PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• Every Christian I know agrees with me… it’s blasphemy to use God’s name as a curse.
It’s the second commandment in Exodus 20:7, “You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.”
And nothing makes me cringe more than hearing the names of God and Jesus taken in vain.
It is beyond disrespectful.
Whether one believes in God and the salvation offered by Jesus is beside the point…
Even if someone doesn’t believe in God or respect who God is, they should at least show some respect to the people they’re talking to.
My argument is and remains—so many are offended by that level of cursing, it shouldn’t be used.
Period.
And I absolutely will not allow that kind of speech in my home.
Or do I?
As many of us who are offended by the use of God’s name in vain, we still allow it in our homes.
No where else do I hear God’s name taken in vain more than in TV shows and movies.
But do we regard the language in our entertainment as offensive as we would if someone said it to us in general conversation?
Do we even think about it or just subconsciously tuck it away as part of the plot line?
I’m not calling for a ban on Hollywood, but I am saying, we need full awareness of what we allow said in our presence—either in person or on TV.
Either way, we have a choice in whether we continue the conversation or continue to be “entertained” by the misuse of God’s name.
We need to agree that the names of God and Jesus are Holy and should be treated with reverence.
And the power of God’s name is sacred.
Romans 10:13 says, “For ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”
That’s powerful.
Seriously.
Do you ever think about that?
We’re not asked to do anything crazy complicated to earn our salvation.
All we’re asked to do is to call out to Jesus and ask His forgiveness.
Amazingly simple with eternal power.
And in Philippians 2:9-11, we learn that God set Jesus’ name above all others, “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Those who curse His name now will one day confess Him Lord.
As Christians, we need to be willing to say, “No; that is not okay,” when we hear the name of our Savior being misused.
Today, as you pray, praise the powerful, Holy name of Jesus and all it represents.
Thank Him for the power in His name!
And ask the Holy Spirit to help you when you’re in those difficult situations.
Ask Him to embolden you to defend the name of Jesus.
