IDENTIFIED BY THE NAME

As published in the Newport (TN) Plain Talk
Release Date – Mar 15, 2012
Column Number - 1211


Unless you have been living in the basement of the custodial cabin at the University of Frogpond; you have probably have heard about the recent “name change” of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Being a very small part of Baptist Press, I have a little “inside information”; and get more than a little upset when people make such a great big mountain out of this little molehill.

Someone was waxing eloquent about this and said that “the Southern Baptists are taking the name “Baptist” out of their name”.

While that is true in many church names; that is simply not true for the Southern Baptist Convention. I think back to some churches who used to be called the “Such and Such Baptist Church”; and now have adopted more “acceptable” names such as “Such and Such Fellowship” or simply “Such and Such Church”; or other equally “user friendly” such names.

Now, don’t get all bent out of shape about this; there might even be a good reason to rename a church. For instance, I heard about a church that was built on the “Little Hope Creek” and was forthwith named “Little Hope Baptist Church”!

Not too swift, if you ask me; but since no one did; well …

In press articles about the recent name change for the Southern Baptist Convention; several statements were made and several facts need noting. The whole idea was simply about removing the word “Southern” from the overall name; because SBC churches in the northern areas run into various arguments in their ministries solely because of the word “southern” in the name.

Clear? Thought so!

Several arguments against the name change were made: “We are identified by that name”. “The name is a “world-wide brand”. “The name identifies a particular theology, morality, and mission-mindedness”. The huge expense in time, energy, and legal of such a name change was also discussed.

The very thought that so many people take the name seriously that they do not wish to attend a “Southern Baptist Church” if they are not from the “south” just lends itself to the idea that the very “name identifies you”! While the name was not officially changed, an addendum was added to be used in “non-southern friendly” areas – “The Great Commission Baptist Convention”.

And that’s the key!

It is true; your name identifies you!

It used to be that the last (given) name actually did identify a person; and a “carpenter” was a carpenter; a “cooper” was a barrel-maker; a “butcher” was a butcher; a “baker” was a baker; “Johnson” was “John’s son”; “Scott” was from Scotland; and so on and on it went. The first (Christian) name was a more personal identifier.

In Bible days, a person was known as “Simon Bar Jonah” (“Simon, son of John”) because that is what he was. Judas Iscariot (“Judas Ish Kerioth”) was a “man from Kerioth”. “Barabbas” was the “son of Abba” or “son of the father” (early tradition says his “first name” was Jesus but for obvious reasons, his first name was dropped to the more familiar “Barabbas”).

What about the name “Jesus The Christ”? “Jesus” is WHO He is; “Christ” is WHAT He is. He is “Yeshua Ha Mashiach” (in Hebrew): “Jesus the Messiah”. That clearly identifies WHO and WHAT He is? In the earlier days, He was also called “Jesus of Nazareth”, since “Jesus” was such a common name in that society (behind Simon, Joseph, Judah, and John).

What about you? Could you be identified by the name you claim (at least on Sunday) – “Christian”?

If you were put on trial for being a Christian; would there be enough evidence against you to convict you?

Or would you have to (as so many people do) change your name on Monday from the one you use on Sunday?

Think about that?


These columns are written by Tom Mooty, Pastor of Newport’s West End Baptist Church; and all comments can be sent to tommooty05@comcast.net or P.O. Box 851, Newport, TN 37822.

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