God’s Name Used In Vain
By Brent Beasley

I was preparing a sermon recently on the third of the Ten Commandments given to Moses in the Mount Sinai wilderness. This is the commandment which forbids taking the name of the Lord in vain.

The name of God can be taken in vain or misused in a number of ways. The way we normally think of is to use the words “God” or “Jesus Christ” in swearing.

Certainly that is one way that God’s name is misused. However, as I prepared for my sermon, I was following the activities of the newly formed Waco Chapter of the Christian Coalition in the local news media.

While mulling over these two topics—the Third Commandment and the Christian Coalition— I couldn’t help but think of another way in which the name of God is not kept holy and sacred.

I began to realize that one subtle way that the name of God is taken in vain in when it is used—perhaps a better word is manipulated— for merely political purposes.

The Christian Coalition has formulated positions on every issue from tax policy to foreign policy to legal aid to term limits. They then attach the name of God to it. They say, “This is God’s position,” and, “This is the ‘Christian’ position’.”

I resent that. As a fellow Christian, I have not given them permission to speak for me on any issue. They are simply using the word “Christian” and using the name of God to justify and gain support for their particular political position.

When they do this they are cheapening the name of God; and when they do this they are taking the Lord’s name in vain.

While the Christian Coalition is using the name of God, the organization itself is in turn being used.

It is used by Pat Robertson to bring more millions of dollars and more influence into his religio-political empire.

It is used by political candidates like Pat Buchanan to win votes.

It is used by some pastors to gain influence and a name for themselves in the community.

In the midst of all this using and manipulation, the holy name of God is like a football being kicked around and handed off in a game on a very muddy playing field. Sure, all the players look bad. They have a lot of mud on their uniforms; but what is truly a shame is that in the process the football gets pretty muddy too.

In such a game there are no winners or losers—only ruthless players and cheering spectators. Count me as a protester, picketing the stadium, carrying a sign that reads: This is the awesome and holy name of God that you are playing with. Use another football or call off the game.

Brent Beasley is pastor of Spring Valley Baptist Church and a student at Baylor University’s George W. Truett Seminary. This article first appeared in the Feb. 26, 1996 edition of the Waco Tribune-Herald and is reprinted with their permission.

April 1996