Foreword:
The following exerpt is taken from The Ten
Commandments by Arthur W. Pink
(BAKER BOOK HOUSE, 1994 GRAND RAPIDS, MI)
In this blog series I will work through this very
important article a paragraph at a time – asking my reader comprehension style
questions at the end. In our day, when people who identify themselves as
Christians are so sensitive to any accusation of legalism that they tend to
swing all the way out to antinomianism (that is lawlessness), it is perhaps now
more than ever that we ought to prayerfully re-examine the Ten Commandments –
and few do it better than Arthur Pink (1886 - 1952). I found
this article to be very convicting as I first worked through it. And, lest we
think we the church are not in need of this labour, let us be reminded that
those whom Jesus will reject on the last Day even though they did many mighty
works in his name, were accused by our Lord of not just having no intimate
relationship with him (‘I never knew you’), but also that they were accused as
workers of lawlessness by our Lord. The Law of God does not save, nor does it
keep one saved – none the less we are called to obedience to it who are saved –
but enough of me – here is Arthur Pink…
THE THIRD COMMANDMENT PART II
Let us now point
out more specifically some of the ways in which God's name may be taken in
vain. The first is, when it is used without propounding to ourselves a proper
end. And there are but two ends which can warrant our use of any of His names,
titles, or attributes: for His glory and for the edification of ourselves and
others. Whatever is besides these is frivolous and evil, affording no
sufficient ground for us to make mention of such a great and holy Name, which is
so full of glory and majesty. Unless our speech is designedly directed to the
advancement of the Divine glory or the promotion of the benefit of those to
whom we speak, we are not justified in having God's ineffable Name upon our
lips. He accounts Himself highly insulted when we mention His name to idle
purpose.
God's Name is
taken in vain by us when we use it without due consideration and reverence.
Whenever we make mention of Him before whom the seraphim veil their faces, we
ought seriously and solemnly to ponder His infinite majesty and glory, and bow
our hearts in deepest prostration before that Name. How can they, who think and
speak of the great God promiscuously and at random, use His Name with reverence
when all the rest of their discourse is filled with froth and vanity? That Name
is not to be sported with and tossed to and fro upon every light tongue. O my
reader, form the habit of solemnly considering whose Name it is you are about
to utter. It is the Name of Him who is present with you, who is hearing you
pronounce it. He is jealous of His honor, and He will dreadfully avenge Himself
upon those who have slighted Him.
God's Name is used
in vain when it is employed hypocritically, when we profess to be His people
and are not. Israel of old was guilty of this sin: "Hear ye this, O house
of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the
waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the
God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness" (Isa. 48:1). They
used the Name of God, but did not obey the revelation contained therein, and so
violated this Third Commandment (compare Matt. 7:22, 23). When using the Name
of God, we must do so in a way which is true to its meaning and to its implications.
Therefore He says to us, "Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the
things which I say?" (Luke 6:46). In like manner, we are guilty of this
awful sin when we perform holy duties lightly and mechanically, our affections
not being in them. Prayer without practice is blasphemy, and to speak to God
with our lips while our hearts are far from Him is but a mocking of Him and an
increasing of our condemnation.
1) In each of the paragraphs above Pink gives a specific
way in which God’s name can be taken in vain. Summarise the three ways in your
own words.
2) Consider the way we feel about other people when they
are pleasant and even flattering to us but whom we know talk badly about us or
spread gossip when we are not around. How hard is it to repair your feelings
towards someone whom you always thought respected you or even loved you when
you here that they have been speaking ill of you? Now consider that God is ever
present to hear every word or thought said of Him or His name. How patient is
the Lord with the humanity who blaspheme Him every day. Do you wince when you
hear the lost (including children) uttering His name in everyday conversations
as if it were an “um” or “er”, or even with utter contempt? What are your feelings towards television shows, books, articles and movies that do the same?
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