What’s In A Name?

     When you pray, does it matter what name you use?  I think so.  But not everyone agrees.

     A Dutch Roman Catholic bishop has proposed that Christians call God, “Allah.”  He suggested that if all who believe in one God (Jews, Christians and Muslims) would call him “Allah,” it would bring us closer together.  “What does God care what we call him?” he asked.

     Good question. So which name should we use? It all depends on who you want to hear you.

     Jews view God’s special name as too holy to speak and say “Adonai” (Lord). Christians pray to God the Father in Jesus’ name.  Muslims pray to Allah.  Is it just one God with several names? 

     Well hold it right there for just a minute.  It makes a big difference what name we call God.

     When you call a friend on the phone, would they respond to another person’s name? They’d probably say, “Wrong number!” And when you pray, you don’t want to reach a ‘wrong number.’

     Here’s the issue:  God’s name is not just another name like yours or mine.  In the Bible his name tells us something about his character, his nature and his relationship to his people. 

     When God revealed himself to Moses at the burning bush in the desert, he didn’t ask Moses to invent a name for him. Or a nickname. Moses asked God for his name and God said, “I AM.” 

     The God of the Bible is the self-existing God. We did not create him.  He created us.

     The Hebrew word for this name of God is “Yahweh” (often spelled “Jehovah”).  It means, “He is” or “He will be.” God said, “This is my name forever.”  Seems like God has a preference!

     God also told Moses, “I will be with you,” That promise included a form of God’s special name.  In effect, God pledged his person and being--through his special name--to be with his people.  His name tells us who he is and assures his people of his presence with them.

     Jesus applied this special name to himself in the New Testament saying, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I AM!”  The people of his day knew exactly what he meant--he was claiming to be their God!  And since they didn’t believe him, they accused him of blasphemy.

     The Bible says that an angel appeared to Jesus’ parents before his birth. The angel said, “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”  ‘Jesus’ means ‘Jehovah saves.’  The angel also said Jesus would be called “the Son of the Most High.” 

     This presents those who say Allah is the God of the Bible with a problem: The Qur’an clearly denies Allah has a son.  Muslim scholars also tell us Allah is not seen as a personal deity in the sense that the Biblical God is. Plus the Qur’an considers the idea of a triune God as blasphemy.

     The Trinity, however, is essential to the Christian concept of God.  The Bible reaveals that the Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God.  Though it is a great mystery, all three are one God.  Jesus was not just a prophet (as Islam claims). He said he was God in human flesh.

     When Jesus taught us to pray, he said we should pray to “Our Father in Heaven.” Jesus also said we should make requests in his name.  Apparently using the right name IS important to God.

     So, if Allah has no son, ‘Allah’ can’t be the name of “Our Father.” And when we pray to the God of the Bible, if we say “Allah,” God could just say, “Wrong number!” And if Allah were God, since he has no son, what difference would prayer “in Jesus’ name” make to him?  None.

     These are not just ‘minor differences’ or a ‘points of discussion.’  Our entire faith and salvation depend upon who God is and what he did through Jesus Christ on the cross.

     Speaking of Jesus, the Bible says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”  What’s in a name?  Everything!

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!