What's In a Name?

 

What’s In a Name

 

Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23

A good name

22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.

22:2 The rich and the poor have this in common: the LORD is the maker of them all.

22:8 Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of anger will fail.

22:9 Those who are generous are blessed, for they share their bread with the poor.

22:22 Do not rob the poor because they are poor or crush the afflicted at the gate,

22:23 for the LORD pleads their cause and despoils of life those who despoil them.

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me!” Remember that one? Of course, it was never really true. When this proverb states “a good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,” it is not blowing smoke. Families and their heritage have been ruined by someone in their lineage besmirching their name. Earning a good name is like earning trust—not easy, but when you do, the last thing you want to do is lose it, for even if you are able to gain it back, it is never at the same level as it first was. One only has to look to the “famous” people who have soiled their name through stupid, lascivious, or criminal behavior, to see this is true.

 

Names can do funny things to us, and they certainly CAN hurt. Even our own names may be cause for pause. Back in my high school days, I knew a kid whose parents named him “Aloysius.” There isn’t even a good nickname to obscure that, and it should surprise no one that, like Johnny Cash’s mythical “boy named ‘Sue’,” Aloysius didn’t fare so well. The peck of trouble that followed him around through life wound him up in jail, last I knew. Later, I had a “friend” whose evangelical fervor led him to name his firstborn, “Melchizedek,” after the “high priest of Salem” in Genesis 14 in the Bible. And this new dad demanded that his son be called by his whole name, never shortened to “Mel.” I often wonder what happened to him?

 

My loving wife has one of the prettiest names I have ever known: Dara, which was actually a male name in the Bible’s book of Chronicles. Her mom found it in a “baby name book,” though. While a novel name, she gets mail to Dora, Donna, Dana, Darla, and several others. She often gets called by those names, too. Until 1997, we only knew of one other “Dara,” and it was the daughter of singer/songwriter, Neil Sedaka. In 1997, though, I was appointed to the Coraopolis United Methodist Church, and there we met a member of my youth group named Dara. We have maintained a friendship with this “other Dara,” as she is among the cadre of friends our two kids gathered in life. She still gets called “other Dara” by our kids and their friends. I, on the other hand, never had a problem with “Jeff,” but my middle name—Dahle—which is my mother’s maiden name, was a bit of a trial. Those few formal occasions when it was invoked publicly, such as school graduations, I either had to “head off” its being pronounced wrongly, or tolerate being “Jeffrey DOLL Sterling.” (It is actually pronounced like “Dale.”) Not a big deal, I guess, but I DID go through four graduation ceremonies. 

 

Most of us don’t have to handle our handle being mishandled, but of course, the Proverbs text is talking about REPUTATION, not pronunciation. While we may benefit from inheriting a good family name, each generation must either live up to it or build a “good name”—reputation—for ourselves. In our current American society, we tend to venerate people who “earn their good name” either in successful business ventures, excellence on the sports arena, or luminaries in entertainment. Folks just a little up the “elite” spectrum highlight authors, composers, or artists in various media. Unfortunately, our generation doesn’t spend much energy uplifting standouts in academia or areas of scientific or medical research. The hit film, “Hidden Figures,” that spotlighted gifted women of color who advanced the space program was a revelation to many folk, which is why it became a popular movie. It shouldn’t have taken that effort to recognize these stellar “good name” folk, but it did. And other than very few like Ghandi and King, most Americans would be hard-pressed to name luminaries widely known for their work for social justice. Interestingly, this is where this ancient Proverbs author takes us.

 

According to the text, a “good name” comes from pursuing justice for all people and aiding those in poverty. There is no mention of outstanding entrepreneurship, great crooners, or even clever architects who can turn an edifice into a work of art. AND, the author reminds us that we are all “one people” under God, intimating that our earned status is a second rate endorsement, anyway. We’ve all heard the stories of “famous” people getting caught in awkward scenarios where they take the offensive by asking intimidatingly the question, “Do you know WHO I am?” Most of us “commoners” love the stories where the response to these egotists is: “I don’t care WHO the hell you are, you are under arrest!”, or something like that. I must admit, I still find it spellbinding that almost half of “common” America supports a monumental narcissist whose only “claim to fame” is the artificially ballooned name he has crafted for himself and plastered on buildings, golf courses, and airplanes…and again, election posters. Why is it that we cheer the “I don’t care WHO the hell you are…” line in a movie, but then root for such an egotist to be returned to the White House? I just don’t get it at all, and this Proverbs author would be shocked out of his mind over it.

 

If we project out from Proverbs into the teachings of Jesus, the Gospels, and the writings of Paul in the New Testament, we find other values that a “good name” represents:

 

GENEROSITY…God loves a cheerful giver…To whom much has been given, much shall be required…The poor you will ever have with you (meaning we will ALWAYS have them to be concerned about and to help get through life).

 

A BIAS toward the downtrodden…Jesus spent extra time with “sinners,” tax collectors, and the infirmed who had been rejected or even ostracized by society. 

 

Jesus told us that greatness came not from “success,” but from becoming the “servant of all.” Serving others in need was a sure way to get a “good name” in the Hall of Fame run by God, apparently. 

 

“Take up your cross and follow me” is not a call to stockpile millions or crave your fifteen minutes of fame. We know the name of Jesus because he took up his cross, and God challenges us to earn our “good name” in a similar way. Jesus suffered and died on his, but we can serve God and others by taking up ours, meaning finding our “call” or niche where we can use our gifts to serve others, thereby glorifying God. 

 

I guarantee you have never ever heard of the people I have come to recognize as “good name” folk during my long years of serving the church. “Jim” was a generous, dedicated trustee chairperson in my first appointment, who became a “quiet” opinion leader in that congregation because of his humility and service. He caught the vision of what his church could become in its recovery phase under my ministry and was instrumental in helping others catch it, too. I regret that I never had the chance to tell him how he SO inspired me, as a young pastor, but I think he may have known. “Julie” was likewise a humble servant in that church who had an incredible heart for people, and especially the spiritual formation of children. She was also a miracle worker when it came to creating inspiring programming and Christian education out of thin air. You never knew Jim or Julie, but I can tell you God did, because God honored their work in a monumental way, and what had been a “dying” church became an alive, growing, and exciting place to be! Other names come to mind: Faith, Mark, Jack, Joe, Joan, Peggy, Ed, Larry, Dave, Heidi, Brent, Rick…I could go on and on with people whose “good names” born of simple servanthood in the name of Christ throughout the churches I served. Believe me, I could also name a few who strove for recognition rather than results—both lay and clergy—and you MIGHT know some of them, but probably, like me, with a bit more disdain than adulation. Genuine “good names” make a difference. Self-made, ego-stroking “name recognition” only serves to set one apart from presenting needs and the “mission” of faithful service.

 

How are you doing with your “good name”? I think it is natural for us to run our own comparison as to how we’re doing with this question. As a pastor, who was obviously often “up front” and was blessed to receive multiple affirmations of my gifts for service, I can honestly say that I pray I was able to influence and encourage more folk who DIDN’T experience this via my “public” gifts, but through means I was never aware of. You see, as pastors, we are privileged to meet and work among hundreds—if not thousands—of folk who come expecting to experience the presence of God, and to find meaning. If we have been able to bring this to them WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING IT, then we may have truly earned a “good name,” in my mind. This would mean God was able to work through us, and often INSPITE of us, which I find comforting! May we all “earn our names” with integrity and true service by “taking up our cross” and following the example of Jesus! Amen.