“Oh My God”: Why (American) Christians Need to Stop Using The Lord’s Name in Vain

“Oh my God” I remember saying as a young boy before being reprimanded by my Sunday School teacher for “saying the Lord’s name in vain.”  Needless to say, the low level “cuss words” among my Christian buddies growing up as a kid in Michigan were peppered with a lot of “Oh my Gosh” lest we anger the Lord.  (It never seemed to dawn on any of us that “God” was not his name …but I digress)

It was only later in life that I began to understand the real meaning behind the 4^th Commandment prohibition on “vain” name usage. (Exodus 20:7)

See, those commandments were given to the Jewish people and God had called the Jewish nation to bring his life & love to the world.  Essentially, they were to be his ambassadors bringing Light to the darkness.  And like any ambassador representing a king or country, the ambassador’s authority is directly linked to the name they represent.  To misuse that name for their own power, prestige, or agenda would invite repercussions from the King being misrepresented.

I once had to terminate an employee on my staff for (among other things) using my electronic signature to acquire some privileges he would not have been able to get on his own.  In a sense he used my “name” in vain.

The translation in the Revised Standard Version helps us better understand the intent of the commandment in question:

You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.

Sadly I’m seeing a whole lot “misuses” of the Lord’s name lately particularly from the Christian tribe I come from.

Evangelical Christian Michigan Republicans

I grew up an Evangelical Christian Republican from Michigan so I like to occasionally keep up to speed with what is happening with the tribe I sprung from.  Now I won’t go into detail of my thoughts regarding the marriage of (American) Evangelical Christianity with the Republican party which I previously wrote about here, but the ongoing habit of using “the Lord’s name in vain” especially at political rallies by “Christians” needs to be called out.

Notably, at a recent political rally for former President Trump, Christian Pastor Rick Warzywak set the tone at the event with his opening prayer:

“Father in heaven, we firmly believe that Donald Trump is the current and true president of the United States. You have raised him up for this season and time to be used, to be part in saving a nation. Bless and protect him and his family from any physical, spiritual attacks, and may his voice still the people to righteous action to bring godly men and women into elected office, in Michigan and across America. We declare that he will be back in office soon — very soon — in Jesus’ name. Amen.“

Like my aforementioned employee I had to terminate, Pastor Rick was using the “electronic signature” of God to push for his own agenda rather than using the name of Jesus to bring healing, peace, and the Fruit of the Spirit ambassadors of Christ are commissioned to do.

Pastor Rick was taking the name of the Lord in vain.

Sadly, he is not alone.  Too many of the Christian community I come from are habitually using the name of Jesus to further their own political and socio-economic goals.

To which all I can say is “Oh my GOD, please stop!”

Peace,

Steve