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The Name of God
Started by Marc Proctor on 29 August 2008 - 6:04pm
| 29 August 2008 - 6:04pm | |
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I’ve been thinking about the actual name of God. Like how the Jews revered it so highly that they omitted syllables to form YHWH, and even then it is not thrown around lightly. Or like how in the early church the name of Jesus had such a powerful example that a group of Jewish leaders took notice and wanted to perform miracles in the name of Jesus, though their own motives were questionable (it caught up to them, see Acts 19:11-20). I suppose it is a very nit-picky thing to wonder about the spoken name of Jesus, sorry if my thoughts come out completely disjointed. So my thoughts on the name of Jesus also got me thinking about that means for worship. Specifically, if a song looses something when it only uses pronouns to refer to God? Like, does the line “Jesus is so good” have more punch/power than the line “He is so good”? For me it’s a tricky matter. I’ve spoken to some people who prefer to use the Jewish name for Jesus, Yeshua (I know I slaughtered the spelling…). That made me realize how western culture doesn’t even use the “correct” name for Jesus from ancient times. I also remember seeing a “Jesus Hernandez for Mayer” sign while in Mexico a few years ago… kind of made me think; if there are other people who are named Jesus, what is it that makes the actual name of the Lord Jesus Christ special? I suppose it must not be the actual name but what it signifies. So, similarly, “He” and “You” also are just signifiers, so what’s the difference? But I can’t deny that I feel a difference when singing, “I love you” as opposed to “I love You, Jesus.” Does anyone else have thoughts on this? |
I don't have much to add, as I'm not massively well read on the subject.... but.....
As far as I recall, "Jesus" is actually a translation - I think he would have actually been called "Yeshua", so Joshua is a closer equivalent. I think I got that from NT Wright's Simply Christian, but I'll try to dig out a reference.
Also in that book, he mentions the YHWH spelling, and how they sometimes added the vowel markings back on to the letters but from the name "Adonai" (The Lord) (in hebrew, the main characters are the syllables, and the vowel sounds are almost like punctuation marks around them). This led to scholars later reading this mix of letters as "Jehova". Evidently, if you'd said that name to a Hebrew in 'bibliical' times, they wouldn't have recognised it!
Sorry to digress....
I'm with you though - it's an interesting point about what makes the spoken name of Jesus powerful... It has to come down to the fact that you're addressing The Son of God - that it's the act of focussing on him, rather than the sound you speak.
And as far as singing is concerned, I think that's the same too, only more so, as so often singing focusses the mind and the emotions on a concept, so singing the name of Jesus in worship can be so much more powerful than just a reference using 'he' or 'you'....
my 0.02....
K
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A good way to put it; how the name of God focuses on the concept of God. Cool history too! I’ve never done a thorough study either (of the names/name used for God) but I’ve seen enough to know it is a pretty immense topic! Like all things having to do with Jesus/God/Faith/Christianity, I’m sure the study would be really rewarding and inspiring.
Even though it may be better, it sure is hard to navigate when writing songs; Mostly because “Jesus” is a bit harder to use in song than “He”. Also, nothing rhymes with Jesus! And the extra syllable can be tough to navigate. It’s like orange… nothing rhymes with orange!
If anyone has any other awesome knowledge or bits they could share that would be a cool to put down in a forum, something defining the different names/attributes of God. Even to know how that has affected you would also be inspiring and encouraging. It would be a cool songwriting resource.
I think the names of God is an amazing thing to look at. God's character is as big as He is and the thing is none of us in this life will fully know the entirety of His character and person untill we meet Him in the air.
The thing about what is powerful to use in a worship song is another debate, I personally do not think it is any less poweful to say He in referring to God than the word God itself. The fact about singing any song is that if the words are not meant they have no power at all; wether the words have power or not depends on the depth of meaning they really carry for the worshipper that is singing. I was at an Angus Buchan crusade ( faith like potatoes guy) when I was recently in South africa and he said the devil doens't take notice to those who sit and quitely say Amen, the devil takes notice when people pray with conviction and authority. When people worship with conviction and from an overflow in their heart of what God has done and not with empty words, that is what is powerful.
Also depending on what season someone is at in their life will depend on which name/character of God will be most powerful for them. For someone needing to know the Fatherly attributes of God songs which promote God as "father" using words like Abba ect will mean more than a song which promotes God as King, whereas for those who have forgotten and need reminding of the sovereignty of God songs which have a Kingly theme will impact them more. Are you following me here? We as worship leaders need to know how to use songs which will impact people where they are at by knowing the different characters of God and singing songs which will help people who need to know these characteristics that will in turn give them a new or a renewed revlation that they have needed to see which will impact them where they are at. If we know the congregation needs to deal with restoration sing songs of repentance , forgiveness, surrender and restoration.
Something I have done in a worship times before is had a time of people proclaiming, calling out the names of God which mean the most to them. What you can do as a worship leader, if you can make out some of the shouts and cries is see what the common theme is and sing a song to that theme and instantly you know it will impact someone atleast, just let the Spirit move it's amazing. You can also see if theres any key aspects of God which haven't been highlighted which you may be led to sing songs around that theme to remind people of the God they serve.
Its a big topic to be honest one which worship leaders and any leaders in chrurches need to be on top on because knowing these aspects of God will help us to counsel people and bring meaningful worship to the people we serve where they are at.
Hope that has given some food for thought if you agree or disagree let me I am by know means saying this is all there is to it or that I have it write in its entirety these are just thoughts I have to contribute to this discussion which I have found thought provoking.
i think when you declare things in the name of jesus it has power.
so, the 'jesus is good' vs 'he is so good'...
maybe you're right. but both are referring to jesus, so im not sure.
-yianimal :]