I continue to be appalled how often the name "Jesus Christ" is substituted for curse words, particularly in books and movies.

I think, too, that most Christians do not take the matter seriously enough. How to get them and others to demand more respect for the name of God is very challenging.

It's bad enough when ordinary folks spit out "Jesus Christ!" to express anger or frustration. But when the Lord's name is disrespected in published materials, many of which like Douglas Preston's and Lincoln Child's "Relic" have gone on to become major motion pictures, such blatant disrespect is perpetuated innumerable times before millions of people. "Relic" was among a few audio books I bought recently.

To my horror, in audio book after audio book, disgruntled characters profane the Lord's name. When a man in James Rollins' "Sandstorm" used the "f" word, with "ing" added to it, right before saying " ... Christ!" I ejected the cassette tape and later pitched the entire audio book into the trash.

There was a time when American motion picture studios in Hollywood wouldn't dare do such a thing. In 1922, when the public feared that the immorality thought to be widespread in Hollywood might appear on screen, the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, headed by Will H. Hays, established a film review board to develop a code of conduct for Hollywood producers.

In the board's Motion Picture Production Code of 1930 --- popularly known as the "Hays Code" --- Article "V. Profanity" stated: "Pointed profanity (this includes the words 'God,' 'Lord,' 'Jesus,' 'Christ' --- unless used reverently --- 'hell,' 'S.O.B.,' 'damn,' 'Gawd') or every other profane or vulgar expression however used, is forbidden."

Imagine that: The blasphemous use of the Lord's name was so prevalent even then that it had to be listed in a code of restrictions!

In 1966, the Hays Code was abandoned by filmmakers who did not wish to be governed by its bans on sexuality and violence. It was succeeded by the Motion Picture Code and Rating Program that we are familiar with today, which purports to offer guidance for parents, not filmmakers.

Some filmmakers and authors may not be serious about God's name, but God is --- and we should be too.

In Exodus 33, for example, Moses asks God: "Do let me see your glory!"

God answers: "I will make all my beauty pass before you, and in your presence I will pronounce my name, 'Lord'; I who show favors to whom I will, I who grant mercy to whom I will."

Imagine that: God was asked to show his glory, and his response was to pass by and "pronounce" his name. That's heavy!

God's names --- for he is known by several --- reveal his character, his deeds and his relationship to his people. But of all God's names, there is "only one under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved," Peter told the crowd in Acts 4: Jesus Christ.

What a glorious name!

When David fought Goliath, he told Goliah, "I come against you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel that you have insulted" (1 Samuel 45).

There are some Goliaths in Hollywood and elsewhere who are hurling insults against the name of God.

I say we get out our slingshots and write letters expressing our opposition, and stop patronizing offending productions. With concerted efforts, we can send a message to the Goliaths of Hollywood that hits them where it hurts: their pocketbooks.