How often do we mistake cultural assumptions for biblical truths? And how is it that professed "people of the Book" can go years - sometimes even their entire lives - without questioning any of those assumptions?
I think the poster child for this sort of profound oversight might be the second commandment:
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)
Why do we think that what is meant here is that God is deeply offended whenever someone smashes their thumb with a hammer and angrily screams out "Jesus Christ!"?
I mean that is bad and shouldn't be done, but do we ever ask why such a sin made it on God's Top Ten? And at the number two spot, no less!
I first really started to question this when I moved to Haiti years ago. I noticed that Haitians simply don't have a habit of using Jesus' name as a curse word. It's an American thing. Maybe some additional cultures do the same, but it's not even a temptation in others.
And I couldn't imagine that any ancient Israelite was tempted to shout "Yahweh!" upon stubbing a toe.
Why do we assume that "taking" the Lord's name has something to do with speech? Where else do we use "take" as a synonym for "say"?
(Maybe there are some instances, but I can't think of any off hand. Let me know if you can think of one.)
We do, however, speak of a woman "taking" her husband's name in a marriage ceremony. It has nothing to do with her saying her husband's name.
It has everything to do with claiming a relationship to him, identifying with him, and being bound and committed to him.
To take God's name upon yourself in this sense and then to bring shame upon it or to act in a manner unworthy of it - now that seems to merit being on the Top Ten.
Right after "Thou shall have no other God before me".
No comments:
Post a Comment