10
July/August 2015 • SR
The other day I asked Logan to go call Arabelle and Dylan in for
dinner from outside. He went outside, yelled at them, “Dad says
to come in for dinner!” and they came in. That’s a true story.
Another day, Dylan made his way over to the neighbor’s house.
He knocks on the door and tells the neighbor, “My Dad said I
could have dinner here.” In he goes, playing with his little friend
there, and our neighbor starts dishing up some food.
Fortunately…he also texts me. And I get our story straight with
Anna: “Did you say he could? I didn’t say he could!” and over I go.
So close…he almost snagged free dinner in the name of Dad!
You are probably all thinking: “how cute” and “how innocent.”
No, he’s a little devious manipulative monster!
God’s Name in Vain – Exodus 20:7
Exodus 20:7
7
“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.”
Man, did I have fun with this one! Studying and learning and
listening… I was usually taught that this was the go-to verse
about not cursing. So the very worst curse words possible were
the ones with “God” in them.
Now, I still hate hearing that, and my kids hear about it when-
ever they try picking it up from school. But somewhere along
the way I had heard a little broader interpretation of this verse,
and I got the chance to really dive deep and examine what is
going on here.
Not about cursing?
This made the Top 10 list…so maybe it is not just about frivolous
cursing. But let’s be clear, whatever it means it certainly covers
frivolous use of the name of God.
What’s in a Name
What was so important about the name that it made it into
the 10 commandments?
What is meant by the name of God?
People who curse now don’t say “Yahweh”…so are they good
to go? “God” is more of a title than a name. God has JUST
shared the name Yahweh with His people...is He now outlawing
its use? A name was not just a form of address but carried with
it the character and authority of the person. Names meant
something…and they were something.
The name invokes the
power, authority and character of the person.
“Take” God’s Name
So if you “take” someone’s name… “Take” here means to use,
to lift up — you are invoking or harnessing the power, authority
and character of the person with the name. This is not just
something they believed back then, this is a concept my kids
understand. When Logan calls Arabelle and Dylan in, they
come, because I have the power and authority to command
them to come in for dinner, and Logan invokes that. When
Dylan “takes” my name to get dinner, he invokes my character
and friendship with our neighbor, as well as my authority and
power in allowing him to go. You see how sneaky he is?
Taking God’s name invokes His power, authority and character
behind your word or deed. We can see how this would be really
useful. There are many things we do, rightly, in His name: we
baptize in His name; we gather together in His name; we are
saved in His name; we dedicate and bless babies in His name.
In Vain
Now, the command specifies “in vain.” God gave His name. He
revealed it to Moses, told him to tell the people His name.
Top Ten Words
Hijacking Heaven — Exodus 20:7
Sermon Series by Pastor Dusty Mackintosh, Next Step Christian Church, Thornton, CO
