Vain

Growing up in churches, I was taught that when the Bible says to not take God’s name in vain, that it meant we weren’t supposed to say stuff like “oh my God,” or using “Jesus Christ” as a sort of pseudo-expletive after stubbing your toe.

For years, I was taught and have even taught this as one of the ultimate sin to be avoided. I can’t count the amount of times I’ve been chided for saying even “holy crap” by pastors and their wives who prided themselves on not using those words, but would regularly abuse staff members, employees, congregants, and even their own families.

We don’t talk enough about what using God’s name in vain truly is. When that particular commandment is handed down, the exact wording used says to not use God’s name destructively, uselessly, with evil, or with emptiness.

I’ve spent most of my life in church leadership, either as a first-hand witness, or directly involved in leadership. I’ve been active in church leadership in some fashion for almost 16 years. I’ve worked at three different churches leading volunteers, staff members, contractors and sometimes just solo. I’ve had the opportunity to coach countless other churches and leaders through the years.

The amount of times that I’ve seen leaders abuse people “in the name of Jesus,” or a church leadership board hide and excuse that same abuse “for the good of the church” is appalling.

I had a pastor in early 2019 tell me that if I truly wanted to serve God, I had to be willing to sacrifice watching my children grow up. In 2018 I had a pastor’s wife yell at me when I asked to take a week off to watch my sister-in-law get married.

In 2020 I lost relationships with people I loved deeply because they use the Bible to try to excuse oppression and injustice. People who take the Bible grossly out of context to justify the murder of others and the separation of families.

“Don’t take God’s name in vain” was never supposed to be a rule against cussing. It was never supposed to be a rule to police people’s language. God never hands a judgment down that polices behavior, but always goes after people’s hearts, and the command to not take God’s name in vain is so much more than a superficial rule.

It’s a command to push us to holiness. It’s a command to push us to do the right thing. It’s a command to fight for the oppressed, to stand up against injustice.

I think God frankly doesn't care if we say, “oh my God”—”God” isn’t a name, it’s a title, anyway.

God cares when we use the name of the Almighty to try to justify our own desires.

God cares when we use the name of the Almighty to try to justify greed.

God cares when we use the name of the Almighty to try to justify jealousy.

God cares when we use the name of the Almighty to try to justify idolatry.

God cares when we use the name of the Almighty to try to justify false prophecy.

God cares when we use the name of the Almighty to try to justify hatred, violence and lust for power.

That’s taking God’s name in vain.

And we need to repent of it.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook, and sign up for the newsletter to be the first to read the blog and get updates on my TWO podcasts! Partner with me, and support my work by buying me a coffee at this link also!