2015年12月16日
祂名為聖 Holy Is Your Name
读经: 出埃及記20章1-7節
Reading: Exodus 20:1-7
不可妄稱耶和華你上帝的名。-出埃及記20章7節
You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.- Exodus 20:7
全年读经: 阿摩司書4-6章;啟示錄7章
Bible in a Year: Amos 4–6; Revelation 7
某天下午，我的朋友也是我的屬靈導師和我討論「妄稱上帝的名」。在十誡中的第三誡提到：「不可妄稱耶和華你上帝的名」（出埃及記20章7節） 。我們可能認為「妄稱上帝的名」是指隨便以上帝的名發誓，或是以輕率、不尊敬的態度提到上帝的名。但我的導師卻不願放過教導我的機會，他要我更深地思考其他會褻瀆上帝之名的行為。
當我拒絕別人的忠告，並且說：「是上帝吩咐我要這麼做。」然而，實則俯就私意，就是妄稱上帝的名。
若我斷章取義地引用經文，僅是為了支持我個人的理念，則是濫用上帝的名。
若我未經仔細地查考就引用經文，開始教導、寫作或是與人談論，也是妄稱祂的名。
牧師兼作家約翰·派博也曾對此提出他的看法：「這個基本概念是『不空談其名』……不輕看上帝的全能和榮耀，不讓祂的名字成為空泛的稱呼。」他還說：「當我們提到上帝卻言中無物，就是妄稱祂的名。」
這位朋友鼓勵我尊崇主名，並且更用心、仔細、完全正確地引用經文。畢竟，少一份用心，就可能會羞辱祂的名。
親愛天父，助我尊崇祢的名。
一言一行，都能榮耀祢聖名。
當尊崇上帝聖名。
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One afternoon I was having a discussion with a friend I considered my spiritual mentor about misusing God's name. "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God," says the third commandment (Ex. 20:7). We may think this only refers to attaching God's name to a swear word or using His name flippantly or irreverently. But my mentor rarely missed an opportunity to teach me about real faith. He challenged me to think about other ways we profane God's name.
When I reject the advice of others and say, "God told me to go this way," I misuse His name if all I am doing is seeking approval for my own desires.
When I use Scripture out of context to try to support an idea I want to be true, I am using God's name in vain.
When I teach, write, or speak from Scripture carelessly, I misuse His name.
Author John Piper offers this reflection on what it means to take God's name in vain: "The idea is . . . 'don't empty the name.' . . . Don't empty God of His weight and glory." We misuse His name, Piper says, when we "speak of God in a way that empties Him of His significance."
My friend challenged me to honor God's name and to pay closer attention to using His Word carefully and accurately. Anything less dishonors Him.
Heavenly Father, help me to glorify Your name and to honor You always in what I say and do.
God's name: handle with care.