WHAT'S IN A NAME?
September 30, 2012
In Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet, Juliet said to Romeo,
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet."
She was trying to convince Romeo that, though his name was Montague, he was not a Montague, but simply a person called Montague. It was that person she loved, not the name, or the Montague family. Certainly it is not the name, "rose," that makes it what it is. It was what it is long before it was called a "rose." On the other hand, it is by names that things are identified. Were it not for names, one would have great difficulty in speaking of particular flowers. Is he refering to a rose or a corpse flower?
What's my point of all of that? Often people ask the question,"What's in a name?" in speaking of church names, or the name God's people wear religiously. In other words, does it matter what the name of a church is? Or, Does it matter what the name of a church is, as long as it is a church? As with all such questions, we must ask, "What does the Bible say?"
Isaiah writes in Isaiah 62:2, "And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name." Isaiah prophesies of a new. Not just any name, but a name that the mouth of the Lord shall name. What was the new name that Isaiah spoke of? It was not saint, for God's people had been called saints many times. Clearly not Jew or Hebrew. It was not disciple, for they had been called that before (Isaiah 8:16). So, what was the new name that the mouth of the Lord would name? The only new name given to God's people is found inActs 11:26. Barnabas and Saul spent a year in Antioch and "taught much people." Luke informs us that "the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." This is the only new name given to God's people as recorded in the Bible. Who gave them that name? The Lord did! Isaiah said He would give his people a new name when "the gentiles shall see thy righteousness" (Isaiah 62:2). Some which had been scattered abroad during the persecution of Stephen went to Antioch and preached to the "Grecians" (Acts 11:20). These Greeks were gentiles (non Jewish). Upon hearing of the success of the preaching at Antioch, the church at Jerusalem sent Barnabas there to preach. Barnabas brought Saul (who later was known as Paul) there to assist him. The text tells us that these gentiles who were converted were called "Christians." Thus, when the Gentiles "saw the Lord's righteousness," they were called Christians!
Peter writes in 1 Peter 4:15-16:
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
So, it is an honor to suffer as a Christian! One should glorify God if he suffers as a Christian.
What is a Christian? A Christian is a follower of Christ. As used in the Bible, the word, Christian, does not mean, "A good person." Certainly a faithful Christian is a good person, but the Bible defines the word as a person who follows Christ. To follow Christ means to follow and obey His teachings.
The name given by God for followers of Christ is Christian. Christians did not wear the name of men, or other religious titles given by men, such as the many denominational names worn by men today. They wore the name of Christ, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:11-12). What's in a name? In the name of Christ, and in no other, there is salvation!
Are you a Christian?
We at the Strasburg Church of Christ would like an opportunity to assist you in your study of God's Word, the Bible. We offer a free Bible Correspondence that you may study in your home. Write us at PO Box 321 Strasburg, VA 22657, or email us.
