It was inevitable! Sooner or later it had to happen. What with everything from sports arenas to racing teams selling naming rights to their property. The area rodeos are produced in Stetson Arena and American Airlines Sports Complex has games and concerts. Francis Schroeder and Jason Black were expecting and, since they needed a little extra cash, decided to offer for bids the naming rights to their offspring via the Internet. The minimum bid that would be considered is $500,000.00 and as of this writing there have been no bids accepted. Lucky child! Unlucky to have such foolish parents! But lucky that no one has been willing to go along with such foolishness.
It is interesting to me that in Spanish; “Come se llama?” loosely meaning “What’s your name” literally means “What are you called?” It would be embarrassing to have to answer to “Alpo.” Imagine the sniggers at roll call in elementary school!
But in a sensible and more serious vein, as Christians we have a very sobering responsibility because of the name we wear. It is recorded in Acts 11:26 that “the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” Through Amos, the Old Testament prophet, God had said “…that the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called.” (Amos 9:11,12)
In rebuking early Christians for showing respect of persons to the rich and lack of respect for the poor, James said, “Do not the rich oppress you, and drag you before the judgment seat? Do not they blaspheme that honorable name by which you are call?” (James 2:6,7) The Christian wears a name that is above every name and his conduct and speech should reflect the glory of that name.
There are huge benefits attached to confessing the name of Christ before men. Christ said of the one who does, “Him will I confess before my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32) Sometimes there are indignities that must be endured because we are called by His name. “If a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but glorify God is this name.” (I Peter 4:16)
Colossians 2, verses 10 and 11 give us an important picture of a coming event that all will experience: “…In the name of Jesus every knee will bow …and every tongue will confess to the glory of God.” Revelation 22:4 says that the occupants of heaven will have His name on their foreheads. But you don’t have to look there in this life. Just look at the way they live!
