(c) 2009, Amy S. Lewis
Poco Bueno. Colonel Freckles. Hollywood Dun It. A horse’s name often reveals its ancestry and hopefully the desirable attributes that are passed on from one generation to the next. One could expect the get of these sires to perform to the caliber of their ancestors. So, breeders try to give their foals some derivative of those names into their foals so the bloodlines will be apparent with little investigation. Their names can say a lot about who they are and their heritage.
Our family names also indicate something of our heritage but they don’t indicate anything about our character. Our first names sometimes have historical meaning, however, few of us actually know what that meaning might be. “Amy,” for example, means “beloved.” This speaks to my heart when I think of being God’s beloved daughter.
In the Bible, God gave several people new names that represented who they had become or would become after encountering God. Abram became Abraham, which means “father of many,” because his descendants would be more numerous than the stars in the sky. After wrestling with God along the banks of the Jabbok River (Genesis 32:22-28), Jacob’s name became Israel, which means one who struggles with God. Simon would be called Peter, meaning “the rock.” Peter would be a rock in the early church built on the foundation of Christ.
When we encounter God and become followers of Christ, we have the name “Christian,” which means we represent Christ. Just like descendants of Poco Bueno are expected to perform a certain way, people expect Christians to act according to the Bible, or at least their perceptions of how a Christian should act. Others watch us to see if our behaviors are any different. And they remind us when we’re not different. Christians are thought of being hypocritical because our behaviors don’t align with those that the world perceives appropriate of Christians. It’s a harsh reality of proclaiming our faith. Representing Christ to a watching world is a big responsibility.
But we can’t have it both ways. We can’t profess to be Christians only when it’s convenient or when we’re around other Christians any more than the grandson of Colonel Freckles can ignore his bloodlines. Abram and Jacob could never shed their new names, and we shouldn’t seek to deny our new name either. We should wear it with pride. It’s an honor to associate with Christ. We need to pray that the Holy Spirit will empower us to live up to all that the name Christian suggests.
Questions for reflection:
1. What would your new name mean based on your experience with God, the way you’ve served him or how he plans to use you?
2. How do you expect Christians to behave? How do you respond when they may break from your expectations?
3. In what situations are you less likely to reveal your identity as a Christian? Why? What’s holding you back?
