Our names are important to us. Some have names that have special family meaning or were important to our parents for us to have. Some of our names changed when we got married. We are quick to forgive someone if they accidentally call us by the wrong name, but we do not appreciate it when someone calls us by the wrong name on purpose. Names are one of the ways we identify ourselves, so they are important.
In the same way, it is important which name we wear religiously. That name means something, and it was given to us by Someone who loves us.
The early believers were called Christians (Acts 11:26) and were told not to be ashamed to suffer as Christians (1 Peter 4:16). We wear the name of Jesus because there is no salvation in any other name, “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). When someone becomes a Christian, the Lord adds that person to the body of Christ (Romans 7:4), the church (Acts 2:47). We call ourselves the church of Christ because we are “of Christ,” and that is one of the names the early church used (Romans 16:16).
The name on our building is important because it honors the One who is brought to mind each time it is used or seen, and it shows our focus and allegiance. If we wear the name of a man or a practice, the honor does not go to the One who died for us nor the One who gave His Son for us.
Imagine a husband’s reaction if his wife was called by another man’s last name. As the bridegroom of the church (Ephesians 5:22–32), how does Jesus feel when the church is called by a name other than His? If the name on our passport, mailbox, and paycheck matters, then would not the more important name, what we are called religiously, matter more?
Does the church you attend identify its members by the name of Jesus? If not, would they be willing to change? Why can we not all just be called Christians?
We long for a world where we can wear just the name of Jesus. Come visit us at the church of Christ.
