THE NAME

"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."
— Exodus 20:7


Commandment number three of the Ten Commandments tells
us not to take God's name in vain. The words "in vain"
mean empty, idle, insincere, or frivolous. So to take
God's name in vain means to say it in a way that is
empty, idle, insincere, or frivolous. And one of the
most obvious ways this is done is through the use of
profanity.

We all have heard people use the name of Jesus to
punctuate a point. I have even said to people who do
this, "Be careful. He might answer you some time."
Interestingly, I never hear the names of various
religious leaders or so-called gurus being used when
someone is angry or upset.

So why do people, including avowed atheists, use the
name Jesus Christ in this way? I believe that in their
hearts, they know there is power in that holy name.
Sure, they are taking it in vain. They are violating the
third commandment. But in a way, they are acknowledging
the existence of God. Otherwise, why invoke the name of
a God you don't believe in? Why say the name of a person
you don't think ever existed? Why say His name? Because
there is power in that name. And when you say it, people
pay attention.

Philippians 2:9–11 reminds us, "Therefore God also has
highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above
every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of
those under the earth, and that every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father."

The name of Jesus has power. God wants us as His
followers to never take His name in vain, but to honor
it instead.