Is there something in a name?  When it comes to the church, most would have to say no, at least their actions say so.  Denominational churches refer to themselves by all kinds of names, except, that is, the name of Christ.  They must not believe that there is anything in a name.

The New Testament church wore the name of Christ.

Romans 16:16 (ESV)
¹⁶  Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

Was the phrase “church of Christ” the official title of the New Testament church?  No, and nobody that I know says that it was.  Nevertheless, when Paul wanted to say something about a plurality of churches, he called them churches of Christ.  And why wouldn’t he?  The church, after all, belongs to Christ since He bought it with His blood.

Acts 20:28 (NKJV)
²⁸  Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Peter refers to us, the church, as God’s purchased possession (1 Peter 2:9), for we have been bought by the blood of Christ and belong to Him.  Notice that Paul refers to the church as the church of God.  This is how we know that a church does not have to wear the title, church of Christ; nevertheless, we should be designated by a name that gives glory to Christ, and, one can read about in the Bible, not just any name we just pick out of the blue because we think it sounds good.

Speaking of the name of Christ, for those who think there is nothing in a name, let’s see what Peter says about it.

Acts 4:11-12 (ESV)
¹¹  This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. ¹²  And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Does it sound to you like there is something in a name?  It does to me.  The truth is, in every walk of life, except when it comes to the church, it is universally believed that there is something in a name. Do parents spend time thinking about the name they will give their child before he or she is born?  Of course, they do.  When is the last time someone called their son Rover or their daughter Jezebel?  No, parents do not just name their children anything because everyone knows that there is something in a name.

Names identify and point to possession.  This is why traditionally wives take on the name of their husbands—it identifies them with each other.  When we wear the name of Christ, we are identifying ourselves with Him and showing that we acknowledge His ownership over us.  Since we belong to Him, it is appropriate, as well as scriptural, to wear His name.

Let’s give glory to Christ by not only wearing His name but by never being ashamed of it.  We should never hesitate to be associated with Christ.  One way we can do this is by gladly wearing His name.  We do this by calling ourselves Christians as individuals, and by collectively wearing a designation that identifies us with Christ as local churches.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things