What if Christians Changed Their Names?

This is the Voice of One.

So what if Christians changed their names? All through the Bible we see folks who, when answering God’s call for their lives, changed their moniker. Abram became Abraham. Simon bar Jonas became Peter. Saul of Tarsus became the Apostle Paul. In modern times we see in the Catholic faith Karol Józef Wojtyła become Pope John Paul II, and Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger become Pope Benedict XVI.

Submitted for your approval: So what if we did this in the Christian Church today? What if we changed our names when we answered God’s call for our lives like they did in ancient times? Which brings us to the question of the hour: what would your name be?

My answer to that question became clear to me not long ago. A while back I was assessing my place in God’s Kingdom (Pastors do that kind of thing, you know) and I realized that if anyone ever were to remember my legacy I would want folks to remember me as an encourager. I would hope that my people would remember me as a guy who would encourage them onward, who would look at the positive things that God has done and at all the tremendous possibilities that he lays before us.

Therefore, there is only one choice of names I would take.

Barnabas!

Barnabas means Son of Encouragement. I would hazard a guess that old Barnabas (Paul's Missionary companion until they had that big falling out over Mark) was, in actuality, the first century equivalent of a motivational speaker. I'll bet no one could rouse a crowd like Barnabas! Talk to the guy and you would come away rarin' to go, ready to do some awesome things for our Awesome God!

And you know what? That is not a bad legacy to have.

This is the Voice of One.

Closed circuit for Oak Manorites:

Here is something that will encourage you. Our own Serena Galloway, from the Oak Manor Youth Group (a/k/a The Underground) has an opportunity to go on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic with her uncle. Toward that end she will be doing some fund raising, and this is a great opportunity for us to be a part of something great. Be generous! Be encouraging! Serena is a Barnabas for sure, and I am looking forward to seeing what God is going to accomplish in her life.