Power Read The Bible In 60 Days With Jeff Andersonनमुना

Day 6

SERIOUS BUSINESS

[Scheduled Reading: Leviticus 8-27. Mostly "Speed 3" reading.]

I was cruising along at high reading speed (that’s what you do in Leviticus) when I came across the sad story in chapter 24… the story of the boy who cursed a blasphemy against God.

The people brought him before Moses and they waited on the Lord. Finally God’s verdict arrived. “Stone him.”

So that’s what the people did.

There must be more to blasphemy than we can comprehend. 

If there’s a transgression that should haunt us, it’s when we hear God’s name used in vain. But we hear it every day, all the time.

Often there’s little we can do about it – like when you’re at work listening to your boss… or when kids hear it in the hallways at school.

But sometimes it’s a choice. Like with just about every TV sitcom or box office movie.

My father has a strong filter for blasphemy. In my youth if we were watching TV or a movie as a family, and if God’s name was used flippantly in any way, the TV went off.

We might have been settling into the story and really enjoying the show – but it didn’t matter. There were no warnings or second chances for the TV program. Just the click of the remote.

As I grew older, I came to appreciate Dad’s actions. 

Hearing God’s name in vain should bother us – like nails on the chalkboard. We should cringe at the hearing of such talk and do what we can to shut it down.

I understand “not offending others” or forcing my faith on those who don’t know better. So when I hear it used in public, there’s very little to do about it.

But when it’s just my wife, children and me enjoying a family movie night at home, and the blasphemy starts swinging, I have a choice.

Thanks to that unfortunate story in Leviticus, and my father’s example, I’m reminded the right choice is to hit the remote (OFF).

There must be more to blasphemy than we can comprehend. But we can comprehend that it's dangerous.