What’s in a name? Today a name merely identifies the person. In biblical times a name described the essential character, purpose, or history of a person. Abram had his name changed. Peter did as well. Barnabas was actually a nickname. Is it nice to have a famous name? How about an infamous name? Would you like to be called Hitler? I was at a meeting in Panama some years back and they were calling out the names of the delegates. When they got to a young man named Noriega, everyone booed! Poor guy. He didn’t choose his name. It was given to him.
Unfortunately, the name “Christian” no longer means what it did at one time. Many people in Muslim countries assume a Christian is what they see on American television. Many people identify themselves as Christian assuming that it is better than being called a pagan. We can’t change that. But what about the people around you? If those who know you well outside of the church (I do hope you are known outside of the church) were asked to describe a Christian, would it be you? Would it be a positive or a negative description? We are the fragrance and presence of Christ to the world. Maybe they are not as much closed to the gospel as they are closed to Christians because they see very little attractive in us. May our lives represent the love, the character, the compassion and the nature of Christ.