Honouring Love

The third commandment is likely a familiar one: "Do not take the Lord's name in vain." Those who grew up in the church were told that it forbids anyone from speaking God's name carelessly or offensively, especially as a swear word. It has inspired the Jewish community to never speak the name of God at all, and led Christians to be offended whenever they hear somebody yell, "Oh my God!!", "Jesus Christ!", or "Good Lord!". But what if that has virtually nothing to do with what the third commandment commands? What if many of us who have never used God's name to curse have been flagrantly and unrepentantly violating this command on a daily basis? What does it actually mean to "not take the Lord's name in vain"?