# Respecting the name of the Lord
*2015-03-03*

> Bill Young reflects on the second commandment and the importance of using God's name with reverence in our daily speech.

## The Second Commandment

Today is Wednesday of the second week of Lent. Our scripture reading comes from Exodus 20:7: 'You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God. For the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.'

## The Challenge of Modern Speech

Respect for God's name is a concrete way of giving the mystery of God our love and honor. And yet, our contemporary informal speech is full of expressions that use God's name without attending to honor, perhaps even in jest. It has become acceptable, even fashionable, for the youngest among us to speak in these ways.

## Examining Our Own Language

Rather than railing against popular linguistic practices, we should simply pay attention to our own language. We must ask ourselves: How have we slipped into using expressions we don't seriously intend to be dishonoring? How could we set a better example?

## The Weight of Our Words

It is not only popular expressions that need our attention. Blasphemy, perjury, and false oaths are other ways we cheapen our relationship with God. We may be unaware of the dynamic, but these wrongful uses of God's name diminish the holiness of God and the goodness of our faith in the world.

## Reflecting Our True Identity

Whatever comes out of our mouths tells people who we are and what we believe. We must consider who we really are and what we truly believe. What is our true relationship with our Creator and our parent God, and what sort of speech best expresses it?

*Our speech should be a reflection of our true relationship with God, honoring His holiness in every word we speak.*