By: Royce Pendergrass

OMG! How often do we hear this term these days? Enough so that even small children know what these letters mean. What it means to me is that people who use the term are using God’s name in vain. Recently, I watched a news story on TV, and perhaps some of you saw the footage also. A tremendous fire was raging on a high rise building and fireman were on tall extension ladders trying to rescue a man from near the top of the burning building. A woman was watching and recording the incident on her cell phone and repeatedly screaming “Oh, my God!” That’s all she was saying, and it got her an interview with the network. It was sickening. The man was successfully rescued from the burning building before it collapsed but no thanks to this lady!

Using this language is a sign of the times and reveals just how far we, as a people, have erred in lack of respect for our Creator. Oftentimes, even Christians express themselves in just such a way, not understanding that they are using God’s name in vain. When God gave the 10 Commandments to the children of Israel, the first 4 went like this (Exodus 20:3–7 NKJV): (1) “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (2) “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” (3) “You shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God…” (4) “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain…” God continued this fourth commandment by saying, “…The Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” All of these commandments were given that we might show God the respect He deserves as our Creator.

From the beginning of man’s time, God meant for His created people to respect, honor and love Him because He does those very things for us. We are to take Him seriously and to honor Him for the great God He is. When His name is used in such a shallow and flippant way, it is demeaning and most disrespectful to Him. Remember, He said if you do such a thing, He will hold you accountable. You will have to answer to Him for it!

Why would anyone be so willing to show disrespect to our Creator? Perhaps some truly do it out of ignorance. More often, it’s just a fad of the times and it’s “cool” because it makes you like everyone else. We must always be aware that being like the world will get us into trouble. Using God’s name so flippantly violates Leviticus 19:12. “And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord!”

God, the Creator, demands honor and respect from His people—just because He is the Creator. All people should honor Him for the same reason—just because He is the Creator! David said this so beautifully and simply in Psalm 95:6–7. “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand…” Rather than being puffed up and feeling self-satisfied about ourselves, we must always give God the glory and the honor He deserves for allowing our existence as one of His sheep.

We read in Psalm 149:5–6, “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth…” As God’s crowning creation, we should always honor and respect Him, not only with our mouths but with our bodies. Paul told Titus, “In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned” (Titus 2:7–8). Peter said, “For He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit” (1 Peter 3:10). We must honor God with what comes out of our mouths and not be disrespectful to Him with our words! Don’t use God’s name in vain; just remember there’s a price to pay.

Author: Royce Pendergrass