In most movies or TV shows, you can see a sex scene coming before it starts. Violence in a movie (unless it starts “Love in…”) is almost expected. But, the language, including the taking of the Lord’s name in vain, seems to come out of nowhere. It is not clear if this is because it’s more common than it used to be or if I am more sensitive to the use of the Lord’s Name.

Some of the problem is that taking the Name of God in vain is so commonplace that even many Christians use it sinfully without thinking about it. Isn’t that part of the problem? We hear His Name used and it isn’t striking enough for us to honor it? The early people of God who refused to say His Name out loud may have been on to something in not wanting to use it in vain.

We are taught how to pray by Jesus ion Matthew 6. He starts by teaching us the words, “Hallowed be Your Name.” To “hallow” is “to make holy or set apart for holy use,” or “to respect greatly: venerate.” To venerate the Lord God Almighty as the highest form of holy that we can possibly know is part of “hallowing His Name.”

In the scriptures we are taught to love God by obeying His commands. Look at His command from Exodus 20:7 regarding His Name. It is stated very simply:  “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.” Please notice that He promises not to hold us guiltless for this sin.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 12 that God will use our own words to justify us and condemn us. He says, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37).

When Christians take the Name of the Lord in vain, it is careless and we will give an account for “every” careless word we use.

We can hear the name of the Lord used in vain in the world and make a decision about whom we should correct and whom we should ignore (or what movie to turn off). Sometimes that’s a “pearls before swine” situation. But when a brother or sister in the Lord uses His Name without hallowing it we need to softly, gently, point it out, offering them opportunity to repent before God and be less burdened when they have to give an account to Him for every careless word!

What about us, do we hear ourselves carelessly using the Name of Almighty God?