It's All In a Name

"They're married in name only.  There's nothing else there."  We've all heard it one time or another referring to a couple who share nothing in life, living in separate spheres without intimacy or affirming affection.  What is in a name anyway?  What is it?  Something just on a piece of paper or much more?  Some women don't want to take the name of their husbands upon marriage choosing rather to brand themselves individually and separately.  Something they want to cling to from another time and another space, maybe giving deference to a treasured father or simply for business convenience. 

There are men and women who make a name for themselves through unflinching courage, extraordinary bravery, uncommon strength, and unswerving devotion. Names can mean several things in a myriad of ways.  Names of family members take on duplicity in that they not only bear the family name but also ranking title within the family tree:  father, mother, aunt, uncle, brother, sister.

Cruel derogatory names slash harshly.  A soul can bear scars lasting a lifetime notwithstanding race, age or gender. 

Before the feminist movement tried to twist God's design of a beautiful woman into being some kind of cooky Amazon weirdo, there was the sense of honor in taking a man's name.  One took upon herself not only his name but his reputation, his wealth (or lack thereof), his home, his place in society, everything that came under that banner, that symbol of a name.  Then came the movement of just living together.  A freeloading type of lifestyle that didn't give any sense of belonging or covenant.  A live-in arrangement of conjugal convenience rather than deepening commitment to a oneness of strength to face whatever life may bring together until death without making provision for splitting apart.

The genesis of oneness through marriage wasn't something man drummed up.  God Himself placed the ring of love around both Adam and Eve and pronounced them one.  One not only name but in intimacy and love.  It's been a perfect design all along, predetermined before anybody showed up on the planet.  While still wet ink on the plans spread out on a crystal table in the halls of God, one Name alone stood out above all names.  The Father knew what was going to happen.  We'd mess it up.  We'd have no way out.  Fatality of spirit, soul, and body would set people adrift in a sinful world.  God's Son -- the only One He has, by the way -- said, "You know what?  I know you love them more than breath itself.  There's only one to do it.  Redeem them myself.  They can't save themselves so we'll save them.  I'll be happy to do it for you at the expense of my life and then give them My Name in exchange."  Perfect.

Well.  The thing is, He actually did it. He came and did the right thing and gave up His own life for yours.  A great exchange, don't you think?  If you don't take Him up on it -- boy, howdy, I don't know.  How could you pass up a deal like that?  It's not a made-up fairy tale or some religious contrivance aimed at your checkbook or brainwashing reducing you to simple-minded Ralston mush.  Religion tries to make it ooey-gooey with namby-pamby artwork and Bible-thumping charlatans whose intentions are simply to enlarge the base of their own ministries.  But, ooh, it's so much more than that.  So much more. 

Jesus made a huge mark.  He made a Name for Himself with extraordinary courage, obedience, and joy.  And when you accept that magnificent gift of love and life He holds out to you free of charge without malice or accusation -- whew, there's quite an exchange.  He gives you His name.  Christian.  And you are under all that that Name implies now:  health, vigor, strength, freedom, forgiveness and more.  There are attributes of God that could fill pages, books and galaxies for what that Name implies. 

The world is aflame.  People lives are snuffed out without thought.  Politicians rife with evil and malicious ideologies are bent on the demise of democracy and fair justice.  Families are in enmity with one another even to the point of murder:  Husbands killing wives; mothers killing children; estranged lovers killing whole families.  Weather randomly and carelessly spins out of control snuffing out lives without thought.  The earth is heaving with contractions in a desired longing to see the revealing of the sons of God.  Where will it lead to?  How can anyone make sense out of any of it?

There is a verse that has been repeatedly expressed in the past few years and its import is more valid now than ever before.  It doesn't say that if we vote in the right president (or take out an evil one) or if our economy would just recover or we get the right job or we take out the evil dictators it will make everything be all right again and we can go back to watching 17 episodes of American Idol and waiting for someone else to spiritually feed us when we have some time.  God help us.  We need something more.  Something big.  Something much more for a nation in dire peril.  And here it is:

"If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land."  (2 Chron. 7:14)

Notice it didn't say anything about an election or some charismatic figure or ministry or specific denomination.  It's across the board.  The ones who call themselves after His Name, his character.  Calling on Him under His banner.  His protection, His wealth, His healing, His forgiveness.  If we would tear down the high places of our hearts, of our community, of our nation; if we would pray, seek, and crave His presence and turn away from our wicked ways -- not selective, but ALL of them -- we would once again be a strong, viable, and wealthy nation.  One that can hold out its hands to others to help, to encourage, and strengthen.  My heart hurts for my country, for my countrymen, and the viability of it in the world.  But I have a part to play.  It is to seek God.  It is to pray that I will turn from those things which impede me from hearing the heart of God and living in obedience to Him.  I don't want to be isolated from His Name.  In being called after the Father may the world know that we are Christians by our love, not by our meaningless pasty labels of split denominations or sectors.  We are all one body in Christ if you are called by His Name.  For we are not of ourselves; we are in Him.

You see, it truly is all in a Name.  And that Name is:   Jesus.