What’s in a name?

Naming children can be tricky.

Usain Bolt named his daughter Olympia Lightning Bolt. We’re in no position to argue with the man. After winning eight Olympic Gold medals, he has every right to run wild with wordplay as much as he likes.

Our very own cinematic darling, Nicole Kidman, named her daughter Sunday Rose. I actually like the name Rose. It’s delicate and pretty and reminds me of friends and family who’ve also been named after flowers, like Lily, Jasmin, and the lovely and exotic, Orchid.

Though, I’m not keen on the Sunday Rose combination. I can hear her classmates now, teasing with, “Here comes Sunday Roast!”

Gwyneth Paltrow named her child, Apple. Though, the kid could’ve faired much worse with a disastrous choice like Watermelon, Pomegranate, Microsoft or Samsung.

A nurse friend of mine claimed that someone named their child Plah Sinta. I couldn’t tell if she was pulling my leg, but to curse your offspring by giving it a name that sounds like Placenta is all kinds of wrong.

And I’ve yet to see a parent name their kid Misery, Sloth, Liar, Cancer, or Jezebel, because that would be cruel and possibly illegal, right?

Hitler.

Did a spontaneous image of Hitler enter your mind? Did his name leave you with a bitter taste on your tongue? Did anger cause a flush of heat to rise to your face? A name can provoke a strong emotional response.

Such is the power of a name.

When my first child was being carefully knit together in my womb, names would come to me. Names that sounded pleasing to the ear, names that had significant meanings, names that reminded me of good and decent people.

The simplicity of choosing a name for baby quickly eroded when my husband joined in. At the time, my husband had several years of teaching up his sleeve, whereas I had none.

Every name I suggested went through a rigorous vetting process. It went something like this.

“Hey, hon,” I’d chirp as I peered down my handwritten list of potential names, “what do think about, Bruno? It’s strong and masculine, right?”

Scratching his beard, he’d reply, “Nope. I’ve got a Bruno in my English class. He’s a bit of a pain, and spends too much time in the Principal’s office.”

Needless to say, my list shrank considerably. Names that reminded my husband of students that were loudmouthed, whiney, dull-brained, or badly behaved were given the chop.

What’s in a name? A name bears a person’s character and reputation.

A thought provoking movie that’s made it to my top ten list is Quiz Show (1994) starring Ralph Feinnes. It’s an oldie, but a goody.

This film highlights the scandals involving the Twenty-One quiz show during the 1950s. Charles Van Doren, an English instructor at Columbia University—and son of renowned literary family—becomes a popular champion of the quiz show.

The game is rigged; it’s a complete sham.

The House Committee for Legislative Oversight convenes a hearing in which Charles Van Doren admits his role in the deception. However, before going public, Charles confesses to his father, Mark Van Doren, that he was given the answers to the quiz questions.

Charles tells his dad, that he would shoulder all the consequences for his wrong doing on his own.

His father reminds him that this can never be the case, as Charles’ actions have completely ruined the Van Doren name.

The scene ends with the father ominously declaring, “Your name is mine!”

As followers of Christ, we are to hallow our Heavenly Father’s name.

After this manner therefore pray ye: our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.    Matthew 6:9

To hallow means to set apart, consecrate, sanctify or make holy.

To be holy is to be separate from all that is sinful, impure, or morally imperfect.

Yet, created beings do the opposite and take the creator’s name in vain.

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain        Exodus 20:7a

Unger’s Bible Dictionary defines blasphemy as speaking evil of God or to curse the name of the Lord.

A casual walk through your local shops can confirm this. People who don’t know God use Christ’s name or God’s name as a swear word.

His name is worthless to them, so it peppers their speech with a string of other curse words. Taking God’s name in vain has also leached into literature, theatres and social media.

To profane God’s name goes beyond using it as a swear word.

The word “name” refers to God’s reputation.

To take God’s name in vain is to do something evil and associate God with it.

If you claim to be a born again believer and steal answers to history test and sell them to desperate students, you are clearly harming God’s reputation.

God gets a bad rap when we as Christians don’t live and act like Christians.

We are all capable of ruining God’s reputation.

Christ honoured and sanctified our Father’s name through the way he lived and the way he died.

Acts 10:38

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

If you claim to be a Christian, are you living in a way as to bring God glory around those who don’t know him?

Are you loving the people around you as you love yourself? Are you doing good deeds so that they may glorify your Father in heaven? Are you sharing the gospel?

Our words and actions go hand in hand. Both should bring honour and glory to God’s reputation.

There is no name given under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved.    Acts 4:12

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing ye might have life through his name.     John 20:31

References:

Lois Tverberg.   Walking in the dust of the Rabbi Jesus, 2012. Zondervan.

Merill F. Unger    The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, 1988. Moody Press.