For 28 years, I’ve been known as a Hibbard. Admittedly, during the first couple of years, it was a little slow to “take.” We got married in our college town and lived there for the first six months. Any of my friends who were still in school were more familiar with my maiden name. Then we lived in my hometown for a while, attending church with people who had known my family and me for most, if not all, of my life. You can imagine how hard it was for some of them to call me Hibbard instead of Browning!
About a year a half into our marriage, though, we moved out of state. We met new people. Built new relationships. To these “new” people, I was a Hibbard, not a Browning. I might not have carried the genetics, but I carried the name. Over the years, that name grew to have a distinctive meaning to those who knew us, and I grew increasingly proud to carry it.
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve never been ashamed of being a Browning. I’m quite proud to carry that connection. But, when I married, I didn’t just take my husband’s name, I took a new identity. An identity he and I have formed together and shared with our children. One that is uniquely us, a combination of both trees of family joined together.
Over the past few months, I’ve encountered a wide range of Scripture passages referencing the Name of the Lord. They all remind us of the powerful identify of the Lord God Almighty. Of the redemptive and sacrificial power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Then I ponder the commandment to not take the Name of the Lord in vain. And I think of John 13:34-35 where Jesus is sharing some final thoughts with His disciples before going to the cross. He tells them, “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (emphasis mine)
Do you see that? Everyone will know that we are His disciples — that we bear His Name — if we love one another.
Hmmm…
When we become Christians, we take the Name of Jesus just as clearly as I took the name Hibbard. We become public representatives of the King of kings and Lord of lords. He allows us to be the earthly picture of Himself, shaping what those around us see Him to be.
That’s what it means to take the Lord’s Name.
So, what does it mean to take it in vain? Does it really just boil down to the words we say? To never using a curse word or crude language? Or could it possibly mean something more?
Jesus said that everyone would know that we are His Name-bearers if we love one another. So, what does it mean when we don’t love one another? What does it mean when we fight among ourselves? When we call each other names or question one another’s salvation because of differing beliefs? When we refuse to show love to Christians — those who also bear the name of Christ — from another color or race or culture or even denomination simply because they are not like us? Because they do not fit with our preferences? Because they don’t agree with our politics?
We may be able to declare without hesitation that we’ve never aloud a curse word or even a hint of crudeness pass our lips. But can we truly state that we’ve never taken the Name of the Lord in vain?
I can’t. There have been too many times when I have not borne the name “Christian” well. When I’ve been unloving, despite the fact that Jesus loves with perfect purity. When I’ve been selfish, where Jesus is selfless. When I’ve been unforgiving in spite of the unconditional forgiveness Jesus offered me long before I even knew I wanted or needed it. When I’ve preserved my life and my desires even knowing that Jesus has called me to lay down it all down for the sake of His Name.
And I’ve had to confess each and every time.
We like to whittle our faith down to pithy statements and easily checked boxes. But, our responsibility, no matter what commandments in Scripture we look to, is to bear the Name of a holy God. A perfect God. A God who loves more completely and purely and perfectly than we could ever imagine loving.
We are called to take His Name.
When I took my husband’s name, I chose a new identity. I chose to be connected to him and to reflect that connection in every aspect of my life.
We do the same when we take the Name of Christ. To take it in vain means that we refuse to be a reflection of Him. Upholding the Name of Christ means we walk in that connection, in His life, fully and completely, setting aside any of our own individualistic identity. Will we always do that perfectly? No, of course not. But it does mean that we live with that intention. And when we falter, we repent without hesitation. We live a reflection of His forgiveness. We live in love for one another…so that all will know we are His.
We’ve taken His Name. May we live to carry it well and never in van.
