Misusing the Name

I was recently listening through a sermon series by J.D. Greear (Senior Pastor at Summit Church Raleigh-Durham, NC).  The series was called "This is what the heart looks like," and it walked through the 10 Commandments.

The thing that I've been wrestling with the past several weeks, the one things that's been bouncing around in my head, concerns his teaching on Exodus 20:7, "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your GOD, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name."

It seems like a pretty straight-forward command but, as with all of the Ten Commandments, this commandment itself merely scratches the surface of what is required of us.  The core issue always comes back to the state of our hearts.

To misuse the name of the lord is often referred to as, "Taking the LORD's name in vain".  So what does that mean?  Most would say it is using the name of GOD or Jesus as a swear word, or an expression that is out of proper context.  This is part of what the commandment is talking about, but it goes well beyond this.  To misuse the name of the LORD encompasses our entire lives.  It is a reference to the very way we live.  In short, to misuse the name of the LORD is to misrepresent who GOD is and what He is all about.

Names in the Bible are a fascinating study.  They carry much more weight to the Jewish people and the early Christians than they carry for us today.  Our names are often determined by simple preference, but Biblical names were meaningful.  Sometimes they were prophetic (as in Jacob's case - Genesis 25:24-26), other times the were marks of the past (Samuel means "heard of GOD", as his mother, Hannah, cried out to the LORD to allow her to have a child - I Samuel 1:1-20), Abraham's name was changed by GOD as a mark of the covenant between the two (Genesis 17:1-8), and in the Colossians we meet Paul's companion Jesus who goes by the name Justus out of reverence for the name of Jesus Christ.  For the Jews, the Name of GOD was so revered that they wouldn't even speak it.

This is because a name is not simply what someone is called, but it represents who they are.  All of a persons identity is tied to their name.  In Proverbs 22:1 we are told, "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold."  A good name is to be esteemed, to be known for righteousness.  In Song of Songs 1:3 the beloved praises the Lover saying "your name is like perfume poured out.  No wonder the maidens love you!"  It is his NAME that she adores, not what he is called, but who he is.  This is the significance of a name.

Now, I don't think that our view of names today is troublesome in anyway, however I do think that it sometimes leads us into confusion of the significance of verses like Exodus 20:7 which pertain to the Name of GOD.

When we come to understand the importance placed on the very Name of GOD we then understand how this relates to the very essence of the creator of the universe throughout scripture (Psalm 113:2, Isaiah 24:15, Ezekiel 39:7, Acts 2:21, Matthew 6:9, among others).  We are called time and time again to lift up His Name, to make known His Name, to revere His Name.

As we have now seen, a name is a representation of character, so the "Name" of the LORD is entirely wrapped up in who he is.  It speaks to His characteristics, His nature, His power, His presence, and His glory.  It is impossible to separate who GOD is from his very name.  That can create problems for those of us who take on the moniker of "Christian".  For as Jesus Christ was, himself, GOD and Christian, meaning "little Christ", describes an imitation of the person of Christ, we are then proclaiming our allegiance to and our representation of who GOD is when we call ourselves "Christians".

This is where we all fall guilty of "misusing the name of the LORD".  We call ourselves by the name of Christ and then fall short of upholding His character.  In doing so, no matter how great or how small our misstep is, we present the world with a false advertisement of the nature of GOD.  When we seek our own fame and glory we deny the greatness of His name.  When we swear an oath on GOD that we do not keep, we take His name in vain.  When we attach GOD's name to anything it should be involved in we profain His majesty.  We we present to people a picture of GOD that is anything less than perfect, holy, powerful, loving and full of grace, we defame His character and misuse His name.

So am I capable of accomplishing this?  Can I live the rest of my life without misusing the name of the LORD?  NO!

The beauty here is that Jesus traded names with me.  He took on my detestable and utterly incurable name and gave me His guiltless name of redemption.  He accomplished through his blood the punishment that was promised to you and me in Exodus 20:7 - "...the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name."  Because I could never live up to the law Jesus Christ paid for my offense.

It's such an elementary truth and teaching, but one that we can never be reminded of too often.  And in light of this truth why would we present our GOD as anything less than who he truly is?  Why would we withhold the grace, mercy, truth, and love that is GOD our Father?

Speak the name of the LORD in truth today.

Tony Robbins and My Idols

Ok, so I have to admit it.  I recently got hooked on Tony Robbins' tv show "Breakthrough".

Robbins has always been a really interesting guy to me.  One could argue that no one in the past 30 years has been more influential on American culture than Tony Robbins.  The guy was a multi-millionaire by the age of 24. Has been a personal advisor to Bill and Hillary Clinton, Hugh Jackman,  Quincy Jones, Jeff Arch (screenwriter, Sleepless in Seattle), Brett Ratner (movie director), Pat Riley (Hall of Fame NBA Coach), Andre Aggasi, Stephen Covey (author, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People), among many, many others.  He sells out arenas for his seminars on business, leadership, and life-change.  He has written numerous best-selling books and produced countless audio seminars and dvd's.  He has been appointed to international committees for peace and negotiations.  His "Basket Brigade" charity feeds over 3 million people in 56 countries every year (this in addition to his other programs that have helped in excess of 2,000 schools, 700 prisons, and 100,000 charities and service organization worldwide).  Plus, the guy is absolutely brilliant in the areas of psychology and philosophy, which is what makes him such a dynamic speaker, advisor, and life-coach.  I think when you look at the breadth of his impact you see how those he has worked with have gone on to influence/entertain/coach so many thousands of other people.  It's quite astonishing.

I'm struck as I watch his tv show at the Biblical truth that is conveyed through his interventions with the individuals on the program.  Now, the core of Robbins message is not one of Christian docrine, as the man claims to draw religious knowledge and guidence from all walks of faith.  However, as a Christian, I can't help but acknowledge the Biblical truth that is revealed through the show.

What Tony comes back to, without fail, in every episode is idolatry.  You see, in his shows the people he helps are always hindered by one thing, it's something they can't let go of, something that relentlessly dwells in their thoughts, something that has happened that they have placed ahead of everything else in life.  It's one thing that interferes with their ability to live a full, abundant life.

I don't think any of these people, even Tony, would recognize it as such, but the problem is always idolatry.  This is the same in our lives.  We wouldn't necessarily call ourselves idolators, I mean, we're not running home to worship a molded golden cow, made from our old jewelry, that's enshrined in our living room, but at some point we are all idolatrous.  I've heard it taught that the things we think of the most, the things we depend on for our happiness, the things we seek for security, the things we don't think we can live without are the things we most treasure.  That which we treasure is that which we worship.  That which we worship is our god.

I've had to do a lot of thinking on that recently as I've come to realize what I tend to allow to become my gods.  Often it is music or music related, other times it's relationships, still at other times it's money.  I promise the one true GOD that I'll do whatever he wants... as long as I still get to play music.   I'll go wherever He calls me... as long as it leads me to my wife.  I'll give up everything... as long as I can still make enough money to be comfortable.  Those conditions I place on my obedience show where my heart's affections truly lie.  I DO love GOD, but sometimes I love other things a little more.  It's a difficult thing to face your idols.  It's even more difficult to let them go.  Our nature is to seek and preserve our own comfort and well-being.  I think sometimes we miss out on GOD's comfort and some amazing life changes because we refuse to totally let go of what WE think is best.  I'm stuggling with that now.  How does one pursue the gifts GOD has given (whether that's talents, a job we enjoy, a solid income, relationships, etc.) and do so with great fervor, while still totally surrendering them to Him?  How do we overcome our idols?

I have heard Pastor J.D. Greear (Summit Church - Raleigh-Durham, NC) teach on idols and I keep coming back to what he said the key to overcoming idolatry is this:  Be captured by a vision of the beauty of the ONE TRUE GOD.  The fact that we have desires that override our desire to please GOD is not because these desires are more beautiful than GOD or lead us to a more fulfilling end, its because we lose our focus on the power and the beauty of the ministry and gospel of Jesus Christ.  We allow ourselves to be captivated by momentary gratifications that we know are followed by great emptiness.  But if, in those moments of drifting, we flood our thoughts with the vision of who GOD is and of the amazing gift of mercy and grace the life, blood, death, resurrection, and victory of His Son really is then we would have no other desire than to draw close to Him in His glory, in His beauty, and in His majesty.  Nothing else compares.  All else is rubbish compared to truly knowing GOD (Philippians 3:8).

A vision of the beauty of the one true GOD trumps anything Tony Robbins can ever teach you.  Guaranteed.

What do you think?