lord’s name – in prayer, praise and thanksgiving – exactly in the ways we use the Lord’s name in worship.

This commandment is so difficult because our society seems to have lost the inhibitions of language, of what we consider immoral, and what we consider inappropriate. When I was a kid, if you misused the Lord’s name, someone scolded you for it. Not so today. I hear so many children using the Lord’s name inappropriately, and the parent’s offer no correction. Showing honor for the Lord begins with showing honor for the Lord’s name in every aspect of our lives. As adults, we need to be examples for our children – in worship, and in our homes. And as a Pastor, I am charged to preach the Word rightly.

Pastor Dave