Lutheranism 101 - Part 8- The 2nd Commandment

In the movie Saving Private Ryan, which takes place during and after the D-Day landing in WWII, a ranger unit is sent out to find Private Ryan so he can be sent back home. Two of his brothers have been killed on the same day in the war and the War Department wants to make sure he makes it home alive. The ranger unit that is sent out to find him has two of its members killed before they find him. Then much to their anger when they do find him he refuses to go home, he wants to stay with his unit. One of the rangers gets mad and yells at him that they have lost two of their friends trying to save him and now he doesn't want to go. It is at this moment in the movie that an exchange occurs that I have always found very moving. Private Ryan pauses for a minute after hearing this and then very reverently asks what were their names? The angry ranger tells him the names and Private Ryan repeats them to himself very slowly. In doing so he honors them and the sacrifices that they have made for him. I have probably watched the movie at least fifteen times and that short scene still makes me pause.
To honor the name is to honor the person who bears it and all they have done. That is why our Second Commandment is so important. To honor God's name is to honor God himself and all that he has done for us. To dishonor it or take it in vain is to dishonor God and reject all he has done for us.
So in the manner of Private Ryan we first have to ask, "What is God's name?" What do we call him? Well it isn't Bob or Fred or Ed. God's name is not a label like most of our names are. Most of us are named after a relative or someone our parents liked, or maybe just some name they found interesting. It doesn't really describe anything about us. God's names on the other hand do describe his character. You could say that God's name is a verb. God's name describes what he does. He is the I Am. He is the Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. He is Jesus. He is the Word. He is Immanuel, God with us. He is Savior and Lord. He is the God of the Storm. And we could go on and on. Each of these terms describes a different quality about him or action that he carries out. In other words his name is His very essence and attributes. Therefore to dishonor God's name is to directly dishonor his character and reject what he has done for you.
The next question is how do we do that? Well obviously we do it by cursing, but that is not the only way. We also misuse it when we use God's name in satanic ways. We do this by trying to talk to the dead or going to fortune tellers or engaging in Wicca or any occultic practice. We also do it by consulting horoscopes or things like it to discover the future. We also do it by teaching false things about God and then saying it is God's Word or revelation. We do it by covering up an unbelieving heart or sinful life by pretending to be a Christian. We must be very careful about what we get involved with. There is a real spiritual world out there that can bite you. There are evil spirits who impersonate the dead or who try to lead you astray. Remember Satan is like a lion in a cage, he can't hurt you as a Christian unless you get in the cage with him. But when you do that you are on your own.
So what is it God wants us to do in this commandment? He wants us to use his name in a honorable way. He wants us to use his name to call out to him in prayer. He want us to ask for his help, for his forgiveness, and for his blessings every day.
When we honor God's name we are honoring him for giving us forgiveness and salvation. We are remembering the sacrifices he has made for us and we are stating our belief in him as our loving God.

Here are some Bible verses for you in this subject. Exodus 3:14; Isaiah 9:6; Jeremiah 23:6; Matthew 1:21; Matthew 18:20; John 1:1; Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 19:12; Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Leviticus 19:31; Psalm 50:15; Psalm 103:1; John 16:23; Ephesians 5:20

Pastor Fred