If you’re like me, it happened one innocent Saturday while attempting to assemble a piece of furniture. Before your conscience has a chance to stop it, your tongue has already condemned a piece of wood to eternal damnation. Then, the realization hits and the guilt rushes in as you realize, “I’ve just broken one of the ten commandments. I’ve used the name of God in vain.”

Maybe not. Maybe you’re a Sunday School teacher and a nominee for sainthood. You probably don’t understand how a guy like me could be singing praise songs and hanging a picture frame one minute and then in the same breath misuse the name of the Almighty.

But I bet you’ve done it too— without knowing it. We all have. Forget boycotting Hollywood because we perceive they are the worst offenders of breaking the the third. The truth is, they aren’t. We are. Let’s go to confession.

I break the third commandment and use the Lord’s name in vain when I who am called a Christian:

• Ignore the plight of the poor and tell them their condition is their fault.
• Use the words Lord, Father and Jesus instead of “uh” and “um” when I can’t think of what to say in a prayer and don’t want my brothers and sisters to think I’m not spiritual enough.
• Insult and offend someone in a moment of anger because I was frustrated at a situation and couldn’t control my tongue.
• Have a vengeful, lustful or racist thought.
• Any time I don’t love someone as Christ would.
• Whenever I fail to treat someone the way Christ would treat them.
• When I put my pride over another’s dignity.
• Every time I take credit for something God has done.

… This list could go on, but I’ve made my point. Like so many other sins, this one isn’t about a single word or act. It is about the condition of the heart. Any time we, who are called by Christ’s name do something that is counter to Christ’s heart or mission we are guilty of using His name in vain.