Living in New York I think I have heard more swearing than I ever heard before in my entire life. Words generally associated with immature hoodlums, vagrents, and sailors are used in daily speech by educated, and otherwise refined men and women. Rather than becoming numb and immune to the harsh language I have become increasingly sensitive. Words I used to find just offensive now cut me to the core. Especially the taking of the Lord's name in vain. This change in me has caused me to ponder and wonder at the nature of these words and what they really mean.
I always wondered what taking the Lords name in vain meant. What did it mean to take something in vain? It didn't make sense to me that to take something in vain meant to use it as a swear word. A few years ago I was listening to Dr. Laura and she made a comment that really resonated with me. She said in essence, that that taking the Lord's name in vain was not using his name as a swearword, but rather not living up to the covenant you make to take his name upon you, to stand as a representative of him at all times, in all things, and all places. This was the truest answer I had ever heard. But then it made me think, how did using the Lord's name as an exclaimation, a curse, come to be accepted as the meaning of taking the Lords name in vain?
Sitting in my office, hearing the Lord's name exclaimed several time a minute, I came to realize why hearing His name used so flippantly, so negatively, hurt me so much. That single word, that precious name, is simplest form of prayer. When we use his name so flippantly we are disregarding, discrediting, and disrespecting one of the most precious gifts given to us as human beings, as children of God.
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