Taking the Lord's Name in Vain

This has become a question for me;however, before I dissect this question, can I share a memory? I wanted to develop a bible study for the youth group taking the ten commandments into hand as to the reasoning for them to remain children of God, and striving to achieve such promise. OK, that was rhetoric, but the motive behind it was to express the true meaning behind all ten commandments and apply the meaning to their lives...their teenage lives. Sorry to say, it was an idea that never got off the ground. When I approached my church as to the possibility of teaching, I was diverted to become involved in something my church was already ministering to. AT the time I was bewildered. I couldn't quite understand why I would not be given an opportunity to share my wisdom, when our pastor always told us...if God puts something on your heart...you should move toward it. I tried, and I was denied. So be it, it was many years ago, I have grown, matured, but the memory is something I still struggle with. Not bitter, bittersweet. What I really had to contend with was God's timing, not mine. And in that I can now express my feelings about the third commandment.

I know we, who are amongst the word, even in the minimal sense, know what it means when we read, or hear the following:"thall shalt not take the name of the Lord,thy God in vain." We may think we know, know...what it means to us, individually; however, let me try to break down my perception of this commandment.

Given: if we swear, Jesus Christ Almighty....we are taking our Lord's name in vain

Given: if we swear, Jesus, Mary and Joseph...we are taking our Lord's name in vain

Given: if we swear, Christ Almighty!....we are taking our Lord's name in vain

Given: if we swear, God damn...we are taking our Lord's name in vain

Given: if we swear, God dammit...we are still taking our Lord's name in vain

NOW: Here's the challenge...

How about when we pray? Do we take our Lord's name in vain?

Think about it? How do we pray? How do we engage our Lord in our prayer? I can remember, for years, the leaders of our Worship Team, initiating prayer...and using some pretty lofty verbiage at that. I was always uncomfortable in even listening to such repetitive language regarding our Lord and our Father. How many times do we :need: to say Lord, Father, in every expression of our prayer. It's one thing to rise to the occasion and use lofty language to bring God to our prayer, but, think about it....hasn't the invitation of two or more in the room, an invitation for God to join us? I believe, through scripture, Matt 18:20...where it validates God's presence in our midst.

Now, there were times when I actually led the Worship Team's prayer before we began service. I always approached my prayer to a 'talking to God' prayer...no lofty language involved. Example: Dear Lord, you know that half of us, perhaps more would have loved to sleep in this morning, and you know the struggles we all conquered by our presence today. Lord, please give us a reason to engage in our congregation today....gazing into the eyes of need. In Jesus name I pray...

That's all there was to it. I didn't have to preface every phrase by preceding it with Lord, Father......are you kidding me? Doesn't God know he is our Lord and Father...and can't we address our prayers to the given moment? I tell you, I was so frustrated by the lofty, I wondered if my approach was wrong. I know there are many of you who would tell me that God answers the genuine heart....and in my naturalness of my approach to my relationship with God in prayer....I have to say I have done my best NOT to take the name of the Lord my God in vain. I don't need lofty words to pray to Him...because He knows me. He knows I can just talk to Him...in everything.

SO, in closing, may I suggest one point. I know, there should be at least three points when closing an argument, but this isn't an argument...so I'm just gonna share one. If we are sincere in our prayer....then when we refer to our Lord and Father, then it has enough merit at the very beginning of the prayer, and that's it!

Please give us the courage of mind to understand the meaning behind our third sacrament of Christ....do not allow God's name to be used superficially? In Jesus name I pray...