Is There No Regard for God Anymore?

“Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.”— Isaiah 8:13, KJV

The increasing casualization of sacred elements in contemporary social gatherings is a concerning trend. Wedding receptions for instance now feature the revered revival song "Olorun Babalola" not as an act of worship, but as a lively entertainment performance. Amidst the clapping, dancing, and shouts of glee, there are no noticeable reverence for the divine name being invoked. No moment was set aside for prayer, reflection, or genuine regard; the song was reduced to mere entertainment.

This raises a poignant question: How have we arrived at a point where gospel songs, deeply rooted in revival history and spiritual significance, are treated as secular anthems at social events? The song "Olorun Babalola" itself is more than just a cultural or historical piece; it is a spiritual declaration, celebrating God's transformative work in Nigeria through Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola. Such sacred songs, carrying profound spiritual weight, are now often stripped of their awe and treated with near zero readiness to hallow the God they proclaim.

Scripture consistently teaches us that the name of God is not a trivial thing.

“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”— Exodus 20:7, KJV

To take God's name in vain does not only mean using it in curses or swearing. It also means handling His name lightly—without weight, reverence, or holiness. When songs like “Olorun Babalola”, “Ko s’eni to dabire”, or even modern worship songs are sung in clubs, parties, and fashion shows for mere aesthetics, without any consciousness of the God behind the lyrics, we risk trivializing the sacred.

In Jewish tradition, scribes held such awe for the name of God that when copying the Torah, they would stop and wash themselves ceremonially before writing the Tetragrammaton—YHWH (Yahweh). According to the Talmud and accounts from scholars like Dr. Lawrence Schiffman and Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, some scribes would even change to a new pen entirely before writing the name of God. That act wasn’t superstition—it was reverence.

In his book A Code of Jewish Ethics, Rabbi Telushkin notes:

“When a scribe was about to write the name of God, he had to bathe and use a fresh quill, as a sign of holiness.”

This level of reverence for the Divine Name shows how ancient people of God viewed sacred words and truths—not to be sung or spoken without a heart posture of awe and sanctity.

C.S. Lewis once observed,

“The most dangerous thing you can do is to treat the holy as if it were common.”

What we’re seeing today is not merely cultural ignorance—it is spiritual apathy. When we reduce holy songs into mere party fillers, when we invite God’s name into godless atmospheres without reverence or response, we are not being creative—we are being careless.

Francis Schaeffer, the Christian apologist, warned in The God Who Is There:

“God is not a concept to be used. He is the living God to be feared, worshiped, and obeyed.”

It is not wrong to sing spiritual songs at joyful events. In fact, God rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). But joy must never replace reverence. Worship must never be exchanged for entertainment. Singing gospel songs without readiness to obey God, or with no intention to glorify Him, reduces sacred truths to catchy chants.

God’s call is clear:

“Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.”— Isaiah 8:13, KJV

And again,

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts...”— 1 Peter 3:15, KJV

To sanctify the Lord in our hearts is to revere Him as holy, to treat everything that bears His name with respect and awe. Our hearts must be set apart when His name is on our lips. Reverence is not an optional feeling—it is the reasonable response to a holy God.

This is a call not just to Christians in churches but to all who name the name of Christ—musicians, emcees, wedding planners, performers, and all creatives. Spiritual songs are not neutral—they are portals. When you open them, you must be prepared to deal with the Presence they invoke.

“Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”— Psalm 29:2, KJV

So the next time you want to include a gospel song in your playlist, wedding setlist, or celebration, ask yourself: Am I singing this because it’s catchy, or because I truly honour the God it speaks of?

Let us not use God’s name in vain—not in conversation, not in songs, not in entertainment. Let us reclaim reverence for the sacred. Let us remember that when we sing spiritual songs, we are either aligning with heaven or mocking it—there’s no in-between.

May we once again become people who tremble at God’s Word (Isaiah 66:2), who honour His name, and who declare His praises with holy hands and consecrated hearts.