What's in a Name?

A friend just posted something that sparked my interest.

Most of the names we bear and give our children - the ones we call 'Christian names'.... they are actually just biblical names...

David, Ruth, Abel, Abraham, Joseph... none of these people were Christians lol.

Maybe Paul, Timothy and Titus, yeah.

But what's really in a name? If 10,000 people bear a name and out of all of them ONE is famous or good or holy - does that make the name itself good or holy?

Do we name our kids hoping they will have the attributes of that person? Not likely though. It is our training and upbringing of that kid that matters, not the name, isn't it?

If you notice even in the bible name changes were significant and personal to the bearer; not just because a famous person bore it.

The name can only be helpful if we teach the children often why we chose their names and what our hopes and dreams are for them as relates to that name.

Otherwise you can name your child Jesus Christ; it won't mean jack. Infact there are many terrible people called Jesus.

In summary I must conclude that giving our children Israeli/Hebrew/Jewish names is simply superfluous. We might do it because we like them but there is no added spiritual advantage over our traditional names.

This is for those who tend to view those who do not have 'Christian' names as backward or unspiritual or somehow deficient.