What's in a Name?

Moses went to a great deal of trouble and effort, as did the prophets and scribes who followed; to make certain, The Name spoken in Exodus 3:15 would be known throughout all generations.  The Name appears in the Hebrew Scriptures over 6,000 times.  I try to make The Name of YHWH known, and that of His Son's, then try to avoid most arguments.  Since I'm unsure where the line is drawn between proclaiming The Name and taking His Name in vain, arguing seems unwise.  There were no vowel points in the original Hebrew, so I have no authority to argue the pronunciation, nor do I spell check the transliteration.  The (Vav) can be translated to U, V, or W but the other three letters currently translate without debate.  I use YHWH as the English translation for:  hwhy

Although many promote various translations of the Bible and rail against others, I am an advocate of the King James Version of the Bible.  I came to know The Name of our Creator and the Name of His Son through the KJV with a Strong's Concordance.  I was absolutely overjoyed to realize how many times Y'hshuwah appears throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, and His Name is spoken even in traditional synagogues, today.  I did take a bit of offense at the dedication page of the KJV, but those translators were trying to "keep their heads."  There are only three major issues I take with the KJV of Scripture.   The title and position of "Lord" already existed in English nobility and peerage, designated by the King.  I'm troubled that a King would take it upon himself to designate a title for the Creator of the universe, lower than his own.

Easter in the book of Acts appears to be an intentional attempt to mislead and separate, as the same term pavsca Pascha,  is translated throughout the rest of the New Testament as, Passover.

The translation of Y'hshuwah HaMoshiach to Jesus Christ misses by a mile.  Messiah is the obvious English translation for the Hebrew: xyXm  - Moshaich and Greek:  Messivaß -Messias.

Y'hshuwah/Jesus may or may not be interchangeable, since there is no need to translate a name, but rather; the message that has come along with the translation.  I've been told more than once, that believing the Hebrew Name of Messiah is special, compares my faith to magic or His Name to a magic word.  To believe there is power in The Name, is far from superstition.  Most Christians end their prayers with "in Jesus' name," but would never consider that be using the name like a magic word.  I realize those who have embraced the Name of our Messiah in Hebrew can become intense, but by the same token, I remember how casually the name of Jesus could be used in a sinner's prayer that basically appeared to change nothing about a person's life.  Scripture says, there is no other name given . . .  Messiah said to ask in His Name.  Whosoever calls upon The Name . . . The Bible really does make the Name sound pretty important.  By saying it doesn't matter or it's open to interpretation, lays a foundation of "changing the Bible to suit us," rather than the Bible changing us.

Since the interpretation of Paul's letters seem to be a major point of division, I'll use his terminology. He  used the term "adoption" so I'll reference, adopted or adoption, as well.  When a foreign child is adopted into a family, depending upon the age of the child, the first name may remain that of it's native country, but in an adoption, the sir name is changed and becomes, that of the parents.  In the case of a newborn, the parents choose the name.  I still remember an American couple who adopted a beautiful little newborn from China.  Her name is Rose and her last name is theirs.

Adopted children do not change the family name, nor do they change the name of the other children in the home, certainly not the eldest son who is often named for the father.  Y'hshuwah has the Name of the Father in His, "Yah is salvation." When we are born again, we become the new creatures . . . adopted newborns, if you will.  Although some believers have legally changed their names to a Hebrew name, I did not.  My name is a name in Scripture, but I didn't change the pronunciation when I became a believer.   As I consider those two options I didn't take, either one would actually make more sense than changing Messiah's name to a poorly translated Greek or English term.  Strong's Concordance clearly draws a line from the Hebrew to English translation, in the name, Joshua.

In summation, I'd like to add a footnote.  I don't give much focus to the adversary, but in this particular instance, this seems worthy of mention.  Here is the Hebrew word for Satan:  !tX Satan     Here is the Greek term for Satan:  Satana'ß Satanas
 I find it just a little more than curious that the adversary's name wasn't rendered to just a title or a poor translation.

Speaking Out

Early the other morning through prayer, I heard a simple question and a concise statement regarding the "great falling away."  First the question.  "How can a group of a few hundred people who cannot agree on a name to call themselves, a day of the week, or when the month begins even be considered a "great number?"  Now the statement.  "Men who speak to tens of thousands every week under a generic title of cohesiveness, while endorsing a Pope who endorses Islam could indeed lead a "great falling away."

Rick Warren "Our Pope"

"I love the fact that's he's made the Church more inclusive," he said. "Not trying to make it smaller, but to try to make it larger — to take everybody in. So, that just resonates with me," Osteen added.

I never really thought of needing a religious label, although it does come up now and again.  I've been a Torah observant follower of Messiah since before the turn of this century.  I still remember the day I clearly heard The Name of Messiah, then the many aspects of our Creator with His Name.  That also occurred before the turn of this last century.  I've known my call, since I first heard our Creator speak it to me, so servant of YHWH, follower of Y'hshuwah has always been adequate for me.  Our gracious Heavenly Father has let me know, He calls me His child, and we find in the Matthew 12:50, Y'hshuwah calls us siblings.

As of late, however; I've come to understand humanity has many labels, most of which can seem a bit confining.  The Hebrew Roots Movement was never attached to me, although for a time I did try to generically use the term, Messianic, but as it turns out, I seem to go in the "Sacred Namer" category.  Having had the "cult" word aimed at me through the years, that now tends to fall on me like water off a duck's back.  The apostles were referred to as the Sect of The Way, and I've grown to love that label.  Paul is quoted in Acts 24:14 to state, "But this I confess unto thee, that after The Way which they call heresy, so worship I the Elohim of my fathers, believing all things which are written in Torah and in the prophets:"  In checking the original Greek, it would appear the religious right of the day, considered the apostles to be heretics.  The terms sect and heresy were both translated from the same Greek word: Hairesis.

In studying just how many verses Paul wrote in his epistles that can be chosen to be interpreted to be anti-Torah, a realization has come to me.  There are a great many verses in Paul's writings that confirm Torah.  There is also another correlation with Paul and Moses.  According to Acts 17:23 Paul makes a very concise statement that the Creator of the Universe does in fact have a Name and title.  There is absolutely no doubt, once Moses encountered that burning bush, he came down that mountain a "Sacred Namer."
And Elohim said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, YHWH Elohim of your fathers, Elohim of Abraham, Elohim of Isaac, and Elohim of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is My Name for ever, and this is My Memorial unto all generations.

Being a "Sacred Namer" may get you thrown out of some groups, but it also lands you in pretty good company!

A Man I Met

In the debate and discussion of The Name, I'd like to share a personal revelation I recently received.  A couple of years ago, a new friend came into my life, through another friend.  All of these relationships began on the internet, through social media.  My friend, Terrie, introduced me to a man called Rev. Spotter.  She had known him for some time.  As internet history and tradition go, back in the day of Windows 98 and before the days of social media, we didn't use our real names, but rather chose monikers that often aligned with what we did.  I was, and still do have the ID emissary scribe.  That is "missionary writer."  Not unlike most internet moniker's this Rev. Spotter's ID clearly identified him.  He is a weatherman/storm chaser, thus: Spotter and he is an ordained minister, hence the "Rev."  Although I recognized him, and "followed" him, I didn't really know him.

As time went on, he became a regular contributor at the Goshen Gazette, through his blog, which carried the "url" with which I was familiar:  Rev Spotter.  As time progressed, we became genuine friends, still online friends, but the friendship grew, and we began to use each other's actual names.  We became prayer partners on occasion and when he'd make a teaching video or his now famous cooking videos, he'd send the link.  As I watched his various videos, I found myself observing different personal traits.  As a cook, also, I was pretty sure I could identify a few of his likes and dislikes, as I watched him prepare his creative recipes.

In his teaching videos, it became clear, very early what he believed and the passion he carries to share the message in which he has been entrusted.  Of course, his gifting behind the camera and his ease in front of the camera made his photos and videos quite enjoyable.  He also articulates well in his blogs.  His articles are a good length and they don't draw undue attention to himself, but rather bring glory to the Father.  It wasn't long in reading his blogs and following his teachings, that I noticed his name.  Why his name wasn't Rev. Spotter, at all!

Now that we have become colleagues and friends in real time, the relationship has changed.  I call him by his actual name, Gerry.  Although he knows I am "emissary scribe" and the "barefoot princess" in blog accounts, he knows me personally as; Eliza, short for Elizabeth.  The other day in speaking to him in person, I used the name, Spotter, and corrected myself with an apology.  Since that incident, I've thought of Y'hshuwah and how most of us met him as "Jesus."

We have the image that Jesus is the Son of the G-d of Israel, died, and rose again.  It wasn't long after I entered covenant with YHWH to follow His Son, I realized, Jesus wasn't actually Messiah's name.  The letter "J" did not exist until the 15th or 16th century, long after our precious Messiah walked this earth.  I'm also guessing the ID, Rev. Spotter did not formally exist until the internet . . .  Of course, I still recognize the references to "Rev. Spotter," but it seems so impersonal now.

I know what Rev. Spotter does and what he stands for on the internet, but I have actual conversations with Gerry and know some of the things that trouble him, as well as things that make him smile.  There are a great many folks who know Rev. Spotter, but friends and family call him, Gerry!

For those who met our Messiah as "Jesus," I'd urge you to consider the name He was given in His language and what His friends and family called Him at the time He walked this earth.  . . . the same, yesterday, today and forever.