Throughout my life, I have met people who claim to be Christians but who practice profanity. By profane, I mean people who use Jesus name as they would a four letter word. Profane or bebelos as an adjective means unhallowed or the opposite of sacred…..accordingly, bebelos is that which lacks all relationship or affinity to God. The verb form, bebeloo, means to cross the threshold; to pollute or defile.[1]
Religion is man’s way to God. Christianity is not religion. Genuine Christianity is a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. We have access to God through Messiah Jesus. To profane His name is to cross the threshold, to pollute, or to defile His name.[2]
The Lord taught that it was not what went into a man that defiled him, but what comes out of the man. He went on to say that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.
An individual that practices profanity is defiling the name of the very one sent to rescue him from eternal damnation. Bebelos is that which lacks all relationship or affinity to God.[3] By definition a profane person is not a Christian.
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Exodus 20:7
To those who know Him, Jesus’ name is precious.
The remedy is not to change one’s speech. Profane speech is merely evidence that one is alienated from God. What is needed, is to become a new creature in Christ; to be born again.
But as many as received him (Messiah Jesus), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12&13
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans10:8-13
…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…
[1,2,3] W.E. Vines Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, Copyright 1984, 1996, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, TN.