Patrick Burwell's Column |
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NO OTHER GODS
How should we handle the
names of false gods...
-by
Patrick Burwell
I have always had a real problem with speaking the name of false gods. Even when I didn’t know what god was God I had always considered it folly to utter the name of any god loosely. In wanting to ensure I kept the name of Yahweh, praise His name, as Holy and gave no honor to the name of any other god, I endeavored to see what our God desires, in how we handle the names of false gods. I wanted to be sure I knew whether I even should speak the name of another god.
As with all such questions, you go to the scripture prayerfully asking for inspiration and understanding.
I have now read enough scriptures to see His heart in the matter... see what I found…
Exodus 23:13 (WEB)
Be careful to do all things that I have said to you; and
don’t invoke the name of other gods, neither let them be heard out of
your mouth.
Exodus 20:3 (WEB)
You shall have no other gods before Me.
‘By those who
come near Me
I must be regarded as holy;
And before all the people
I must be glorified.’”
Deuteronomy 6:14-16 (WEB)
You shall not go after other gods, of the gods
of the peoples who are around you; for Yahweh your God in the midst of you
is a jealous God; lest the anger of Yahweh your God be kindled against you,
and he destroy you from off the face of the earth. You shall not tempt
Yahweh your God, as you tempted him in Massah.
Deuteronomy 11:16 (WEB)
Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived,
and you turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them
God clearly holds his name, and the worship of His people, as being a serious matter. But does this mean we are still held to all these ordinances and laws? Do we have to become Orthodox Jews after all, to honor God and please him as we all desire to for His love for us? Thankfully, the answer is a merciful “No.” Check the Spirit of the law and ordinances. We Christians know Jesus says we are freed from the letter of the law and ordinances by the Blood He spilled for us. By His sacrifice we may now live in the Spirit of these rules. It’s our love and dedication that He desires. So how do we make sure we honor His name?
Deuteronomy 13:2
(WEB)
...for Yahweh your God proves you, to know whether you love
Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
We let those we speak to name their gods if they choose, but we must not let the names of their gods be heard from our lips. Only the name of Yahweh, praise His name, and His son Jesus (YSHUA), can be named as God from the mouth of a Christian.
Exodus 23:13 (WEB)
Be careful to do all things that I have said to you; and
don’t invoke the name of other gods, neither let them be heard out of your
mouth.
God does not hold this keeping of Laws and Ordinances as a requirement any more, halleluYah. We are FREED from the letter of the Laws and Ordinances by faith in Jesus. But, for the same reason God gave the Laws and Ordinances to Israel, Yahweh tests our hearts to know if we love Him.
In this I have decided, then, and say to you to consider also joining me in, that, from this day forth, the name of no other God but Yahweh, His name be praised, will deliberately be heard from my lips, to honor God and glorify Him as Holy; as the One and Only God. That His Son Jesus alone is my salvation, that ONLY JESUS SAVES is my declaration. And now only the name of YAHWEH, praise His name, and the name o f His son Y’SHUA, Jesus to us gentile believers, will be heard from me, ever again.
Speak of other gods if you will but let none of their names be deliberately spoken by you.
Give to Yahweh alone and to His son Jesus (Y'SHUA) the requisite Honor and Glory due them, to the end of this age and for ever.
Patrick J. Burwell
OnlyJesusSaves.com
- all emphasis in scripture quotes is my own
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