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NIL and The Second Commandment

NIL and The Second Commandment

Word From Wiese

April 15, 2026

Friends in Faith,

In today’s world, we understand a dynamic previous generations may not haveNIL and the Second Commandment Word From Wiese Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church Peachtree City Georgia grasped in quite the same way: a person’s image has value. The latest example is the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreements for student athletes. Collegiates can now be paid significant sums simply for the use of their identity. A company might pay a quarterback thousands or even millions just to appear in a commercial or social media post. And how could we even start talking about Michael Jordan whose image and name reaped him far more money off the court than on? No company can use an athlete’s image without permission. Their likeness is not free for the taking. It is protected. It is valuable.

I wonder if NIL is a portal (excuse the college sports pun) into reflecting a bit more on how we treat God’s name…and image.

In the Second Commandment, we are told not to misuse the name of the Lord our God. God’s name is not casual.

It is not disposable. It is sacred. To misuse it is to dishonor the very identity of God. But in a visual and digital age, perhaps we can extend that reflection: not only is God’s name holy, but so is God’s image. Which includes the image of Jesus, of course, as God the Son.  (Shout out to the Open Door Discussion Group, whose Sunday’s conversation on the Ten Commandments spurred my connection on this).

Throughout Scripture, God reveals Godself in ways that are not meant to be trivialized, distorted, or used for personal agendas. When we create or share images that falsely represent God, whether for humor, shock, or even political messaging, we step onto holy ground. Many were offended by recent portrayals of religious imagery used in ways that blurred the line between reverence and self-promotion or humor or whatever. That reaction points to something deeper: people still recognize that God is not to be reshaped in our image.

The First Commandment reminds us why.

There is one God. Not the market. Not celebrities. Not political leaders. Not our beloved nation. Not even the causes we care deeply about. Only God is God. And that God is worthy of honor. In name, in image, and in our lives. (Note: a discussion of Christian Nationalism merits a separate conversation. But images that combine Jesus with any country’s flags, monuments, or specific features bumps into First Commandment guardrails. God instructs us not to conflate God’s universal, timeless love with any one country’s story or agenda, no matter how much we appreciate our homelands. Healthy patriotism is one thing, Christian Nationalism is another our faith suggests.)

Then comes the Third Commandment: remember the Sabbath day.

The call to set aside time that is different, sacred, centered on God. In a world full of noise and competing loyalties, Sabbath is where we re-center. It is where we remember who God is, and who we are not, as Pastor Wes speaks of in his sermons. While COS isn’t legalistic about church attendance, we certainly do encourage everyone to consider, when mandatory sports, work events, or sickness prevent us from attending services, how we connect with Jesus in intentional and deep ways.

The Bible teaches us that God’s name is holy. God’s image is not ours to redefine. And God alone is worthy of our ultimate devotion.

So today, consider these Questions for Reflection:

  • How do I speak God’s name? (Might we shift from “O my God” to “O my gosh” responses? Might we eliminate ever saying “Jesus Christ” in daily frustration and reserve that name for prayer and gratitude?)
  • How do I reflect or represent God in what I share or create?
  • What do my rhythms of rest and worship attendance say about who I believe is truly in charge?

In Christ’s hope,

Pastor Fritz

Let us pray: Father, your son Jesus told us in John 14:9 that those who have seen him have seen the Father. Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Guard our hearts from reshaping you in our own image. Help us to honor your name, reflect your truth, and give our highest loyalty to you alone. Give us courage to enact what we believe, that your teaching for our daily lives truly is the best way. Teach us to rest in your presence and to live in respect for you each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.