I thought this was surely the moment I was going to meet my Maker the very first time I rode this monster called Goliath at Six Flags in Atlanta, Georgia. I had never ridden a roller coaster that terrifying and with only a small lap press to keep me in my seat. Can you believe there is no shoulder harness?
There I sat in the front row, thrilling over every single click on the ride up the first hill. But then, just as we rounded over the top, and I looked down, I was horrified! I had never been up so high! I felt myself lift from the seat, which is probably the scariest part of the entire ride, and for a moment, I was sure my spirit was going to leave my body! I screamed “GOD JESUS!” I didn’t mean to; it just came out. Oh well, chalk it up to a mere accident.
Immediately, I was ready to go again! Once I made it past the harrowing first hill, the addicting adrenaline surge that followed made me feel young and alive and thrilled and electrified all at once! What an awesome feeling! I simply had to do it again and again and again!
Unfortunately, the lasting memory of that ride years ago was not the thrill, or the people I was with, or the awesome day we had, but it was the one little phrase I involuntarily shrieked at the top of the hill, “GOD JESUS!”
For years afterward, it became my catch phrase. Any time I was surprised, upset, or even just being silly, that is the default phrase I would utter. I have never meant anything disrespectful by it, but it was so funny to me how that phrase jumped randomly from my lips at a terrifying yet thrilling moment. I began saying it often and laughing about it.
Sure, I would be offended by others using God’s name with a swear word, but was what I was doing really any different? God knows I love Him, and I was just having fun. But, was I truly bringing honor to His name, or to Him as a matter of fact, by using His name flippantly? Some may argue that His real name is Yahweh, or some of the Hebrew names mentioned in the Bible, not God, but He knows what I meant. God is what I typically call Him, so God is the name I must treat with reverence.
Let’s look at His names for a moment. Whether we are talking about God Most High, El Elyon; our Creator, Elohim; our Provider, Jehovah Jireh; our Lord and Master, Adonai; our Healer, Jehovah Rapha; God with us, Emanuel; or many of the other names used in Scripture, we are using names that describe amazing attributes of God and how He relates to us as humans. We could go on and on with the names of Jesus as well – Son of God, Prince of Peace, Savior, Redeemer, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and of course, the Christ, to name a few.
As I ponder these names and what they mean to me, I realize that God is so infinitely beyond my human comprehension. He far surpasses anything I could possibly compare Him to. There is no one like Him because nothing could ever even come close to being in the same class to compare. He is worthy of the highest praise and the deepest reverence that we can bring Him, and so much more!
His names describe who He is; therefore, to honor and revere His name is to honor and revere Him.
The name of Jesus has ultimate authority! Demons shudder and are driven out at the very mention of His name! Sickness and disease must bow down to His name! Salvation is found in His name alone! There is power, freedom, and hope in the name of Jesus! Life itself is in the name of Jesus!
You see, there is much more to His name than mere syllables and letters!
This is about much more than just obeying the third commandment, although it really does matter. It is about our attitude toward God in our hearts. Even when we don’t mean anything blatantly disrespectful, when we casually let His name fly, we are failing to ascribe to Him the worth that belongs to Him alone.
Let’s look at several translations of the third commandment in Exodus 20:7 to get a clearer picture of how God Himself sees this:
“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.” ESV
“You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.” NLT
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” NIV
“No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won’t put up with the irreverent use of his name.” The Message
Wow, I think the Message version really hit home for me!
In 1 Samuel 2:27-4:21, the priest, Levi, had two sons who were disrespectful toward God and His temple. They were seducing the women and gorging themselves with the sacrifices. God was so angry at their disrespect that they faced fierce judgment. He had them killed in battle, and a curse was placed on their descendants. I go into much more detail about this story in my post A Lesson from Levi’s Loser Sons. This is some good reading!
God’s own words about those who are cavalier about the things of God, including His name, His temple, His Word, etc. are recorded in 1 Samuel 2:30.
“But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me.”
Now, that is the bottom line! How horrible is it to consider that when we treat the things of God lightly, such as His name, we will be despised? We have seen how God feels about this, so do we even have the right to just shrug it off as if it doesn’t matter? God takes it much farther too. We are not even to dishonor or disrespect the people of God or the House of God either. Here are some examples of what happened in Scripture.
• Miriam criticized Moses and was struck with leprosy. God harshly reprimanded her for criticizing the man He had chosen. Numbers 12.
• David’s servant, Uzzah, was struck dead because he mishandled the Ark of the Covenant. 2 Samuel 6.
• Korah rebelled against Moses and was swallowed up by the earth. Numbers 16.
• A group of youth jeered Elisha and called him “Baldy.” Consequently, they were mauled by bears. 2 Kings 2: 23-24
• Nebuchadnezzar refused to acknowledge God and was driven mad and made to eat grass for 7 years. Daniel 4.
• Belshazzar used the cups from the Temple to party and praise his false gods. That was the writing on the wall story, and the kingdom and his life were taken from him that very night. Daniel 5.
• Acts 12:23 records the story of Herod refusing to praise God, and he was struck down and eaten by worms.
• Annanias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit and were struck dead instantly. Acts 5.
• Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers in the Temple because they were disrespectful to His House. Matthew 21:12-14
We may see God as a God of mercy and grace, and He truly is! However, He is not to be taken lightly or disrespected. This is not for fear of punishment, but it is because we love and revere Him in our hearts.
Let us honor the Lord by honoring His name. Let us break the habit of flippantly using His name out of context. Let us also break the habit of using substitutes since they have the same root, such as dagommit, (which is really just a switharoo of the letters), gosh, Jeez, etc.
This will be such a difficult habit for me to break, and I need your prayers! The Holy Spirit has convicted me to change this in my life and to also share with others. Prayerfully consider if this is something you might want to rethink for yourself as well. If you are one who has conquered this stronghold, continue praying for and showing grace to others who just aren’t there yet.
“…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” Philippians 2:12b ESV
“…Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.” Philippians 2:12b NLT
I will close with these powerful lyrics that puts it all into perspective. God bless!
God Forbid
By Point of Grace
The more I know Your power Lord, the more I’m mindful
How casually we speak and sing Your name
How often we have come to You with no fear or wonder
And called upon You only for what we stand to gain
God forbid that I find You so familiar
That I think of You as less than who You are
God forbid, that I should speak of You at all
Without a humble reverence in my heart, God forbid
Lord, I often talk about Your love and mercy
How it seems to me, Your goodness has no end
It frightens me to think that I could take You for granted
Though You’re closer than a brother, you are more than just my friend
God forbid that I find You so familiar
That I think of You as less than who You are
God forbid, that I should speak of You at all
Without a humble reverence in my heart, God forbid
You are Father, God Almighty, Lord of Lords, You’re King of Kings
Beyond my understanding, no less than everything
God forbid that I find You so familiar
That I think of You as less than who You are
God forbid, that I should speak of You at all
Without a humble reverence in my heart
God forbid, God forbid, God forbid
