What's in a Name

What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet

Raise hands those who knows where this quote comes from. Shakespeare would be a good guess and Romeo and Juliet would to thine own self be true. I can draw many parallels between this tragedy and the love of God of His people. Okay you must be asking what has Shakespeare have to do with this posting. Well we are doing Andy Stanley's series on the Sinai Code and part three is called "What's in a Name". It could have come straight out this tragedy of lovers who are members of the opposite sides of the tracks.

But this "What's in a Name" comes to us from Mount Sinai deep within the desert of the Sinai Peninsula where God gave His people His set of rules. These rules are not conditions to be His people but a confirmation of belonging to Him. "What's in a Name" covers the third rule; you shall not misuse the name of the Lord.

Myself like many thought that this rule is simply warning to us not to use God's name in vain. Since watching "What's in a Name" my view of this rule has now been turned on its head. Instead of using God's name carelessly it means not use His name for leverage to get what you want.

Leverage God!

Yes we actually play God against God and try find loop holes to dodge his rules. Andy says that like the Pharisees if we get into a habit of leveraging God to our own agendas then we will miss God. So that is how the Pharisees missed the Messiah. We too can spend our lifetimes talking to God and miss him completely all in the name of God. This has made me realise how easy it is to hurt others in the name of God. Religion is man made to bend the rules of God to suit our own needs and wants. Are we using God for our own glory and not His?

Wow! With some deep thoughts raised this has opened my eyes to how I misuse the Lord's name.