Friday, 08 August 2008
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Who Are You Named After? Make That Person Proud!
by mr pine
It was the fourth century B.C. Alexander the Great’s armies were rolling across the countries surrounding the Mediterranean and beyond. There were no soldiers more brutal and no leader more feared. One day, a young man was brought before the great leader visibly frightened. He was caught trying to desert his regiment which in the Greek Empire was punishable by death.
In the presence of such a ruthless and awe-inspiring leader, the young man buckled at the knees and begged for mercy, “Please, Great Emperor, have pity upon me.. I was scared and did not want to die.”
Alexander seeing that this young man was still yet unseasoned as a fighter softened as he considered his cries for lenience. This one was no more than a boy and understandably not hardened by the harsh ways of this world.
So, the great ruler came toward him and compassionately asked, “Young soldier, what is your name?”
Upon hearing the softness in his voice, the young man gained some measure of confidence. He thought that this was his chance to connect with the mighty Alexander, for his name was also Alexander. He was named so by his parents in honor of the Emperor.
“My name is Alexander!” the soldier stated with pride and assurance.
The Emperor stopped momentarily, “What is that you said?” he said with some concern in his voice.
“My name… is Alexander…” the soldier replied, this time with considerably less confidence.
The Emperor, now visibly upset, asked once again, “What is your name?”
“Alexander… my lord… I was named for you by my parents…” he replied wondering what he said to anger the Emperor so.
In disgust Alexander the Great looked down upon the young man and barring his teeth he said, “Young man, either change your name or change your conduct!”
This is my best recitation of a story I once heard in a sermon by R.C. Sproul. It is purely fictional, but he was using it to drive home a point. In this story Alexander the Great demanded that his name never be associated with cowardice. What the young man thought was his badge of honor was really the thing that condemned him in the end. He did not live up to the name. He was unaware that along with the name came certain responsibility. Sproul was saying that we do the same thing with the name “Christian.”
In this country and society, carrying that name is about as significant as a fraternity we belong to or as an allegiance to a sports team. So you’re a Christian… that’s all fine and good – until it conflicts with something you want, then it very neatly folds into a nice little package that you could put in your back pocket until it’s needed again. Attending church does not make one a Christian. Having Christian friends does not make one a Christian. Owning a Bible and knowing how to sing some Christian songs does not make one a Christian. Being on the praise team does not make one a Christian. Where do you find your identity? In your work? In your social life? In your family? Or in Christ? And no, there is no duality here. It is one way or another.
What if it were Christ in this story?
Christ: Your road has been long and your way hard… what is your name young traveler?
Me: Christian!
Christ: What is that you said?
Me: Christian?
Christ: What is your name?!?
Me: I proclaimed it to all my friends and wore it on my t-shirts… my name is Christian…
Christ: I do not know you. Either change your name or change your conduct!Do you know who are you named after?
What do you associate the term "Christian" and the name "Christ" with?
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Comments (37)
good story, great point.
WOO HOO!! Smokin Post!
That's a great story... though fictional. It drives home a point in me, too. Thanks for sharing it.
About who I am named after - no one. My first name is my own, and spelt in a unique way too (Adelynne). But my last name, Ann, was given to me by my parents because they liked it on the daughter of their former pastor. Ha. That's all I know! ;)
Oh yeah... I was supposed to be called Jonathan, because my mom was expecting a boy. GO figure.
I was named after Carly Simon.
It was in the Greek-dominated town of Antioch that people first laughingly called them chrestoiani . . . little Christs, because these people wanted to live like their so-called savior.
It is from that attempted insult that we derive our English word for what we are: Christians.
Excellent point!
good post... Although with my name, I think it's hard to do a river proud. My dad was obsessed with our Irish ancestry and decided to name me after the River Shannon. xD
great post...
I was named after my grandmother. I am not sure if I live up to her name. She was a brave and strong woman, from what I understand.
I don't think our actions alone will determine whether or not Jesus will say, "Depart from me... I never knew you." But that's a comment and a post for another time, perhaps.
However I do agree that we wear the moniker of Christian usually when it suits us. Your post made me think about my actions today. I hope I think about them every day.
Oooh...good to think of. Of course, literally, I was named after a soap opera character (true story)... so, I don't want to live up to that.
I was named after The Beatle's song, "Michelle." Pretty awesome.
i was named after ariel from the Little Mirmaid. But insteaed of Ariel my first name is Airiana. My sister wanted me named after Ariel and my middle name is after my godmother Victoria
My name is Jill. I wasn't named after anyone--my parents just like the name haha.
I named my daughter Sydney--after Sydney Carton from A Tale of Two Cities. If I ever decide to adopt, I think I will name my daughter Sydney as well. Maybe it will be a difficult name to live up to, because Carton was such a courageous character, but I believe it suited my first child very well. Even if it was a man's name initially (I always thought it sounded much better as a girls' name).
@bittersunday@xanga - I think Sydney is a gorgeous name for a girl too. I like Jill a lot too, although I bet you got the Jack and Jill rhyme thrown at you a few times.
All the "Christians" that live in my small town are Dutch Christian Reformed church goers. How would I describe them?
Mom's drive SUV's with fish stickers and wear Ralph Lauren, carry Coach handbag. Dad's drive import sedans with golf clubs in the trunk. Dads dress in the Ralph Lauren clothing that their wife picked out for them.
The boys are usually delayed a year or two in starting kindergarten to give them the edge in sports. They wear nothing but athletic inspired clothing; usually basketball shorts and tee shirts. They harass the boys who aren't athletically inclined.
The girls play with American Girl dolls and travel 3 hours to Chicago to get doll clothes and have it's hair styled. They dress in Abercrombie clothes when ever they are big enough to wear size 8. Since the dutch are so tall this is usually by 2nd grade. The girls must always carry cell phones with them at all times in case one of their friends needs to inform them about the cool new clothes they bought.
The teen boys continue with sports and their mode of dress.
The girls graduate from American Girl dolls to Facebook where they proudly proclaim "I love Jesus!!!" in the space that asks "religion?" Below this will be found pictures of themselves in bikinis, cleavage revealing camis, ultra short skirts, holding glasses of tropical looking beverages, and draping themselves across a different boy daily. When they turn 16 they are given a car so they can hang out with their friends without troubling their parents for a ride.
The parents can now play golf more frequently because they no longer have to drive the kids to sports practices, the mall, or to visit the person they are "in a relationship" with.
And on Sundays (assuming they aren't boating, snowmobiling, at their cottage "Up North", or have a out of town sports tournament) the entire family gets in their SUV with the fish sticker and head to one of the many Christian Reformed Churches in town to listen to the pastor discuss why all the other churches are teaching the wrong things. They will also be treated to plenty of messages on how NOT to live. And maybe if there's time they may be given a teaching on how TO live.
"I know they are Christians by their fish stickers."
@WomanOfLight@xanga - Oh my goodness, I've gotten the "Jack and Jill" thing all the time! And one of my boyfriend's names was Zach, which didn't help! XD
humbling...
I think all kids want to know why they were named the way they were named. I still remember asking my mom why she named me my name? She said she wanted to name me Kimberly Susanne or Susanne Kimberly. Sadly, the neighbor expecting the same time, gave birth first and supposedly stole the name. LOL Then she said, actually your father named you, because the name I wanted was taken.
When I looked up the names my mother had picked, I found them to both mean "Fiery".
My name means "Shy, Timid".
I cracked up because I more like the first than the second.
Then I asked my father why he named me my name. He said, "Well, lets see your first name is after my very first girlfiriend. You middle name is after my brothers daughter who passed away as a baby."
So, I don't know if I am making either of these people proud. I try to live my life the way Christ would want.
Now the second part of the question....What do you associate the term "Christian" and the name "Christ" with?
Before becoming a Christian I truly believed it was a hypocrites. They said they believed in God and loved Christ, but lived their lives the same way I did, at the time.
After I accepted Christ as my Savior, I found that the church should have hypocrites, addictics, liars and many other problems. That is what the church should be filled with. Christ said healthy people don't go to the doctor.
What I found is the term Christian is suppose to mean a follower of Christ, which are messed up people. What does Christ mean? The person who loves me so much to work with me daily, to walk with me, and grow me. He loves me so much He died for me. Praise the Lord!
Our dog owes her name to the classic hit, 'Good golly miss Molly.' My middle name was my great-grandmother's. All I hear about her is that she was a sweet woman, kind, and a lady in every way, she wouldn't even forget to take along her white gloves when she left her house. Some would say that, aside from my dress and lack of white gloves, I'm much like her in conduct and my sister is much like her in appearance.
I am named after two of my mother's high school friends who, if I remember correctly met terrible untimely ends: A car accident and a suicide, I think. I hope never to live up to either legacy!
Living up to the name "Christian" ... that is something I hope to do!i was conceived through a violent rape and am told by senators & even a few christians that a rape baby should be aborted but God has a plan for all of us. my mom did not know the meaning of my names but they mean 1. praise/thanks/admired & 2. light, & mercy.
i would say i was on God's mind just as much as any other baby when conceived.
the Lord spoke to me once & said- "sometimes in violent storms, that's where blessings are born."
i am not a curse i am a blessing & i am thankful that God is my Father & thankful for the meaning of my names
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i was also named after my great grandmother who lost a child to the 1918 flu & then she died from it too.
My name is Isaac which means he who laughs and boy do I do a lot of it! lol
Hubert, of German origin and it means 'smart'.
But I'm not smart anyway.... I'm just a normal Christian.
My dad heard some girl on the radio with my name (brynne), and he thought it was unique, so he wanted to name me brynne. Haha. Brynne means "small hill", so I really have nothing to live up to with my name.
I like that story a lot!