What’s the difference?

Here’s a follow-up to my previous post “What’s wrong with this statement?”

Heard from a pastor last week:
“After September 11th there were Congressmen, both Republican and Democrat, who before never said the name of God except as profanity, that were now singing “God Bless America” on the capital steps.”

The pastor I was listening to apparently thought it was a good thing. My point is: what’s the difference? Before 9/11, they were using the name of God as a profanity, which is a violation of the 3rd Commandment. After 9/11, they were stripping the name of God of any meaning and using it in their expression of nationalistic fervor, which is also a violation of the 3rd Commandment. So why is one good and the other bad?

One of the best essays I’ve seen on this subject is Andrew Osenga’s blog post “The Third Commandment“. Check it out when you have some time.