Reverencing the Name of God

by Dan King

In our world of digital communication, I become lost at times when I receive text messages that have abbreviated terminology. This happens when I communicate with those who are of the digital generation, to which I am somewhat an outsider. In this fast-paced realm of instant messaging, phrases such as “laughing out loud” are condensed to “lol” and “error between keyboard and chair” becomes “EBKAC.” While those are harmless, it is a deplorable fact that it has become commonplace for people to text “omg” for ‘Oh, my God!”

In Exodus 20:7 Moses wrote, “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” God gave the Hebrews this particular law to prohibit the misuse of His name.

Jesus, when he began teaching the disciples to pray, said this: “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9.) This illustrates the utmost respect for God and tell us how holy His name is. Peter expressing the holiness of God said, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16.)

Paul refers to God’s word as being holy when he said, “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15.)

The Hebrews writer said, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:1-3.) When we speak the Name of God, it is to call on the Divine Creator and Sustainer of the universe. To do this in a nonchalant way is irreverent and disrespectful.

We need to honor and protect God’s holy name, and resolve to use it only when we are addressing Him in prayer or speaking of Him. His name should never be used in a selfish way, it should never become just another flippant phrase whether said by lip or in a text message: both are disrespectful.