“Respecting God’s Name” The Third Commandment 7-10-11 Deut. 5:11; John 16:24; Rev. 15:1-3  Dr. Ben Sloan

One of the things we miss in our society is a sense of the sacred and holy.  This command is especially a reminder to respect God.

Almost once a week there will be a news video clip on the evening news about some group in Libya or Iran or North Korea burning the American flag.  Why do they show that?  Because, it excites anger concern and emotion.  It is one thing to throw a rock at a stop sign.  It is an outrage to burn the American flag.  As my professor, John Leith, said, “the abuse of the flag is in a sense, the abuse of the name of our country.”
     In the Bible, a name is not just a label, but a living person.  To abuse the name is to abuse the person.  As abusing the flag is abusing our country. 

There are really two things this command upholds for us: 1) Respecting His Name; 2) Keeping our promises made in his name.

I. RESPECTING HIS NAME- God is holy, and is to be respected above all.  But we live in a time when people blaspheme God and the church thinking they will get away with it.  They don’t get slapped with lightning when they sin, so they think they get away with it.  But this command has a warning- don’t think you will get away with dissing God.  It says, “The Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” God cares for His holiness.  Holiness is found in the person and identity of God Himself. 
    The real thing this command lifts up- is the separation and holiness of God compared to the profane and evil. Dabney said that this command includes heartless and surface worship without any authenticity or sincerity behind it.  He also included all irreverence in the house of God profanes the name- for the church building bears God’s name- and symbolized Him. 
     In 1989 Andres Serrano exhibited a picture of Christ on the cross in a glass of his own urine.  This was funded in part by the National Endowment of the Arts, and caused quite a stir.  While the artist may have not been trying to disrespect God, he in fact did, and offended many who hold the cross in sacred honor. 
     When someone uses God’s name in cursing to emphasize a point or simply carelessly, they break this command.  Using “Oh God” or “Oh Christ” as a swear word brings what is utterly holy into disregard. 
     In the Old Testament, they would not even speak the name YHWH for fear of misusing it.  Today, we lack a sense of the sacred and holy.  That God reveals something about Himself to us- even His name- is a beautiful thing- a great gift that we are to treasure and not to trash.  God’s name is to be held in awe and wonder. 
     There is a sense that we bear the name of Christ upon us.  We are “Christians” which means “little Christs.”  When we fail Him, we bring dishonor to His name.  Paul said Whatever you do, do it all in the name and to the glory of Christ” (Col. 3:17).  In certain industries they have signature labels.  Where the craftsman or celebrity signs their name to the brand to insure good quality.  Jack Nicklaus golf clubs; Gucci;  When we do our work we are signing our name on it, but also signing God’s name on it- for we are part of His team- His family.
 You’ve heard the joke about the guy who shook his hand, honked his horn at the slow moving person ahead of him.  He yelled, screamed, stomped.  Finally a policeman pulled him over.  The man asked the officer, “What did I do wrong? I didn’t break the speed limit, or drive wrecklessly?”  The officer replied, “I pulled you over to see if you stole the car, for you have a “I Heart Jesus” sticker on the bumper.  
    We should not be ashamed to bear the name Christ upon us, but we must do so with care.  In some ways, knowing I have a Lake Murray Pres sticker on my car makes me a better driver.  When I drive the church bus I am very conscious of it.  But it still, I’m sorry to say, doesn’t make my skills better- or make me perfect.  But I am proud to bear the name of Christ and our church- with all my imperfections.
     There also is a sense in which we turn the name of Christ into a magic charm.  The danger is when the holy become superstitious.  We are called to pray in Christ’s name, but it is not a rabbit’s foot that is rubbed upon our prayers.  Rather it is a calling upon God.  When I send an email to someone it addresses them and calls it to their attention.  Calling on God’s name in prayer sends the prayer to the right place.  The story of the seven sons of Sceva is a story of those who used Jesus’ name like a charm to ward off evil, but it backfired on them. 

II. KEEPING PROMISES MADE IN HIS NAME is the second part of this command.

     In the older sense of this command, and how it is mainly interpreted by the Reformers is that we need to keep the promises made in God’s name. 
     In our day there is a huge rise in the number of contracts and written agreements.  It is because a handshake is not good anymore, and won’t hold up in court.  When we do not swear or make an oath falsely; when we keep our word, we are keeping this commandment, and it adds just a little bit to the bank of human trust and confidence.  Life is better when you know you can trust people to do what they say.  Let your yes be yes and no be no. 
    Be careful of saying, “God told me” when He hasn’t.  Or saying that God told you to say something when He has not.  That is identification theft- stealing or taking God’s name when He hasn’t given it.

Identification theft- Identity theft and fraud is a $15 billion a year business.  One of the biggest businesses in Chapin is GIS which does not only background checks, but protects identities.  We need to be careful to protect the identity and name of God.
     There are also three specific promises we make in church-in God’s presence that should be addressed.
1) Baptism- When we baptize a child, promises are made on that child’s behalf.  Promises to raise up that child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  When someone makes the promise then disappears from church, I wonder about their sincerity and then I wonder about the validity of the baptism.  As a congregation, we promise to care for the child too.  That means that we welcome little children, making room for them, perhaps being willing to teach them, and help them. 
2) Communion- the word “sacrament” comes from the Latin “sacramentum” which was the oath a soldier took in loyalty to his general or emperor in Rome.  When we celebrate communion, it is like renewing our oath and loyalty to God.  
3) Marriage- It is one thing to be married on the courthouse steps or by a captain at sea.  But when you are married in the sight of God it is a little different.  In the wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock  they had two services: a civil service and a religious one.  When we are married in the sight of God, it is different, for we are asking God’s help and blessing to keep our vows.  But we are also promising “in the sight of God.”  As I have said many times, divorce is not the unforgivable sin, but it is not the ideal and is not to be taken lightly. 

     Paul says that God gave Jesus the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow- in heaven on earth and under the earth.  (Phil. 2:9,10).  One day, everyone will acknowledge the name of Jesus.  Our job now is to spread that name wherever we go, brining not dishonor to it, but honor and glory.   So I challenge you to glorify God’s name by living for Him- and not for yourself.  For speaking words of kindness, grace, and love and not words that curse or put down others.  I encourage you to glorify God’s name by keeping the promises you make – letting your yes be yes and your no be no.  The first petition in Jesus’ prayer was that we hallow the name of God.  We make God’s name holy when we respect it, when we live holy in His name.