Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters

★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up) This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader as part of a quick takes post to catch up–emphasizing pithiness, not thoroughness.
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I had some real problems with this book—I quibbled with more than a few points, and flat-out disagreed with others (although I think her arguments are interesting and I'd like to see someone who knows what they're doing dissect them). And I'm not so sure her thesis is all that revolutionary—I've heard it in almost every (maybe every) sermon I've heard on the Third Commandment in Confessional Presbyterian and Reformed Churches in the last two and a half decades.

That said, it's a thesis that more people need to hear. The commandment isn't primarily about our language, it's about taking the Name of the Lord our God in the sense of “bearing.” When God's people call themselves that, certain things are expected of them to not bring shame to that name (which will involve treating His name—and the means by which He is revealed—with the due respect).

She starts at Sinai and then traces the idea (a theme in this post, no?) through the rest of Scripture, showing how God's people have done this—and how they've failed at it, too.

It's a popularized version of a good portion of her dissertation, and is so accessible it's ridiculous. Thought-provoking and helpful (even when I think she's wrong about something), it's a book I can't help but recommend. My disagreements (and the way she expressed problems that don't exist with the Reformed understanding of the topics) led to my reduced rating, not anything to do with the way the book was written.