The NAME

This week's news reported a story from Boca Raton, Florida. A hospice chaplain resigned, complaining that she was forbidden from using the terms "God" or "Lord" in public settings at work--to say nothing of "Jesus."

Outrageous, you say? Well, the hospice company's response makes me wonder. They said there was no such ban. Their story goes this way. Someone had invited this chaplain to do a brief motivational talk during a staff meeting. The guidelines indicated that it was to be a secular talk for the staff, which would have include people of every and no religious persuasion.

So which is the problem here? The ban, or the chaplain's willingness to be co-opted as a secular motivational speaker? The ban, or the chaplain's easy use of the divine name for a secular feel-good be-a-success moment? What of the command against taking the LORD's name in vain (Exod 20:7), that is, in any empty way--such as in a prayer over a secular motivation speech? Maybe the chaplain should concern herself more with that.