OMG.
1/7/26
Romon Gore
I saw a video recently of a pastor warning Christians not to watch a certain TV show because the characters “take the Lord’s name in vain.” What he meant was that they say, “Oh my God!” a lot.
I’ve been thinking about that for a while now, and I’m convinced we’re missing the point.
Here’s why.
by Pitroviz from Getty Images
Years ago, the church had been thriving. Young families attended. People trusted the pastor. But it didn’t take long for the story to unravel: financial corruption, abuse of power, and broken trust. Eventually, the pastor packed up and left, and the community was left to deal with the fallout.
Since then, other ministries have come and gone. And whether fair or not, the people are wary. One woman put it plainly: “It feels like they care more about what they’re doing than about what’s actually happening here.”
That situation is complex. Pain like that always is. But it was caused by someone taking the Lord’s name in vain. And I don’t mean by saying “Oh my God.”
What the commandment actually says
In Exodus 20:7, the commandment is usually translated:
“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.”
But in Hebrew, the key verb doesn’t mean use or say. It means to lift, carry, or bear.
A more accurate rendering would be:
“You shall not carry the name of the LORD your God in vain.” And “in vain” doesn’t mean casually. It means emptily, falsely, or deceptively. So the commandment isn’t primarily about speech. It’s about representation.
Carrying God’s name
This idea shows up all over Exodus. When God reveals His name to Moses at the burning bush—“I AM who I AM”—He’s not just sharing a label. He’s revealing His identity. And soon after, He places that name on a people.
In Exodus 19, God tells Israel:
“You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
Priests carry names. The high priest literally bore the names of the tribes of Israel on his shoulders when he entered God’s presence. And on his forehead was a gold plate engraved with the words “Holy to the LORD”—marked as belonging to Him.
Then God says, in effect: It’s not just Aaron. It’s all of you. You carry My name. You represent Me to the world. That’s the context for Exodus 20:7.
Don’t carry My name in a way that empties it of truth.
Don’t represent Me in a way that gives people the wrong idea about who I am.
And that still matters
For Christians, this doesn’t stop with Israel. Scripture says God has adopted us into His family. He didn’t just forgive us; He gave us His name. Which means this commandment still applies.
Taking the Lord’s name in vain isn’t about accidentally saying the wrong phrase. It’s about claiming God while living in a way that misrepresents Him.
That’s why Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan the way He does. The priest and the Levite carry the right name, know the law, and pass by. The Samaritan—despised and excluded—is the one who actually reflects the heart of God.
Carrying God’s name well looks like love, mercy, faithfulness, and self-giving. Carrying it in vain looks like power without integrity, authority without humility, and religion without love. It looks like saying you love Jesus, but living as if you’re in love with the world and its ways. Entertaining thoughts and ideas that we should be standing against.
Why This Matters So Much
The damage doesn’t stop with the person who fails. It spreads.
Families are hurt. Communities are closed off. Entire villages become suspicious of God—not because of Him, but because of those who claimed to represent Him. And that’s what we see far too often today.
People say they carry the Lord’s name, but what they really want is for others to carry their name.
Their platform.
Their politics.
Their movement.
This is literally the opposite of what it means to “carry the Lord’s name” or be a Christian.
God’s Warning Still Stands
Do not carry My name in a way that empties it. Do not represent Me in a way that drives people away from Me. If you have no intention of living my way, then don’t claim that you represent me. Because the world learns who God is by watching the people who bear His name.
Romon Gore is a missionary and church planter from West Virginia who has served in Bolivia for 16 years. As the cofounder and president of Red Roots, a nonprofit organization, he is committed to serving and strengthening the global Church. Romon is married to his wife and ministry partner of 18 years, Melinda, and is a loving father of three.