The Real Importance of God’s Name

In Matthew 6:7, Christ commands His followers to avoid “vain repetitions” when they pray. This is immediately followed by what is commonly known as “The Lord’s Prayer.” Most recite this prayer word for word, misinterpreting Christ’s instructions. “In this manner, therefore pray,” does not mean that we are to verbally copy it, word for word, every time we pray. Jesus was merely providing an overall outline for prayer. He was not dictating the exact words that we should use, nor the exact length of every prayer. By repeating a prayer that has been memorized (perhaps since childhood), a person actually detracts from the meaning and purpose of prayer, thereby literally praying in vain. That is serious to God!

Mt 6:9 tells us to “hallow” God’s name. The Third Commandment instructs us to show proper respect for it. This does not mean that we should try to pronounce God’s name in the original Hebrew or Greek in which it was written. Certain religious groups make a big issue of this in order to appear extremely righteous. They admit, however, that since there was no preservation of vowels in the Hebrew language, no one knows the exact pronunciation of the Hebrew word for “LORD.” The real importance lies in the meanings that His names carry, not the way in which they are pronounced. (The reader will find helpful our special article “Should Christians Use “Sacred Names”?”)

God’s names reveal the many aspects of His nature and character. Christians, whose hope is to one day be a part of the God Family, should honor and revere God for all that He is: our Creator, Sustainer, Healer, Provider, Lawgiver, Avenger and, ultimately, our Rewarder (Heb. 11:6; Rev. 22:12). (You may wish to read our booklet What Is Your Reward in the Next Life? to learn more about how you can receive a future inheritance with Jesus Christ in the kingdom of God.)

King David was inspired to record, in Psalm 8:1-4, “O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth! who has set Your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and suckling's have You ordained strength because of Your enemies, that You might still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man, that You are mindful of him? and the son of man, that You visit him?”

David, called a man after God’s own heart in Acts 13:22, was in awe of God and His creation. Should we be any less in awe of Him, especially when we look around and see His handiwork, of which we are a part? We live in the Information Age, and never before has man known so much about his physical body and the world around him. “For You have possessed my reins: You have covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are Your works…My substance was not hid from You, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth” (Psa. 139:13-15).

Should Christians Swear?

In today’s world, it is considered perfectly normal for people to swear and use God’s name to back up their oaths! This is not only common in people’s personal lives, but, with oaths, this is a standard part of most legal proceedings. But what does God’s Word say about this? In Matthew 5:33-37, Christ stated, “ Again, you have heard that it has been said by them of old time, You shall not forswear yourself, but shall perform unto the Lord your oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: nor by the earth; for it is His footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your…yes [be], yes [and your]; no, no: for whatsoever is more than these comes of evil.”

The Ninth Commandment states, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour” (Ex. 20:16; Deut. 5:20). Revelation 21:8 states, “…all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” The fact that this command is not binding enough in the minds of most people—even to the point that man’s law requires the taking of oaths—is a sad commentary of how little regard people have for God’s Word!

Avoiding Religious Titles

In many of the world’s religions, ministers and priests assume the title of “Father” or “Reverend.” What does the Bible say about this common practice?

In Matthew 23:9, Christ commanded, “…call no man your father upon the earth: for One is your Father, which is in heaven.” God is our only spiritual “Father”—it is blasphemy to bestow this religious title upon any man! While it is permissible to call one’s parent “father,” God forbids using “Father” as a religious title.

Psalm 111:9 states, “holy and reverend is His name. Reverend” means worthy of worship. No man is worthy of such high esteem. Paul, one of God’s greatest servants, was inspired to write, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not” (Rom. 7:18). Even Christ Himself stated, in Matthew 19:17, “there is none good but One, that is, God.” Even Christ, who was God in the flesh (John 1:14), did not exalt Himself.

Jesus condemned the scribes and Pharisees of His day for taking to themselves the title “Rabbi” (meaning “Master”)—which belongs exclusively to Christ (Matt. 23:8, 10). Anyone who dares to take to himself a title belonging to God (thereby also violating the Eighth Commandment) will one day have to REPENT before God—or suffer the consequences!

Flowing from this practice of taking to oneself the spiritual title “Father” is the tradition of “confession” to priests. Understand. Sins cannot be forgiven by any man. No human being can mediate between you and God. Jesus Christ alone holds this office. Paul wrote, “Wherefore He [Christ] is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25). Paul also wrote, in I Timothy 2:5, “For there is…one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” Therefore, you should confess your sins to God only—not to another human being. Read David’s example of heartfelt repentance in Psalm 51:1-19.

I John 2:1-2 states that when we sin, we have an Advocate with God the Father—Jesus Christ. When we confess our sins to God, He is faithful to forgive us. We can therefore boldly approach His throne of grace (Heb. 4:14-16).

God’s Word tells us that there are, in fact, circumstances when people should confess their faults to others—and this is partly so that God’s servants can pray for each other (James. 5:16). However, there is a difference between asking a brother’s (or sister’s) forgiveness and prayer in overcoming a human weakness or fault—and confessing past sins. A Christian should not confess his sins to another person, because it is only God who can forgive us of our sins (Mark 2:7-10; Luke 5:21-24). God also forgets our sins once we have repented of them, whereas people do not. (Take note: James 5:16—“Confess your faults one to another”—is the verse most often used to justify the Catholic practice of confession to priests. However, this is strictly speaking of when people have sinned against that other person. They should confess their offense to that person.)

Some have tried to cite John 20:23 as proof that people holding certain religious offices have the authority to forgive sins. It reads, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (NKJV). There is nothing here indicating that physical men can forgive sins in a spiritual sense. The context of Christ’s words was about the authority that He was giving to His future apostles (John 20:21; I Cor. 5:2; I Tim. 1:20)—in this case, to disfellowship dissenters and heretics in the Church (and to later allow them back into the congregation, after repentance). (You may read our booklet What Is True Conversion? for insight into the subject of repentance and conversion.)