What’s in a Name?
Pastor Randy Corbin, Transitional Lead Pastor
I have always considered one’s name to be one of the most sacred possessions we have. Given at birth, it wraps itself around who we are and becomes synonymous with our character. It is a powerful and serious act of every parent: naming a child. That appellation follows us right into the cemetery where graven on a marker, it ties itself to us for time in memorial. When I made my appearance, my parents decided to bestow upon me the name of “Randy Blaine Corbin” (not Randall, but that is another story). “Randy” because the corner store owner in our town had that name and Mother and Dad liked the ring of it; and, “Blaine,” my dad’s name. And, like you, that name has traveled with me all these years. It has become who I am. It’s me. And, my name, like yours, has become a personal valuable that I do not like tossed around to just anyone like common currency. Several years ago, Linda and I took three of our grandchildren to the local mall play area. While there a boy about five came trotting up to me and asked, “Hey, what is your name.” Now, I am always pretty reticent to give my name to any stranger – especially my first name, so I said, “Oh, I am Grandpa C.” But that was not good enough for him and he persisted to know my first name. And, I resisted. I was not about to give a five old my name to freely shout out in the midst of a playing crowd of children. Most of us guard our name. It is precious to us, shared with our friends and those who need to know it. In a former district where we served, one pastor’s wife always refused to wear a name badge at any event. She declared, “My name is not for just anyone and I am not about to indiscriminately broadcast it.” Alistair Begg tells about an American living among the Masai in Tanzania who bandied names about with great ease. One day a Masai man said to him: “Do not throw my name about. My name is important. My name is me. My name is for my friends.” So, what does this have to do with the price of potatoes (to quote a former teacher)? Simply this…. The Lord God, Yahweh, Jehovah God, in His grace and mercy, has inscrutably chosen to reveal His precious Name to us, lowly, sinful, profane-apt humankind. And, just as we do not want our names profaned – lightly thrown about – so He does not appreciate His Name being so freely and humorously volleyed. He has been kind enough to unveil His beautiful, sacred Name to us, so we must respond in kind, keeping it for the most holy contexts, protecting it from being sullied or dragged through the common place. Never should we use His Name like small change or in some light manner, even guarding it against some minced derivative. How lovingly free He has been to open His private wardrobe and to declare all His wonderful Names! Let’s keep them respected and utter them in adoring holiness as we worshipfully rehearse them. “You shall not misuse the Name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His Name.” (Exodus 20:7) “Our Father who is in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name!” (Matthew 6:9) |
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