A friend brought to my attention a recent article, “John Hagee Calls For “Prosecuting Women Who Say God’s Name During Intercourse”. Written by Lea Vat Kens, June 15th 2015, NEWSLO Just Enough News. Because my blog focuses on lifting up God’s name,  I’d like to comment on this controversial interview.

Pastor Hagee, founder and senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, stated “One of the things that the Bible has consistently denounced is the taking of the Lord’s name in vain.” Christians, we know this statement is rooted on the third commandment, written in stone by the finger of God. It is a biblical truth; we are instructed to keep God’s name holy.

Pastor Hagee goes on to say, “Many of the ancient Israelites were so respectful of the name of God that they would not even pronounce it or write it for fear of using it in vain.” This means, when scripture was read at the Temple (the place where God actually resided on earth), the Hebrew word adonai was spoken to replace the proper name of God. The rabbi or teacher who read from the Torah understood, then demonstrated – God’s name was too holy to pronounce.

Because society has always put our own standards on sin, the following assessment by Pastor Hagee is on point – “Saying the Lord’s name in vain might seem petite and insignificant compared to some of the things that are going on in the world right now, even in churches all across America.” My thought on this misuse: it has spiraled into a blasphemous social bad habit. Turn on your TV or pay attention to how people converse. You ears will be on fire from the worthless exasperation of God’s holy name, widely burning through every venue.

We need to hold the LORD’s title, G-O-D, in esteem. It is the same as respecting and reverencing our LORD Himself. This is because His title stands for who God is, His character. Once we understand: any reference of G-O-D by those who believe Truth reference The Creator; then we should demonstrate: our belief by honoring His name. Just like the rabbis exhibited God’s name is holy while reading at The Temple.

And certainly this demonstration should be held in the highest regard, when husband and wife are enjoying the intimate God given pleasure of marriage. It is not up to me to decide on punishment if the commandment is broken. That judgement is in God’s hands. But Pastor Hagee was asked how the situation of misusing the Lord’s name could be better. His personal response was: “If you’re asking about my personal opinion, there is no greater sin in terms of wrongly using God’s name than women who use it during sex. That is one of the filthiest, most derogatory and sinful uses of the Lord’s name I can think of. If it were up to me, I would put every single woman or girl who does that in jail. That would be a fine example of God’s wrath aimed at what is, in my opinion, a terrible misuse of our Maker’s good name.”

It is important to remember our bodies are God’s Temple. Using God’s name as a swear word or exasperation during the intimacy of sex (which God created for marriage) is not only derogatory to God, it expresses a disparaging attitude to the spouse who hears it. They can conclude their intimate marital union is of little or no value from the spouse who spoke it.

Pastor Hagee gives a prime example of “sinful uses of the Lord’s name”. But let’s not forget there are two people in the bedroom. And the man can also make the exclamation under the same circumstance. In either case, the person desecrating God’s holy name, is wrong.

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