As a teacher of the Bible I often have people come up to me saying things like, “the Lord told me to tell you to…”. I know that there are great intentions behind this kind of speech but the horrible problem here is that this would be a direct violation of the third commandment and in its basic form false prophecy. The television and internet are full of so-called “teachers” of God’s word who claim to have special revelation and a new message from God. If anyone comes up to you telling you they have a new revelation from God my advice to you is to run!
What we so often neglect, especially among American evangelicalism today, is a proper understanding and elevation of God’s Word. God has spoken and everything He has to say to us is in His Holy Word. Christ Jesus, God incarnate, is the final High Prophet and God has spoken finally and fully in the incarnate Word. What glorious news. This important and basic biblical understanding should guide us away from the multitude of false teachers and so called modern day prophets.
I believe that this short excerpt from Phillip Graham-Ryken’s excellent book on the Ten Commandments sums up how easily (and how often) even believers take the Lord’s name in vain…
A more serious way to break the third commandment is by using God’s name to advance our own agenda. Some Christian’s say, “the Lord told me to do this.” Or worse, they say, “the Lord told me to tell you to do this.” That is false prophesy! God has already said whatever He needs to say to us in His Word. Of course, there is also an inward leading of the Holy Spirit. But that is only an inward leading, and it should not be misrepresented as an authoritative word from God.
May our eyes be opened to the seriousness and multi-faceted ways in which we so often break this and the other commandments. May the mirror of the Decalogue show us our constant need for Christ and the thanksgiving constantly due Him, the holy character of God and be a model for believers to live by to seek to please God out of sheer gratitude for what Christ has done for us!
And if you are outside of Christ may the Law show you how far you fall from God’s perfect and holy standard and see that there is nothing you can do to merit or earn your salvation and standing before God. May you see the Law as the letter that kills, damns and condemns and run to the only One who has met the Law perfectly and bore the wrath of God due to us in our place. Pray the Lord to grant you true faith and repentance to embrace Christ Jesus for “He made Him who knew no sin to become sin on our behalf so that we may have the righteousness of God in Him!” Now that is Good News!
Soli Deo Gloria!
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Even though I don’t use the phrase myself, I have heard it countless times from Christians, as though it’s supposed to mean something.
What it means is anyone’s guess. But I just humour them with a smile, or less.
Thanks.