EP 217 Rash Vows 89 - 52

In this message Dr. Betters unpacks the Third Commandment: You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name. This commandment includes all speech that that attempts to move us outside the sovereign control of God. Profane speech demonstrates that we are living outside of God’s love and control. Aggressive language that reveals strong anger, cursing where we call down evil on another, profanity that defame God’s name, blasphemy, obscenity, indecent words, vulgarity, crude words: all of these are violations of this commandment where we are stepping outside of the sovereignty of God. Even polite words can be blasphemous, designed to hurt. Speech reveals the heart. Swearing reveals the heart condition. In order to keep the commandment, use speech for worship and encouragement, alerting people who hear you that you are a child of God and your speech reveals that intimacy. What’s in our heart will find its way through our speech.