59 Names

Names. We’ve each been given one by someone. We may have had a tender upbringing and our parents caringly selected from a list of their favorites. Or those who chose it did so flippantly with out cause or caution.

A name is a flag. It goes before us, and remains after we pass. There can be shame in the name because of past misdeeds. There could be pride in it as well from our accomplishments or success. Regardless, we each have a name.

How often, in the world, do we run and hide rather than embrace and overcome. In difficulty, our name, can be wrapped in bad reputation. It may proceed us or further cause us strife. In a moment like this we face a choice. Do we faithfully try to change the reputation that wraps our name or do we run and simply try to change our name? The same goes with good reputation. A good name or reputation might proceed us and meet us with honor, but it is the character and principle that make this good name.

We can falter and make the good name the focus, the reputation becomes more important than the character and principle.

Good or bad name a reputation may come without cause. A person of shared name may cause blemish to this name which then affects us. Likewise, a shared name of pride may not have been earned by all those who share it.

When we choose to follow Jesus we take His name. Christian. I think of my wife in her gracious choice to marry me. She adopted a new name and let go of her old one. Our actions reflect our new name and give it honor or dishonor. It is so easy, when living in a free country, to show up for church on Sundays and then live in darkness the other six. It is easy to say to ourselves when God puts something on our mind, that “someone else will do something about that”. Instead of relying on the truth of scripture and God’s conviction, we decide what sin is based on what we want to do.

In a battle those fighting under their leaders flag are fighting to win, fighting to survive. Not only for their own lives, but for those back at home for whom they are fighting to protect. If those fighting under the king’s banner chose to fight once a week or maybe twice, the army would be destroyed.

We are being destroyed. Distraction has blinded us to the gravity of the battle. The identity that we affiliate with the name Christian is not deriven from the truth of scripture or God’s leading, but out of the reputation or tradition that our name has earned in our culture. When we let culture shape who we are as followers of an infinite God, our power and authority as His followers is robbed.

The identity each of us has in God’s kingdom, is unique on an individual level. Our tendency is to task ourselves with the repetition of what God has asked others to do. While we share a common flag, our responsibilities and talents are unique. In the realm of God’s perfect plan each puzzle piece has a different shape, but fits perfectly when used in the right spot. There is not much beauty and grandeur in forcing the wrong puzzle piece into the wrong spot. Doing this mocks and rejects the purpose and end goal that the craftsman has for the puzzle. We end up breaking off corners or leaving cracks, when we try to fit ourselves into a role in which we do not belong. Our name, our identity that is unique, and given by God is substituted for something less than could have been, and the name that we chose to embrace, is taken in vain.