To label is prejudice, to name is a privilege, and to wear a title defines.
Labeling is derogatory, negative, and shows one’s prejudice against a person or group of people. Naming shows positive, personal ownership and commitment. Titling can be either positive or negative depending on the context it is used. With that being said, let’s have fun with the versatility of names in this anecdote:
“Let’s Rita Booke before we enter the Pearle E. Gates to appear before the Roy L. King. Let’s take the famous Beau Hunter Justin Case the King throws his Tom A. Hawk at us. But then, May B. Knott,” I Sir Mize. “Nevertheless, let’s appear in an Abe L. Manor and Sir Tenly treat him kindly. “O, and don’t forget your Bob B. Pinz and do be careful on the I. C. Streets,” I War N. Herr.
Names are personal and that is why soon-to-be parents spend a lot of time searching for the perfect name for their baby. But in the case of Mary and Joseph, the angel Gabriel was sent by God specifically to tell Mary that she would conceive and have a Son, and she shall call His name Jesus. An angel of the Lord also appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him he shall name the baby to be born Jesus. Isaiah prophesied in the Old Testament that a virgin would have a Son and “…they shall call His name Immanuel” which means ‘God with us.’” The name Jesus was the perfect name for the Son of God and Son of Man. Jesus is God in the flesh!
The heavenly Father declared this when He said, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.” And again, the Father said, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” The first time was at Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:17; the second time was at Jesus’ transfiguration (Matthew 17:5).
Names can also be exclusive such as in Acts 4:12, “There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” In this verse, Peter emphasizes that Jesus is the only One who can save people, and that no other name can offer salvation.
Labeling can cause negative stereotypes. Here’s a Biblical example of a label that carries a negative degrading tone. John 1:47 records the event when Philip found Nathanael and told him they had found the One whom the prophets had written about – Jesus of Nazareth! Nathanael’s flat response was, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Labeling people or people groups is like putting handcuffs on them limiting their potential to be who they could become. For instance, labeling someone who uses drugs a ‘druggie’ and ‘loser’ summarizes their whole being into one aspect of their life. It is with condemnation while at the same time forgetting the potential of who that person could become if he/she were set free from drugs.
How about titles? Titles describe a person’s position and can be either negative or positive.
The head of a drug cartel is called a drug lord or kingpin. That is a negative title that describes crime bosses who control a whole network of people involved in illegal drug trade. They want your money!
Which sounds more appealing to you: the drug lord/kingpin (who wants your money and destroy you life) OR Lord of lords and King of kings (who wants your heart and give you life)?
Re-cap: Jesus’ name is superior to every name known to man. “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow – of those in heaven and those on earth…and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11) Jesus’ title, Son of God and Son of Man, belongs exclusively to Jesus! (Luke 4:41 and Mark 3:11) Jesus label as ‘the Light of the word’ is our only hope to be delivered out of darkness to the Kingdom of Light (John 8:12).
Knowing what we know, we must come to the only logical conclusion and choose Jesus!