How can we apply the community's response to blasphemy in our lives today? Setting the Scene “ ‘The Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the Name with a curse; so they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.)’ ” — Leviticus 24:11 • The entire camp pauses, places the offender in custody (24:12), seeks God’s mind, and ultimately carries out the Lord’s sentence (24:13-14). • The narrative crystal-clearly presents blasphemy as a community concern, not a private peccadillo. Timeless Principles from the Camp 1. God’s Name is holy and must never be treated casually (Exodus 20:7). 2. The community bears responsibility to uphold that holiness. 3. Action is measured and God-directed, never impulsive. 4. The goal is corporate purity and reverence (Leviticus 24:15-16). Recognize the Weight of His Name • Jesus affirms the Third Commandment when He teaches us to pray, “Hallowed be Your name” (Matthew 6:9). • “Everyone will give an account for every careless word” (Matthew 12:36). • Therefore, believers still guard the honor of God’s Name, though the civil penalty differs under the new covenant. Start with Our Own Tongues • “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths” (Ephesians 4:29). • “With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people…this should not be” (James 3:9-10). Practical steps: – Pause before speaking; run words through the filter of reverence. – Replace OMG-style fillers with genuine praise or silence. – Memorize a verse that exalts God’s Name (Psalm 34:3) and speak it often. Guard Our Homes and Circles • What we stream, read, or sing shapes attitudes toward God’s Name. • Teach children early: “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). • Set house rules: no blasphemous media, no cheap God-talk. Gracious Confrontation Within the Body • When a brother or sister slips into irreverent speech, follow the Matthew 18:15-17 pattern: – Private appeal – Small-group confirmation if needed – Church involvement as a last resort • Blasphemy reflects heart drift; restoration, not humiliation, remains the aim (Galatians 6:1). • Persistent, unrepentant irreverence may require formal discipline (1 Corinthians 5:11-13), again for the sake of purity. Witness in the Public Square • We cannot compel a secular culture to stone blasphemers, but we can: – Refuse to laugh at God-mocking humor. – Politely disengage or speak up: “I honor that Name—could we use different words?” (1 Peter 3:15, seasoned with “gentleness and respect”). – Support laws and policies that protect freedom of worship and discourage desecration. • “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6). Trust in God’s Final Justice • He still regards blasphemy as serious; ultimate judgment is His (Revelation 20:11-15). • Our role: shine as lights, uphold holiness, call others to repentance and faith in Christ, who bore the penalty for every blasphemy on the cross (1 Peter 2:24). Living It Out Today • Cultivate reverent vocabulary—privately and publicly. • Shape household and church culture to prize God’s honor. • Correct with love, restore with patience, and never trivialize the Holy Name. |
    |