Are you fibbing on the Father?

We need to think twice before saying, “God called me.”

Photo by Ante Samarzija on Unsplash

There’s not a story in the world that doesn’t sound better when you add God’s name to it: “God called me to do this,” “I know this is God’s plan for me,” and so on.

But how often do we think of the repercussions of throwing around God’s name?

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. —Exodus 20:7

One definition of the word vain is useless. “Taking someone’s name in vain,” is an idiom that means saying someone’s name in a casual, irreverent kind of way.

When we flippantly use God’s name for our own gain, we’re not giving credit where credit is due. God’s name is unmatched. The weight of His name is beyond our comprehension.

For Christians, the name of God is crucial to daily life. We gather with other believers in God’s name (Matthew 18:20). We pray in God’s name (John 14:13–14), and “… to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,” (John 1:12).

We misuse God’s name when we slap it down like some spiritual trump card.

God’s name should not be used as a spiritual trump card. Photo by Warren Wong on Unsplash

I‘ll admit, if people start questioning my motives, refraining from using God’s name as a security blanket is difficult. I now realize the danger in saying I have God’s blessing without first consulting God.

It’s fibbing. It’s lying. It’s a sin. And sin creates chasms in our relationship with God.

If God can’t sign off on it, don’t attach His name to it. That’s spiritual forgery.—Tony Evans

In grade school, I’d turn fighting mad if someone used my last name as the butt of their joke.

It stings a little when someone misuses your name.

God feels the same. Names contain a lot more than letters; names hold honor; names tell of a person’s lineage and communicate that person’s reputation.

The reputation of our Father speaks for itself. We’d be wise to exercise more caution, however, when we say anything about what God has, or hasn’t, told us to do. We must ensure God has signed off on what we are planning before we claim He has.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.—1 Corinthians 10:31

Our words should reflect the majesty of God’s name. Everything we do should bring Him glory.