What is blasphemy?

G’day everyone, Dave Deane here, and our question for the week is: What is blasphemy?

The word ‘blasphemy’ has its historical origins in two Greek words which refer to injury and talk or speech respectively. So jamming them together, blasphemy has to do with this idea of speech that causes injury.

We do read about a so-called “unforgiveable sin” – blaspheming against the holy spirit – in Matthew 12, which is unique, but I’m going to leave that to the side for this episode, as I think that’s worthy of an answer all on its own.

For now, let’s get more foundational. ‘What is blasphemy?’

Today, many of us are familiar with the word ‘blasphemy’ or ‘blaspheme’. And I confess, for a long time I thought that blasphemy meant to speak the word “God” or “Jesus Christ” in ways that had nothing to do with Him. Like, if I stub my toe and yell “Jesus Christ!” or if I retweet some amazing footy try with the hashtag “OMG” for ‘oh my god’… And I wasn’t alone in thinking that… For hundreds of years people have thought that blasphemy is referencing God in ways like this… Indeed, that’s why words like “gosh” and “golly”- which date back to the 1700s – were invented, as euphemisms for God. And even in some Jewish circles today, it is still common practice to write God, “G [space or underscore] d” in reverence of not wanting to misuse His name.

But as I got to thinking… God has many, many names! For example, in the Bible God is called:

• “El,” which is not actually a name, but an ancient Semitic title, “THE god.”
• In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for God is most often Elohim, which is used over 2,000 times to refer to the God of Israel and a few dozen times in reference to other gods.
• But where El and Elohime were generic titles to refer to a deity of some sort, the Israelites had a special name for their God not worshipped by anywhere else in the ancient world, namely Yahweh (revealed to Moses in Exod 3:12-15)
• By the 3 or 2^nd century BC, Jehovah became the common alternative for Yahweh, or Adoni, the Hebrew word for Lord

And there are, of course, many others we could list off.

All of that to say, owning to the many names God has, it’s not altogether clear what ‘taking God’s name in vain’ means, IF we suppose blasphemy is as simple as something like: #OMG.

First, the Biblical Concept of Blasphemy.

When we turn to Scripture, this confusion is sorted out for us. The idea of blasphemy as ‘taking the lords name in vain’ comes from the ten commandments recorded in Exodus 20:2-17, or Deuteronomy 5:6-21. Here, the Hebrew word “vain” can mean “empty”, “nothing”, worthless”, or “to no good purpose.” In other words, the instruction isn’t about superstitiously avoiding the name or names of God, but about using or taking up, or bearing the name of God for empty, nothing, worthless, no good purposes.

Ok, but what’s an example of that, then? Well, we have many case examples of blasphemy in the Old Testament, such as cursing the name of God in Leviticus 24:16; or falsely swearing by the name of God (Leviticus 19:12; Hosea 10:4); or speaking falsely on God’s behalf, such as false prophets (Jeremiah 23:25), and so on. So the question of whether one is blaspheming depends on the purpose or goal in using or appealing to the name of God.

So is it ok to drop “OMG’s” then? Well, from these examples, and there are many more, there seems to be emphasis on the intention of using God’s name; that is, using God’s name (whichever name we choose) both deliberately and directly in a way that distorts the truth about who he is and what he has done.

Now, you may say ‘OMG, Dave, I don’t have anything like that in mind’ … but that’s just the point: the bible records these instructions for us that we would have it in mind. If there only is one true and living God, then careless use of His name or reference to his being are irreverent at best, or insolent at worst, irrespective of whether one is intentional or ignorant in their use.

So I want to add, here, that – of all people, Christians should be concerned for the glorious and holy character of God. So in that sense, it seems inconsistent for a Christian to be speaking, even unintentionally, in irreverent ways to or about God. We supposedly know God in Jesus Christ in a way that is much more than a kind of throw-away one liner… or, I might add, in a way that is much more than a political puppet to push a particular agenda.

It’s been interesting to see how Christianity has somehow become embroiled in the political debates regarding COVID in Australia, and it’s been equally sad to see some pretty absurd ways people have mixed up the Christian message with speculative theories. I’m thinking in particular of that famous placard that’s done the rounds on national news, reading: “the blood of Christ is my vaccine!!” What I learn from that sign is two things: First, that the person who wrote it sign doesn’t seem to understand what the blood of Christ is or represents; and, therefore, second, the person holding the sign is in error of mis-representing the blood of Christ, which is to say, they are guilty of blasphemy.

1 Peter 1:18-20 “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.”

Now, who am I to judge someone’s heart? Right? Well, hopefully someone will write in and ask me a question about judging others, but – friend this isn’t about David Deane. In Matthew 15:18 Jesus Himself says, “what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart” (Matthew 15:18).

A second point to consider in all of this, is the significance of names.

Second: What’s so Significant About God’s Name?

The writer of proverbs tells us that, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” (Proverbs 22:1).

All of us have names. And names are incredibly important. Why? Because they are what position and orient you as you and me as me in this world of many things, referencing our identity and thus conferring meaning, dignity, worth, and deep, cultural, familial and historical significance.

In other words, names are PERSONAL – they reference who we are and what we do. While they aren’t our being, they don’t embody us, they nevertheless represent or identify us in being who we are. Reciprocally, that’s why when we neglect to refer to someone by their name, and choose, instead, to call them, say, a dog, or a number, we are in some sense depersonalising them. And when someone is depersonalised to some THING, they are ripe for use and abuse.

When referring to or naming God, then, we are speaking of His Being such that, to speak of ‘God’ is, in a sense, synonymous with speaking of His God-ness; his nature. This helps us understand why, for example, we pray “in Jesus name…” or sing “What a beautiful name…” or declare over some stronghold, “by the power of Jesus name…”

1 Chronicles 16:10, 29, 35: “Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; Say also: “Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.”

So that is why using the name of God in vain – without good purpose – is so significant. It is an appellation to the highest possible being – God – for a cause that has no relevance to Him, meaning it is false or deceptive; a misuse of authority (what we call abuse); degrading or sacrilegious; in a word – sinful.

But leaving that to the side and sticking to this question, now, let’s wrap up with the good news that Jesus forgives blasphemy. Paul was a blasphemer (1 Timothy 1:13) who tried to make others blaspheme (Acts 26:11). Jesus’ own brothers thought He was insane (Mark 3:21), and yet all repented and were forgiven.