Our Father PtV: Hallowing the Name

IV. Hallowing God’s Name

Hallowing God’s name means more than never taking it in vain.: However, this is where I will sound like a prude. We have drastically lowered our standards here. We my not drop the dreaded curses to or in God’s name; but we often in casual conversation say “Oh my God” or “Lordy, Lordy” etc. This shows disregard for the name that the Hebrews would not even write or speak; they instead substitued their word for "Lord", "Adonai" (this is he "LORD" in caps in English Bibles). To this day, no one really knows how to pronounce the name of God. That name is only the name He gave to us (Exodus 3), “I Am That I Am”.

Consider for instance that Methodist commentator Adam Clarke (1700’s) is stunned by the use of the phrase “My Heavens” among Christians. This innocent phrase, as well as "By Jove" etc. was considered as inappropriate as what we’d “bleep” out today. However, I will never quite understand how the F-word is bleeped from prime time but God’s name is thoughtlessly dragged through the mud for profit every single day on our TV’s, radios, blogs, and around the water cooler…

We profane His name when we forget that we wear it wherever we go: We can’t add to or subtract from the actual holiness of God (immutability?). But we can sure effect his reputation. The Bible refers to us as His ambassadors, as living epistles, as witnesses. We are to be the salt of the earth, a city on a hill. Often times were are more like a failing night light.

Paul told the Corinthians, "If you want to know what it means to be Christian, follow me because I'm following Jesus" (1 Cor 11:1). In fact, once we have been identified as Christians, in everything we do God’s reputation is on the line.

Hallowing God’s name is about hallowing God: Hallowing, fearing, revering, honoring.

What’s in a name?: A name precedes us. It can protect us. “Tell them “X’ sent you and you’ll get a discount.” Oh, they are a “Williams”, we all know about them… Recently I heard (from the source) a story about a man who was saved by a name. While he and a friend were wasted and broke they hit up a few liquor stores. They were arrested and only afterward found out that one of the businesses happened to be owned by the mafia. While in jail, two men who the thieves recognized as being "connected" showed up in jail with them. Knowing what the men were there for, one of the robbers took one of the hatchet men aside and made this plea, "Call your boss, and tell him that "so and so's" son is the one you are here to take care of." The man made the call, and the next day they Mafiosos were gone and the men's lives were spared. Lucky for him, the pleading thief's mother was one of the Mobsters' biggest legitimate business clients. It would have been pretty bad business to kill her son.

Hallowing God’s name means we look to a time when all men will know Him: Wright says that to pray “hallowed be your name” means “…may you be worshiped by your whole creation.” May your name be hallowed, feared, made known to be sacred and powerful, and potent and supreme.” The Bible talks about a time when all Creation will praise God, even the trees will clap their hands (Isaiah 55:12) and every knee will bow (Phil 2:10), and as the last Psalm declares “everything that has breath [will] praise the Lord! Ps 150:6!

Let that day come soon Lord Jesus.

NEXT: Your Kingdom Come