What does it really mean to "take the Lord's name in vain"? If you grew up in a Southern Baptist church like us, you were probably taught it was all about not saying "oh my God" or using God's name as a cuss word. But the deeper meaning of the Third Commandment goes far beyond language. It's about invoking God's name to justify power, violence, injustice, and personal ambition.

In this episode, we dig into the Hebrew meaning behind Exodus 20:7, explore fiery passages from the prophets (Amos, Isaiah, Micah, and Jeremiah), and read from the Jewish Study Bible to uncover what the commandment was actually warning against: carrying God's name in a false, empty, or deceitful way. We discuss articles from Russell Moore and the Baptist Standard that connect this ancient commandment to modern Christian nationalism, and look at examples from political figures like Mike Johnson, Ted Cruz, and Donald Trump who have claimed divine backing for political power.

Whether it's slapping God's name on a Bible to sell, storming a Capitol with "Jesus Saves" flags, or silencing abuse victims in the name of protecting the church's mission, we argue this is where the real violation of the Third Commandment lives.

Referenced in this episode:

• Russell Moore's article on taking the Lord's name in vain (Christianity Today)
• Daniel Camp's article in the Baptist Standard (post-January 6th)
• Kevin Considine's article in US Catholic (September 2023)
• Jeremiah 23, Amos 5, Isaiah 1 & 10 & 29, Micah 3 & 6, Matthew 23

Merch & more: yallaintright.co

⚠️ Trigger warning: This episode discusses sexual abuse. No graphic details are shared.

The Epstein files are everywhere right now, but we're not here to rehash the headlines. Instead, we're using this moment to ask a bigger question: why does the church have such a long history of protecting powerful men and silencing the people they hurt?

We dig into the stories of David and Bathsheba, Tamar, and the Levite's concubine, passages that rarely get preached the way they should, and draw a straight line from biblical power dynamics to the modern church's abuse crisis, from the Catholic Church to the SBC to John MacArthur. Along the way, we talk about what the Old Testament law actually says versus what happened, what Benjamin Cremer's viral Instagram series gets right about how we preach David, and why Jesus modeled something completely different.

We wrap up with what we think the church can actually do about it, and Matt shares a playlist of punk and riot grrrl songs, because sometimes you need a soundtrack for your righteous anger.

Scripture Referenced: 2 Samuel 11-13, Judges 19-21, Leviticus 20:10, Exodus 21:12, Deuteronomy 22:22

Mentioned: Benjamin Cremer (@brcremer) post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUtzPmEiU5x/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Music Mentioned: Dessa (Fire Drills), Bikini Kill (White Boy), Team Dresch, Le Tigre, Fea (Mujer Moderna)

Christianity Today - Grace Community Church Rejected Elder's Calls to 'Do Justice' in Abuse Case

In this episode, Melissa and Matthew dive into the 74th National Prayer Breakfast, recapping Trump's speech, Pete Hegseth's controversial remarks, and the troubling history behind the event itself. They break down Trump's claims about rising church attendance and Bible sales, and his comments about heaven, as well as Hegseth's speech declaring America a "Christian nation," his use of Mark 8 to frame U.S. soldiers as spiritual warriors, and the crusader imagery he continues to embrace. Drawing on Jeff Sharlet's work on "The Family" and the prayer breakfast's origins as a lobbying tool, they explore the blurred lines between faith and politics. They also discuss the "America Prays" initiative, prayer in schools, and the separation of church and state.

SHOW NOTES:

The State of Church Attendance Trends and Statistics

At National Prayer Breakfast, Hegseth Says US Soldiers Gain Salvation by Dying for 'Christian Nation'

How the National Prayer Breakfast Offers Foreign Lobbyists a Chance to "Pay to Play"

Trump Launches 'America Pray's Initiative

Sing A Little Louder by Penny Lea

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