Dear World, Please Stop Vomiting Up His Name
(Part 2 of 3)
Because our world countries are joining together for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, I decided to reach out to Lift Him Up readers, who represent over 100 countries, and ask you to share the eternal importance of never momentarily taking our Lord’s name in vain.
Lift Him Up readership expands worldwide and includes the following countries:
United States of America, Albania, Austria, Australia, Argentina, Bahamas, Belgium, Bermuda, Bahrain, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Caribbean Netherlands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rico, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hong Kong SAR China, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Sint Maartin, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Today’s post is the second of a three part series designed to bring global attention to the constant misuse of the holy names God and Jesus. Part 1 considered the history of God’s name. Part 2 focuses on correct and incorrect uses of God’s name.
Once we understand the eternal importance of keeping His name holy, I pray we are inclined to change personal misuse, repent and ask forgiveness. Then we can begin to share the depth of following our Lord’s Third Commandment with country man and women living around us. Imagine the global impact of initiating one simple action: Tell the world God’s name is holy.
Exodus 20:7 “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
This three part series contains excerpts from my book: Lift Him Up don’t Pull Him Down, The eternal importance of never momentarily taking our Lord’s name in vain.
How we lovingly use G-O-D.
Anyone who worships as a Christian understands whenever God is mentioned, this title refers to the Creator of the universe, because our Creator is God. God is in our hymns and in our praise songs. God is in our prayers, our Creeds, and our sermons. Adults discuss God in small group Bible studies and hear God honored in sixty thousand seat venues. Children learn about God in Sunday school, youth groups and church camps. In front of God we exchange wedding vows and baptize babies. And when we gather around our dinner tables, we ask God to bless the food we are about to eat.
Each spring for the last eighteen years a local church has asked God for a Blessing Of The Bikes; safety for the motorcyclists as they ride throughout the year. Approximately ten thousand people attended the event in 2014. And as summer ends and fall begins, many churches call on God for a Blessing Of The Backpacks. An event asking God to watch over our children as they start their new school year.
In all these circumstances which so many of us participate, we understand God to be the Supreme Being. How then, can any Christian decide when they speak, hear, read or write His title as “Oh my G**!” or “OMG” that now, for these particular uses of His name, G-O-D does not refer to the gracious and glorious God that we worship daily?
The regurgitation cycle of G-O-D.
When we are excited and speak the title God in a common jovial manner, or out of anger or frustration, we are dishonoring what the title represents—the entity of our Supreme Deity. We are to esteem and honor this title because these three letters name who He is, just as we are to revere and glorify God Himself. To do any less is to take His name in vain.
It’s as if we are vomiting up the very name of our Lord, from the depths of our heart, because in our heart is where He lives. And this, His title, stands for “I AM WHO I AM.” The Beginning and The End. It stands for life itself.
Everyday conversations are turned into trash when we pull The Name down to our human level. It is a sin when we hastily express His name as an exclamation, no matter that we are referring to a sparkling Christmas tree.
“Oh my G**! That’s pretty!”
Or using His name when nonchalantly referring to a wall paint color at the home store does not lift Him up.
“Oh my G**! That’s pretty!”
And sarcastically using His name, referring to a painfully inflicted black eye, defies the third commandment.
“Oh my G**! That’s pretty!”
By God’s standards this is trash talk; trash that overflows all around us. Home, the work place, sports arenas, malls, schools, television, movies, restaurants—all common areas where people gather, this too common trash is tossed. This trash also invades our cell phones like a contagious stomach virus invades our bodies.
Quick! Someone run and get a towel to clean up this mess. I didn’t make it to the toilet in time to throw-up my heavenly Father’ s name when I texted “OMG” to my BFF. Contamination! Then that friend copies the exclamation in a text and passes it on to another friend. “OMG!”
(Next week’s Part 3 post focuses on why we should follow His third commandment.)
Listen to I Am by Christian singer/songwriter Mark Schultz. (And check out http://www.remembermemission.org, Mark’s non-profit founded to benefit orphans.)
Tell The World God’s Name Is Holy, by sharing this on Facebook.
ORDER COPIES OF LIFT HIM UP DON’T PULL HIM DOWN @ LULU.COM OR AMAZON.COM FOR YOUR NEXT SEASON’S BIBLE STUDY. LET’S COMMIT WORLDWIDE TO TELL THE WORLD GOD’S NAME IS HOLY.
Lift Him Up 