Taking the Lord's Name in Vain
by Chaplain Jim Robinson
"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."
Deuteronomy 5:11
There are many ways in which a man may break this Commandment. Most people immediately think of the use of profanity. Certainly this is a terrible habit. The one who uses profanity does not know God and is often blind to what he is doing. It always causes me inward pain to hear the name of my Lord profaned. Yet many times I find myself feeling sorry for the man who does it. Sorry because he is so carelessly using the name of the best friend one could have. Sorry because he has not yet found the joy of knowing God. But this is not the only way men take His name in vain, nor is it the most important.
Actually, this Commandment is aimed primarily at those who believe but do nothing about it. If our belief in God is not to be in vain, then it must be total belief, total allegiance. Elton Trueblood has pointed out that "there is more difference between one and two than between two and a million." This is significant in our loyalties. We cannot give complete allegiance to two nations. We cannot give complete loyalty to two wives. If our allegiance to God is not to be in vain, if it is to be a valid allegiance, then it must be total and complete. This is the only kind of Christianity the Bible teaches. Lip service to Christianity is but to take His name in vain.
What is dangerous in our age is not atheism, but a very mild form of Christianity. It is not outright rejection that is most dangerous, but a meaningless form of acceptance. This is to take His name in vain.
The wonderful thing is that this negative Commandment also contains a positive truth. When a man in all sincerity and reverence takes God into his personal life, it will NOT BE IN VAIN. God will bless his life and will give it purpose and meaning.