Do not use God’s name to do harm.

Earlier this summer Pastor Don shared a more modern version of the 10 commandments.

• Practice loyalty to the Sacred.
• Care for those who have cared for you.
• Do not allow productivity to dominate your life.
• Remember every image of God is only a glimpse.
• Do not use God’s name to do harm.
• Do not be unnecessarily destructive.
• Be faithful to the commitments you make.
• Do not take what does not belong to you.
• Do not hinder justice from coming to fruition.
• Do not use power over others to get what you want.

Several of these stand out in light of events in our world today, but first and foremost “Do not use God’s name to do harm”. This is a different take on “Do not take the Lord’s name in vain”. I think many always took that as an admonition simply not to curse. “Do not use God’s name to do harm” seems to be a better commandment in the time of Jesus. In the old testament there were rules to follow for the atonement for sins. If you commit sin X, you must sacrifice Y in atonement. Nowhere in this process is a conviction of the heart. Jesus then comes along in the Sermon on the Mount, however, and says that isn’t enough. As He says in Matthew Chapter 5 regarding murder and adultery, it isn’t enough to say you never acted on them if you have thought about killing another or lusted after someone who isn’t your spouse. Those actions of the heart are just as sinful. In this way, using God as the justification for doing harm is cursing his name after all.

In the context of the United States today, God is being used as the justification for doing harm all too often. People claiming to be Christians condemn all Muslims as evil based on the actions of some. People claiming to be Christians still claim white supremacy as the only truth. People use Christianity to condemn the LGBTQ community. the mingling of politics and the church is also causing great harm. The President had peaceful protestors attacked to clear a path for him to take a photo in front of a damaged church holding a Bible to presumably appeal to Christians who follow him. I’ve heard of pastors from pulpits telling their congregants who to vote for and, if they vote the other way, they are going to hell. Where is the separation of church and state when political rallies are held in churches?

Hate and judgement are being spewed by so many people across this country who claim to be Christians. Where are these people getting that this is Christ-like behavior? the Christ I follow is the one who humbly rode into Jerusalem before his crucifixion on a donkey. He is the one who spent time with the outcasts of society. He is the one who brought love and healing to people who desperately needed it. He didn’t ride in with a battle ax to strike down any who dared not to follow Him. The religiously pious people of the time were threatened by His inclusivity, among other things, and had Him executed. I wonder what some of the people who so easily use God as justification to do harm would do to Jesus if He were to come back today. Would they recognize Him for who He is and beg for forgiveness and repent? Or would they see Him as a threat to their version of “Christianity” and execute Him all over again?

No where in the character of Jesus was hate. I can’t imagine how devastated Jesus must feel every time someone uses Him as an excuse to harm others. I am far – very far – from a perfect Christian. I struggle daily to love and not to judge. But I struggle because I am trying to be who Jesus wants me to be – someone like Him. Too bad so many who say they follow Him really aren’t trying to be like Him. Imagine what the world would be like if they did….