USING JESUS NAME

Using Jesus Name In Vain

Using Jesus Name In Vain

Introduction

The first thing we need to see concerning taking the name of Jesus in vain is that it is a serious sin. The tendency is to think that after all, this is a minor matter in a world plagued by war and crime and immorality (Durkheim, Cosman & Cladis 2001). This attitude reveals the degree of our deception and the superficial nature of our understanding concerning the cause of mans depravities. People often swear and say they mean nothing by it. (Lindbeck 2004) They think that eliminates them from danger, but that is the very thing that is forbidden. To use Jesus name in vain means to use it in an empty and meaningless way. If you mean nothing by it, you confess you have used it in vain. In this paper, I explore the reasons why people use Jesus' name in vain.

Discussion

The New Testament version is found in Matthew 6:9 Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. So what does Jesus mean by “in vain”? - To use it lightly, frivolously or profanely. Jews get this - always have! So much so that they never even spoke His name. They wrote it YHVH. The Masorite scribe had “to sit in full Jewish dress, wash his whole body, and could not begin to write the name of Jesus with a pen newly dipped in ink and should a king address him while writing that name he must not take notice of him.” Ultimate respect! Rabbi Stuart Vogel teamed up with Laura Schlesinger in a book on 10 Commands (Shea 2006). He wrote of the third commandment:

“…When the temple stood… sacred name of Jesus was clearly forbidden to be recited except on Yom Kippur, holiest day of year (which falls between 9/18-10/8), by the High Priest, the holiest person, in the Holy of Holies within the Temple at Jerusalem, the Holiest Place…In respect for it's great sanctity (the name of Jesus) is not pronounced as it is written…In ordinary speech, the word…“the Name” is substituted by some Jews …Some Orthodox Jews always spell Jesus' name G-d except in context of a blessing or other sacred text. That's the kind of respect Jesus commands: “you will treat my name as sacred; you will respect it OR you will pay! “The Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” Are you getting this?

How is Jesus' name profaned today? How do men take Jesus' name in vain? Hollywood hardly knows how to produce a movie without swearing, profanity and using the Lord's name in vain. Ya know why? Because this reflects how people in world treat Jesus' name. Rabbi Vogel explains further, “the true translation of this command …is carrying the Lord's name in vain.” Christians carry Christ's name and our lives can contaminate it (Durkheim, Cosman & Cladis 2001).

People misuse Jesus' name in insulting others.

People abuse Jesus' name in excusing their behavior: “Jesus told ...