The Name Above All Names

Phil. 2:9-11 says that one day, at the Name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father. But to hear some who claim allegiance to Christ speak, it sounds like it is more important to be Baptist or Lutheran or Grace Brethren; sounds like being a Calvinist or Arminian has more credence; or being known as Evangelical or Reformed, Covenant or Dispensational, trumps simply being "a follower of Jesus Christ." Isn't it all too easy to dismiss someone as not "orthodox" enough if they merely claim to be a Bible-believing Christian? We are suspicious of those types. We quickly brand someone as "liberal" or "conservative", read "not like me, therefore not acceptable", based on their wording. Not "right", like us, based on their version. Sorry and sad that we make such judgments in the presence of the Judge of all who is standing right at the door.

There are some circles in which I run that the simple name of whatever "brand" or "camp" I belong to gets me "in". I am instantly identified as "one of us", not one of "them". My credentials have already been checked at the door. No need to show any more proof of followership, not need to display any fruit of the Spirit. I can recite the doctrine, I know all the code words; leave me alone, I have been triune immersed. If that makes you bristle, maybe you too have over identified with the movement and not the Mover of all. Many have gotten so lost in the "cause" of spreading their wing's views they forget the Great Causer of all is the One who is in charge of His Church. He gets lost in the argument as a "given". The Giver of every good and perfect gift relegated to secondary status? Never under His watch. He is preeminent (Col. 1:18).

While we must hold unswervingly to the truth, and guard against those who misinterpret and misapply the Scriptures in unsound fashion, we must deal lovingly with those who are in the ballpark with us but may not see things the same way. Sincere and intelligent Christians often differ. There is room at the table. If we dig in where God has not dug, we are in danger of polarizing large portions of the Body of Christ over semantics and secondary doctrines. Let's save our energy for core beliefs that we should die for.

Obviously there is some worth to being identified with a "camp". But there is also the inherent danger of obscuring Jesus in the quest for orthodoxy. How often do we cry out to Jesus to save us from ourselves? How often does the conversation center on Christ and Him crucified? Are we hungering and seeking after righteousness, wanting to dwell in His presence, or are we caught up in debating the nuances of our particular brand? Are we of "Paul", are we of "Apollos", or are we of "Christ"?

The name that saves is Jesus. The One who will come again is Jesus. My Advocate with the Father is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Word Who became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. May we focus more on the person of Jesus Christ, our Deliverer, our Savior, our Lord, our Friend; than on the other "names" and "labels" by which we may be known. May we be Bible-believing followers of Jesus Christ, who is seated far above "above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come." (Eph. 1:22).