Do Not Misuse God’s Name
September 23rd, 2011 | 
Author: The third of the Ten Commandments is, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God” (Exodus 20:7, NIV). Most translations have something similar to “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (NASB).
There are many ways we can misuse or take God’s name in vain. For example, we can misuse the name of God by speaking presumptuously in his name. A presumption is to assume something is true. Sometimes people say things about God and the Bible that are not true. They say these things because it is what they want to believe rather than what God actually says in the Bible. In addition, if God does not speak about something, we should refrain from saying that he does.
The friends of Job misused God’s name when they suggested Job’s situation was God’s punishment for sin (Job 4:7-11; 8:4-20; 11:4-6). However, God condemns Job’s friends for saying that he deserved the misfortune he experienced. God says to Eliphaz, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has” (Job 42:7). Every preacher should desire to hear God say “You have spoken the truth about me” because this means God’s name has not been misused.
Sometimes people say things about God and the Bible that they want to believe. For example, God tells the Jews in exile about the false prophets among them. “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them” (Jeremiah29:8-9). These false prophets have spoken presumptuously and have taken God’s name in vain by falsely speaking in his behalf.
J B Myers
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Inspiration Contains Divine and Human Components
The inspiration of Scripture contains divine and human components. This means that God utilizes the personalities and vocabularies of chosen men to reveal his will. The best way to understand this is to consider the incarnation of Christ. Jesus was both God and man. Just because Jesus was human did not mean he was sinful. Yet, in his humanity he was “tempted in every way that we are” (Hebrews 4:15). Paul says Jesus “made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:7). There were some Christians in the early church who believed Jesus did not come in the flesh. John calls them false prophets, deceivers, and the antichrist (1 John 4:1-3; 2 John 7). Perhaps these Christians believed the humanity of Jesus would have a corrupting effect on his person. They did not understand that Jesus could be both human and divine and yet without sin. To deny the humanity of Jesus, however, is to deny a fundamental aspect of the incarnation of Christ.
Jesus had a human and divine side at the same time, but the human component did not mean he was subject to deception, error, and sin. In a similar way, the human component of Scripture does not mean the Bible contains errors. To believe the Bible contains mistakes because of the human component is a rejection of biblical teaching about the inspiration of Scripture. It also suggests God is not powerful enough to utilize the personalities and vocabularies of chosen men to deliver the very words he wants written down. Harold Lindsell’s explanation of this process is good: “Just as Jesus had a human and a divine nature, one of which was truly human and the other truly divine, so the written word of God is a product that bears the marks of what is truly human and truly divine” (Harold Lindsell, The Battle for the Bible, p. 31).
J B Myers
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Automatic Thoughts
Are thoughts and feelings automatic? Or, do we have control over our thoughts and feelings?
Thoughts can also appear to be automatic. They seem to flood in our minds instantly when something happens to us. For example, if we walk in a room where other people are present, automatic thoughts may come in our minds about how we perceive the situation. We may think, “I am about to make a fool of myself,” as we look around the room. If we give these thoughts reality, we may feel uncomfortable, depressed, or anxious. If we are puzzled as to why certain thoughts seem to be automatic, then we must examine the subconscious beliefs that may be causing us to have these thoughts. For example, the automatic thought, “I am about to make a fool of myself,” reflects a negative self-image hidden in the subconscious mind. A positive self-image would have produce a different kind of automatic thought, such as, “I look forward to meeting these people.” This thought reflects confidence in oneself and is likely free of cognitive distortions that lead to negative thinking and feelings.
J B Myers
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The Truth About Drug Addiction
A recent interview with a meth addict on a local news program revealed a great truth about addiction. The reporter was doing a story on drug testing addicts who are being released from prison and she interviewed a young lady who was involved in the testing program. The meth addict pointed out that society should not force people to be tested or locked up because they choose to use drugs. She felt like it was all a waste of tax money because “drug users are not going to stop until they get ready to.” Her answer reveals a great truth about addiction, which is that both treatment and punishment is ineffective unless addicts choose to stop their destructive behaviors.
My work with prison inmates has convinced me that both treatment and punishment need to be reassessed. I am not sure what should be done to change the punishment option, but long prison terms do not seem to be achieving the goal that society has in mind. A reassessment of treatment should involve a change in emphasis. The focus of treatment ought to be on why people want to take drugs rather than attributing behavior to a disease. The reason why people do things is based on what they value at the moment, and if you do not change values it is unlikely you will change behavior. The view that behavior is a disease is self-defeating in that it seems to prolong the very behavior society is trying to stop.
J B Myers
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Are the Words Inspired or Just the Thoughts?
People who reject the verbal inspiration of Scripture often argue that only the thoughts and ideas of Scripture are inspired and not the words. But ideas cannot be expressed without words, and if the words are of human origin, then so are the ideas. The belief that the Holy Spirit only inspired the thoughts and ideas allows some to claim there are mistakes in the Bible. But who gets to decide which words are false? This belief encourages people to sit in judgment on the Bible rather than allowing God’s word to judge us.
J B Myers
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The Bible Reveals God’s Word
The Bible is the word of God and not man. The preaching and writing of the apostles are inspired of God and therefore is the word of God. This was the understanding of both the apostles and the church. For example, the Thessalonian Christians are praised because they recognized that apostolic preaching is inspired of God. “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). The inspired preaching and letters of the apostles are authoritative in matters of faith and doctrine.
Paul’s statement that scripture is “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16) implies it is infallible. Being infallible means the Bible does not have errors or mistakes. The Bible says that God does not lie (Titus 1:2). Since God is not the author of lies, the Bible cannot contain mistakes and still be the inspired word of God. The inspiration of Scripture guarantees the truth of all that is in the Bible.
J B Myers
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False Views of Inspiration
Human inspiration is not the same as being inspired by the Holy Spirit. Modern authors write great books and beautiful song lyrics, but these human efforts are are not inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible also has human authors, but these men were not inspired like Shakespeare. Instead, their inspiration comes from God. This means that God actually spoke through these chosen men, just as David says, “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me” (2 Samuel 23:2). It was not David’s human thoughts and words but God’s thoughts and words.
Thought inspiration is the idea that the Holy Spirit inspired thoughts but did not oversee the wording of those thoughts. So, the thoughts are inspired but not the words, and the words are subject to mistake and error because they are human. This assumes that God communicated thoughts by the Holy Spirit but then chose not to make certain those thoughts were accurately written down. This view is usually promoted by those who believe the Bible contains mistakes and contradictions. In contrast, the biblical doctrine of inspiration guarantees the truth of all that is written.
J B Myers
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The Inspiration of Scripture
The Bible is the inspired word of God or Scripture. Scripture is inspired of God because the Holy Spirit worked through chosen men to write down what God wanted written. Because the Bible is God’s word and not man’s, it is authoritative in matters of religion.
In 2 Timothy 3:16, the Bible is said to be inspired of God or God-breathed. The verse can be translated “All scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (KJV) or “All Scripture is God-breathed…” (NIV). The Greek adjective describing Scripture in this verse is a compound word meaning God and spirit (or breath). Although this is the only time this word is found in the New Testament, there are many passages that describe how and why the inspiration of the Bible is significant.
The Greek noun translated Scripture in 2 Timothy 3:16 means a writing, the Bible, or a reference in the Bible. Note that the NIV translators capitalize the noun when they believe it refers to the whole Bible as in this verse (“All Scripture is God-breathed”). They do not capitalize it when they believe it refers to a reference in the Bible. For example, Jesus said, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). The KJV never capitalizes this noun.
J B Myers
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Life Choices Book
I like to look at the table of contents of books to get an idea of what is inside. This is the table of contents for the book, Life Choices: A biblical guide to feeling and doing better.
Introduction
Chapter 1 – Include God in Your Plans
The Goal is Happiness
Inquire of the Lord
Decisions That Mock God
You Play in Practice Like You Play in the Game
Conclusion
Chapter 2 – Know Yourself
Who am I?
Self-image
A Biblical Self-Image
Locus of Control
Time and Chance
Conclusion
Chapter 3 – The ABCs of Feeling
Feelings are Not Automatic
The ABC Principle
Attribution Error
Talking to Yourself
Mental Mistakes of Negative Thinking
Changing Negative Thoughts
Conclusion
Chapter 4 – Relationships
The Importance of Other People
Beneficial Relationships
Christian Relationships
Criticism and Relationships
Personalizing Events
Things to Recognize Before You Criticize
The Danger of Human Expectations
Conclusion
Chapter 5 – Understanding Depression
What is Depression?
Why Do People Become Depressed?
Guilt and Depression
How to Sin Without Sinning
Conclusion
Chapter 6 – Overcoming Depression
The False Beliefs of Depression
Is Depression a Choice?
The Chemical Imbalance Myth
Optimism and Pessimism
Suicide
Conclusion
Chapter 7 – Coping Skills
The Importance of Coping
Coping Mistakes
Coping by Faith
Coping With Anger
Coping With Anxiety
Coping With Stress
Conclusion
Chapter 8 – Romantic Love
Love Defined
Love is a Mental Disorder
I Can’t Live Without You!
Love Derailed
Communication and Conflict
Prepare for Disappointment
Conclusion
Chapter 9 – Values
Moral Values
Non-Moral Values
Discovering Your Values
Respecting the Values of Others
Decisions Determine Destiny
How to Make Wise Decisions
Conclusion
Chapter 10 – Goals
Beneficial Mistakes
Build on the Work of Others
Talent is Not Enough
Work is Healthy
Work is Hard
Conclusion
Life Choices Study Guide
Works Cited
J B Myers
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