What’s in a Name?
Our baby had a baby. Rachel and her husband Jamie Biser are celebrating the long awaited arrival of their first born — a precious baby boy they named Marshall James Biser. And I have to tell you that the moment I was informed this child would bear my name I was stunned, tickled, shocked, and not a little scared! But it is an incredible honor to think that two people that you love so much, and who have seen my biggest mistakes and failings up close and personal, would want to name their firstborn after me!? WOW! Now the pressure is really on! Grandpa better watch his Ps and Qs for sure!
So I jump on Facebook to share the news and what do I see there? Post after post from people who proclaim the name Christian – a name we have received the right to bear by the sacrifice and grace of God himself. Heirs to His Kingdom. Sons and daughters of God. And yet these posts are so biting. So judgmental. So angry and dismissive of the opinions of others. Accusing people they don’t even know of harboring evil and vile intentions toward others. One moment they may post a beautiful picture of Jesus hugging children, and the next moment they compare a Supreme Court decision on health care to the attacks on 9/11.
Oh, how this grieves me and I believe it grieves our Lord. We need to watch our attitudes and the words we express through our lips as well as through our fingertips. And, we need to gently remind our brothers and sisters in Christ to do the same. We don’t have to agree on everything, but we also don’t have to be disagreeable! What’s in a name? If it’s the name “Christian” our words and behaviors should scream “love.”
Marshall