By Peter Ogege
The Lead Pastor of Life of Faith Gospel Assembly, City of Transformation, Asaba, Pastor Samuel Obiorah, has warned Christians against misusing the name of God, stressing that the name of the Lord is sacred, weighty and must be treated with reverence.
Pastor Obiorah gave the warning during his sermon at the Sunday service held at Faith Cathedral, Asaba, where he admonished believers to uphold the sanctity of God’s name and avoid attaching it to words, actions or causes that do not represent Him.
Speaking on the theme, “The Ten Commandments,” a teaching series drawn from Exodus 20:1–7, the cleric explained that the third commandment, “You shall not use the name of the LORD in vain,” goes beyond merely avoiding the careless mention of God’s name.
According to him, God’s name represents His identity, authority and character, and must therefore not be invoked to give credibility or divine approval to things He has not said or sanctioned.
“The name of God is weighty and sacred. We must not use the name of God to give weight to what God never said.”
Pastor Obiorah also cautioned Christians against using God’s name as an instrument of manipulation, personal gain or to advance selfish causes, noting that believers who bear the name of Christ must ensure that their conduct does not bring the name of God into disrepute.
“As Christians who bear God’s name, we must be careful not to subject that name to mockery, blasphemy or profanity.”
He urged believers to demonstrate reverence for God not only through their words but also through their actions, character and dealings with others.
Earlier in the sermon, Pastor Obiorah examined the first and second commandments — “You shall have no other gods before me” and “You shall not make for yourself an idol.”
He stressed the need for Christians to maintain exclusive allegiance to God and resist every temptation to redefine Him according to personal preferences or convenience.
“Our faith and Christianity does not give us the opportunity to edit the character of God.”
The cleric therefore encouraged believers to accept God as revealed in Scripture, remain faithful to His commandments and ensure that their lives reflect the character and holiness associated with His name.
