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Tuesday, October 5, 2010
As we all know, taking God’s name in vain is a terrible sin. And as with every sin, “the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7) But while we generally associate taking God’s name in vain with cursing and swearing by it, the Lord’s definition is much further-reaching.
“Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.”-Proverbs 30:8, 9
You see, I don’t think that Agur, the one who authored this particular proverb (see verse 1), was fearful that he might curse with God’s name if he went hungry. The fact is, he was afraid that his lifestyle would then contradict his professed Godliness – thus bringing shame to God Himself. While using God’s name as a filth word is taking His name in vain, so is professing the name of Christ while denying it with your actions (see Titus 1:16). This is what I’m afraid has happened in the American church in their use of the cross.
While the cross may bring comfort to weary Christians today (and it should), it is still a symbol of death – Christ’s death. That means we should not treat it lightly. People often tattoo the cross on their arm and wear it around their neck without giving a second thought to the significance of their actions. In many ways, it has become more of a decoration than anything else.
Please don’t think that I’m discouraging you from having a cross anywhere besides your church. That’s not the point. As you can see from the photo above, I have one in my yard where I often spend time praying. It’s not a sin to hang a cross in your house, or to wear a t-shirt that portrays it's image. My hope is simply that we would treat the cross with the utmost respect, seeing as it is a symbol of Christ Himself. If we take the cross in vain, we take the very name of Christ in vain.
3 comments:
In a serious way, I think you nailed it. =) You just stated what's been milling around in my head for a long time regarding the third commandment. While I don't think it wrong, it's started rubbing me the wrong way when Christians take the third commandment as merely meaning, "Don't swear." When God tells us not to take His name in vain, I see it as meaning, "If you say you are mine, live as mine." A tree is known by it's fruit.
Instead of just using Christian images to create to a "Christian culture" in the world, what if we actually believed and lived what we represented?
Camden
John 15:8
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
Somehow, there seem to be only two extremes when it comes to Christian icons- crosses, pictures, etc.
Outright Disregard or Absolute Worship.
Either one is a disgrace to Christianity and offensive to God and those who have gone before. Are there really only two choices? Irreverance or Idolatry?
No, those aren't our only choices, and I think you 'nailed it' as Camden put it. :) We show reverence to God by respecting symbols of religion. We don't idolize them, but neither do we disrespect what they stand for.
Thanks again, God bless you, brother-
~Jordan Elizabeth
Very well put, Jordan E! It seems to be that way in so many areas of life. For example, it seems like everybody either lives in the past, or in the future - is too liberal, or too legalistic. It can be somewhat difficult to find someone with a good balance in these areas. As you pointed out, it's not as if we only have two options; it seems though that the devil does everything possible to keep us from finding that perfect balance in our lives. It doesn't matter to him if we're missing wide right or wide left. He just wants us to miss.
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