A Rose By Any Other Name?

In Act II, Scene II, of Romeo and Juliet, Juliet decries the barriers imposed on her love and herself by his family's name, the name Montague, the name of her family's bitter enemies. If Romeo had had any other surname, there would have been no obstacle to their love. Shakespeare has Juliet bemoan the fact with the now well-known words , "What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet." But ... would it? While the words make a great soundbite and are to the point of the story, in real life they might not be quite up to snuff.

In the Bible, names are of paramount importance. So important, that at times God actually changed His principles' names.

In Genesis 17, God changed the name of Abram, a name which means exalted father, to Abraham, which means father of many. There was nothing wrong with the meaning of Abram; as a matter of fact, it indicated something of importance. But God wanted his name to reflect something else. He wanted it to be a vivid reminder of the promise He was giving Abraham, "for a father of many nations have I made thee" (v5). This might be wandering off on a little bit of a rabbit trail, but I find it noteworthy that when God said "a father of many nations have I made thee," Abraham as yet had no children. It's a beautiful commentary on how God chooses to focus on our future and all the wonderful potential in us over our maybe not-so-good present. Now, back to names ...

God also changed the name of Abraham's wife from Sarai, which means princely, to Sarah, which means queen of princes or mother of princes. The name paralleled the prophetic name given Abraham.

A few years down the road, the Lord changed the name of Saul, which means prayed for, to Paul, which means small, humble. Paul gives us a clue as to why his name was changed in 2 Corinthians 12:7. He says there that since God favored him, Paul, with so many revelations, He found it necessary to send him a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble. I think it's safe to infer from this that God changed Paul's name to remind him not to let all the great ways God used him go to his head. Having everyone call him, "Hey, Humble," every time they said his name had to have been a help in this regard.

While this is by no means a complete list of name changes in the Bible--and there were probably others we are not told of in God's Word--it's easy to see that the changes documented there serve one purpose. They show us that, to God, names do matter. (Sorry, Juliet.)

A dear minister who is now with the Lord had a beautiful teaching on Romans 16, the closing chapter of that epistle in which Paul sends greetings to many of the brethren in Rome--by name. Bobby Ewing loved to dwell on the meaning of each name and muse about what it said about the person. For example, verse one talks about Phebe. Of Greek origin, Phebe means bright or radiant.

"Just imagine what this said of this Christian sister in the Lord," Brother Ewing posed. "Her love of the Lord must have been such that her very countenance radiated the glory of having been in His presence."

He went on to interpret the significance of this meaning on a practical level, what it might mean on a day to day basis: it inferred that the sister in the Lord named Phebe spent quality time with the Lord in prayer and Bible reading, and most likely found joy in ministering to the needs of God's saints.

Brother Ewing went on painstakingly through the chapter, explaining the meaning of each name mentioned there and inferring what the name's meaning spoke of the person's Christian character and works. That was in pre-Google days. Nowadays, you can Google each name in that thought-provoking chapter for yourself and dwell on each name and its meaning on your own.

Whether you take the time to do this or not, the truth remains: names are important to God. So much so, that the third of the Ten Commandments adjures us not to take the name of the Lord in vain "for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain" (Exodus 20:17).

Why is this name to be so revered? Because it contains the essence of our God. For one, His name has healing virtue, it is "as ointment poured forth" (Song of Solomon 1:3). Allow me to translate this into terms of daily use by a personal testimony ...

One day found me driving my grandmother in Brownsville, Texas. I don't know exactly what happened, it was all so fast, but a car started towards us from the other lane. There was no time for a lengthy prayer. I called out, "Jesus! Jesus!" And then ... all of a sudden we were on the next street, out of harm's way. Were we translated like Phillip in Acts 8:39? I personally think so, but, whatever happened, it was a miracle. Without God's intervention, His instantaneous response to the name of Jesus, there is no way we could have avoided a collision.

There is untold, untapped power in that name. No wonder that it will be to that name that "every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth and things under the earth" (Phil 210). That amazing power is not in the name of Tom. It is not in the name of Dennis. No siree, it isn't in any other name but that of Jesus.

As for us, the followers of Jesus, some might find ourselves stuck in this life with a name that doesn't have a too-whippy meaning. My poor grandmother had only her given name Maria, no middle name to fall back on. Unfortunately, that name means bitter, rebellious; thankfully, though, it can also mean beloved. While she experienced many hard things in her life that could have caused her to be bitter, a sad reflection of her name, her love for the Lord managed to bring the last meaning, beloved, to the forefront. She let her deep love for Jesus be the defining force in her life; so much so that in later life she was called "Chelo," the diminutive of "Consuelo," which means consolation. Her life was such a continual outpouring of God's love to those around her, that her friends couldn't help but baptize her with a moniker that meant she was a consolation in their lives. It might not have been an official name change, but it was a lived one.

Now, God, in His wonderful inclusive mercy, gives us a sneak peek in Revaluation 2:17 of something wonderful He is going to do for us. So what if our name doesn't get changed here on earth--in Heaven He is going to give everyone who overcomes a new name, like He did to His saints of old! Why? Because in God's economy, names are important!

Meanwhile, until we are blessed with that name change to be, whatever your name might be now, whatever its meaning, I challenge you, if your name has a good meaning, live up to it or, if the meaning leaves much to be desired, like Grandma Maria's, live your life with so much love for the Lord and for His children that those around you can't help but endue you with a name worthy of your calling.

I had a colleague who had a great way of reminding her kids to behave when they were away from the bosom of the family. "Remember," she would tell them," that you are a Wilson (not their real name). Everything you do reflects on the family, so do not do anything that will bring shame on our family's name." Wow. What great words of wisdom from an earthly mom!

A name does have meaning. It reflects character, attributes, kinship ... So remember, if your name doesn't have a good meaning to begin with, do like Grandma--live up to Jesus's name. May your life and actions glorify Him so much that when people look at you they can't help but say, "He/She must be a Christian!"

"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen " (I Peter 4:11).