Carrying the Name of God
Reading: 8:42
Sermon: 15:27
A READING FROM Ezekiel 36.22-30, 36 (NRSVA) and Matthew 5:13-20
Why are names important to so many people? We could look at it from a heritage perspective and see that our first names are often given by our parents and a last name is often a long-standing historical name going back generations. I think it goes a lot farther than that though because I think our names carry with them a bit of our identity, who we are. I think this is why I have often felt a kind of immediate infinity for most other Philips I meet, but a lot of traditions have been purposeful about naming people according to their identity. Like many indigenous people will be given a name later in life based on several personality and relational factors. Or how Christians often take on a different name at their baptism, confirmation, or when one becomes pope. For better or for worse our names are part of who we are.
We so identify with our names that we worry when we forget someone’s name or someone can feel insulted when theirs is forgotten. As a welcoming strategy, we at St. Matthew’s can do more to alleviate someone’s worry when forgetting our name by simply offering our names more than we think necessary. With our names, we can feel elated when someone praises or uses it in kindness. We can feel deflated when someone uses our name disparagingly or insults it. A rose by any other name might swell as sweet, but there is something important and consequential about us calling and knowing it as a rose.
The interesting thing is that God cares just as much about his name. He wants people to know his name and to know it well so that they too might come to know him well. Its as if God’s name goes out in front of him, preparing people to meet him. As we have talked about already, all people carry God’s image and so how we live shows either the goodness of God or disparages his goodness. Yet, Israel and we as Christians are trusted to carry God’s name as well as his image. You can see this in Scripture because for many generations, God was known as the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. As Christians, our title means little Christ. So, we have a special role in sharing and lifting up God’s name so others might come to know him.
You will probably remember the commandment: Do not bear the name of the Lord your God in vain. Throughout much of recent history, people have thought this was telling us not to swear. Many Jews during Jesus’ day thought this meant they were meant to say God’s name at all to keep it Holy. These are misunderstood simplifications because the commandment is so much more than that. As I said earlier, we carry the name of God. To bear it in vain means to live in any way that belittles his name or does not lift up God’s name to the praise it deserves. Though not coveting can be tough and we have too many idols, I think this commandment comes with the greatest responsibility, but also has a huge effect on the world around us.
In our reading from Ezekial, we hear how Israel has failed God’s name, they have profaned it, dirtied it, practically turning it into a swear, a curse. We hear that this is because they turned away from God and followed idols, we hear it is because they have hearts of stone, we hear they have belittled God’s name because they haven’t followed God with obedience and because they have become desolate, exiled, sick, and hungry. Ultimately this desolation, exile, sickness, and hunger are spiritual realities, as Israel removed themselves from God, but we see all of these things manifesting in physical ways too.
We too have seen how Christians have misrepresented God’s name. Christians have done the same things that Israel had. We have created idols of objects, buildings, leaders, and ourselves so that we put something before God. We have seen idols in public ways as a fallen pastor has led too often a fallen church both for the public and those within. We have too often acted with hearts of stone and closed ourselves off, both personally and as a community to those around us and those in need. We have too often belittled God’s way and his commandments and followed our own way, thinking we know better than God. We have too often lived exiled, desolate, sick, and hungry lives because we have separated ourselves from God because of our busyness, personal greed, disbelief, and an unwillingness to turn to him in every moment.
God cares about his name so much because just like us, our name goes out before him. It often is the first thing people know. What people associate with God’s name will be how they approach him or will lead to them running away. Every time we act as a known Christian it is either bringing people closer to knowing God or pushing them away. This is why it is important people know what you believe but then also that you live into it.
Two examples of why this is important. I have tried to share my faith with many friends, but the usual response is, but you are different. Most Christians aren’t like you. Implying that they haven’t met many Christians who are welcoming, loving, and kind, trying to live holy, sacred lives. I know I still have a way to go in all of these Christ-like qualities, but what has this lack of positive witnesses done to their perspective of God and his church? The other example is that I have heard many people say, but there are so many good people out there that aren’t Christians, so many volunteers, etc. To some degree this is true. There are people out there who aren’t Christians who live out kindness, generosity, and holiness. God would say that they are a law unto themselves and they will be judged accordingly. But I also know that many of the good people out there, those who donate their time and money are Christians that never tell anyone who they are, that never speak about who has motivated them. Many social institutions like hospitals and shelters were begun by Christians or Jews and yet we don’t always realize it. In the gospels, Jesus consistently uses this little phrase, “do something in my name” x2. This is an important reminder that we are to act in ways that give God the praise and the honour because he is the one who has done it in us and he deserves it.
God consistently wants to change our misrepresentation. He wants his name to be known so that people might know him. And we need to know him too. As the source of life, love, goodness, and justice, we need him in our lives. God wants us to praise his name because we need to praise his name to know him better. We need to praise it so that others might know him better too. In Ezekial, we hear that God is going to do something about it. We hear that he is going to restore, purify, soften and establish Israel for his name so that others might know he has done this. Ultimately, God purifies us so that other nations and we ourselves might know what God can and will do for us.
Finally, we get to our gospel. We get to the reality of who we are and who we are meant to be as those who bear God’s name. We are meant to be the salt of the earth, the light of the world, a city on a hill. Like salt, we are meant to enhance the flavour that is already there, but also to preserve what is good while killing off disease. Like light, we are meant to reveal the truth, show people what is actually happening, remove fear of the unknown and show people a safe path. Like a city on a hill, we are meant to be a hope and exciting prospect for a wearied traveler, we are supposed to be a refuge and sanctuary, we are supposed to be visible so that all may see the glory of him who built us. And as Jesus is the truest light, life preserver, flavor, and foundation, we know we can only be these things through him.
God cherishes and made each of us special, but if we have given up on and abandoned what makes us special in God, then we are like salt without saltiness. No flavour, no quality, we are removing our own worth to ourselves and the world. Some of us have experienced this too. Instead, we find ourselves and our worth by coming closer to God, by understanding more and more his will for our lives and obediently following it, by practicing worship for his name alone, by reflecting God’s light through actions and words, by softening our hearts of flesh and living a life of generous bounty where people might know who God is and praise his name through us. The beautiful thing is that as we carry God’s name we actually become more for it, he shares with us his glory and so we truly can become his light in the world and so much more.
God wants the world to know him. God wants the world to be blessed through a relationship with him. The challenge is that people need to be introduced to him and he trusts us to carry that introduction. As we bear God’s name in the world we are his messengers, meant to bear his hope, love, and faith in the world. Through our actions, words, and very life, we can be a vision and voice for God’s name, so that others might come into his peace and joy? Thankfully, if we remain faithful to him, God will use both our strengths and even our weakness to be his light in the world. AMEN
Why are names important to us?
Why is God’s name important to Him?
What do you think “Do not bear God’s name in vain means?
A READING FROM Ezekiel 36.22-30, 36 (NRSVA)
How has Israel carried it poorly?
How have we?
Why does God want to change that?
Matthew 5:13-20
What does this passage tell us about carrying God’s name rightly?
What does it tell us about carrying God’s name poorly?
What could it/should it mean for the world if we did carry God’s name rightly?
