We come to the third commandment: taking God's name in vain. What's the big deal? Despite how it sounds, this is not primarily about bad words or even saying "OMG." The problem is that speaking of God hollowly (e.g. “in vain") arises from thinking of God hollowly... which leads to hollow lives. How can we have the fullness of life as Jesus promised (John 10:10) if we treat the weightiest thing as if it is empty or insignificant?
Discussion Questions
Read Leviticus 24:10-16. How could saying a single word warrant such an extreme response? Does that seem like an unreasonable response to you? Are there any parallels in our society today? What sorts of statements posted on social media garner that sort of response? How might that reveal what our society values? Could the same be said of God's concern for his Name?
the power of the Name
The gods’ names tell you who they are and why you'd come to them. So why does it matter that God gives his name as "I Am"? What use is that for us? What is God saying about himself?
Annie Dillard wrote: Do anyone have the foggiest idea of what power we so blithely invoke? ...The churches are children playing on the floor with chemistry sets, mixing up a batch of TNT that could kill a Sunday morning... We should be wearing crash helmets. What is she saying? Do you agree? How would our approach to worship change if we kept this in mind?
the abuse of the Name
What does it mean to use God's name "in vain"? In light of the power we just described, why would that be such a travesty? Give a personal example of where and when someone might use God’s name in vain. How have you done this?
Russ shared the example of a peer using his own mother's name in a purposefully derogatory manner. Why is this somehow worse than if it were "any" person? When something is sacred to us, what does it "cost" to see that thing or person profaned? Considering the popularity of that type of humor, why might we as humans tend to enjoy profaning what others regard as sacred?
Jesus, quoting Isaiah, said these people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me (Matthew 15:8). If a romantic interest said something similar to you, how would you hear it? Why is the image so much clearer when stated in relational terms? Seeing that God's goal is ultimately a relationship with us, how does that change how you hear this "rule"?
the gift of the Name
Read Philippians 2:5-11. What is the "name that is above every name" (v.9)? Look at all that Jesus endures here. What is the "sacred", and how is it "profaned" in this passage? If Jesus is the ultimate Somebody, how is he treated here? How is that good news for nobodies like us? Read Isaiah 49:15-16. How does God treat our 'names'? How are our names "written on his hands"?
If the ultimate Somebody - the ultimate Name - was made nothing so that nobodies like us could be treated like somebodies... how does that change us? How might that change how we "defend" our own honor when insulted? When your reputation is insulted, how might the cross encourage you in the face of it? How does seeing Jesus voluntarily "make himself nothing" (Philippians 2:7) help us to love others that way?
Gospel: Jesus gave us his name so you could have it. He was forgotten so you never will be. How might our lives change if we live in that promise?
