An Open Letter to a
Blasphemer
Once, while in a chat room looking for an opportunity to share the gospel, I
was reading the comments of a young man who was talking about some
“dumb” remarks given by a well-known model. In his comments, he took the
Name of Jesus in a vain way. I wrote him the following:

The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his
being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided
purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited
is superior to theirs.   (Hebrews 1:3-4)

Hello John,

I read your bit about dumb models. I couldn't agree with you more. People
need to get their act together before they start making statements on TV
about something of which they know nothing. There’s just one thing that you
said that concerns me and I would like to address it.

I mean no offence to you personally, John, but why must you use the Name
of Jesus in a vain way―as in an exclamation, such as saying “Crap!” or
“Hell!” That has always seemed very strange to me. Why do people, who
claim no allegiance to Jesus, insist on using His Name like it was a swear
word. If you must say the name of some religious figure as an expletive, why
not say “Buddha!!!” or “Harrah Krishna!!!”, or even say "Mohammad!!!" or
“Rev. Moon!!!” Doesn’t that strike you as a bit strange that people would use
the Name of “Jesus” like a curse word but not one of these other names?

May I tell you why I think the Name of Jesus is the one chosen from all other
names to use as profanity? The Bible says in Philippians 2:5-11, “God
exalted him (Jesus) to the highest place and gave him the name that is above
every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven
and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ
is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  

Jesus is the only name of a religious icon that’s used by our secular culture in
such an empty, profane way.  Yet, the names of the others are left
untouched. In my nearly sixty years I have never heard anyone exclaim,
“Bud…da!!!” or “Awh-h-h-h…Pope John Paul!!!” Have you? Why, in our
“enlightened” society, it’s considered politically incorrect and deeply frowned
upon if someone were to besmirch such respected religious personalities!
No, to the best of my memory, I haven’t heard anyone use these other
names that way. However, I have heard the Name of Jesus used in the most
shameful ways—ways I care not to repeat out of respect to my LORD. The
list of profane uses of His Name seemingly grows daily, as the Name of the
Lord Jesus Christ continues to be defamed in new and creative ways. Why is
that, John? Why His Name chosen and not that of the others?

Consider this, if you will; the Name of Jesus, or Christ, is singularly degraded
by clueless people in a veiled attempt to empty that Name of its power.
Those who refuse to yield to the Lordship of Christ would wish to devalue
the message of the Gospel (which means good news!) by relegating the
Name of Jesus, and all that Name represents, to nothing more than a swear
word. Now John, I’m not saying that this was your intention, but the resulting
effect is the same, regardless of intentions.

To the ancient world, one’s name represented one’s character and often his
purpose in life. The name, Jesus, means “Redeemer,” “Deliverer,” and
“Savior.” His mission was to lay down His life for the sole purpose of saving
mankind, delivering us from the power of darkness and making the way open
for us to personally know God (for you, John, to know God personally). His
death, burial and resurrection opened the only door to friendship with God
and the defeat of the Devil. The Name of Jesus carries in its meaning all that
He is and all that He did for us. It’s no wonder that the Devil hates that Name
and would influence people to ignorantly blaspheme it. That’s why he would
choose that particular name to profane, and not the names other religious
personalities.

Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me.” The ways of the other religious
founders, although well meaning, are all bogus. They don’t provide the only
way to God as Jesus claims He does. There's no power to save, deliver,
and heal in those other names. In fact, all of the others as much as admitted
in their lifetime that they were themselves looking for the way but hadn’t
found it.

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that
is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in
heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

Like I said, John, I mean no offense toward you personally. However, I hope
you’ll consider what I’m sharing with you. Buddha, Harrah Krishna,
Mohammad and so many others were probably sincere men who meant well.
However, “the Name that is above every name” is the Name of Jesus Christ
the Lord. And when He returns in power and majesty, all those who rejected
Him will remember that Name and wished they had called on it for salvation
rather than using it for a swear word. I hope that’s not you, John. Very soon
every knee will bow and every tongue, including your tongue, John, will
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. If you don’t do it now and commit your life
to Him, you will do it when He returns. Only then, it will be too late for you.

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name (other than
“Jesus”) under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."  (Acts 4:12)

Don’t wait until it’s too late for you, John. Please contact me if you would like
to chat more about this all-important subject.

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the
Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
(From the Good News according to John 20:31)

Sincerely,
Chaplain Rod Davis