All the Names I’ve Been Called
I’ve been called a lot of names through the years.
You don’t need to hear and I don’t need to remember the ugly ones.
Names carry weight with us humans. Maybe because it was one of our first activities with our Father. Adam named the animals and in naming each one, it became clear that it wouldn’t be good for Adam to be alone. (Genesis 2:19-20) When God created a woman to be with Adam, his first act was to give her a name. (Genesis 2:22-24)
There is power in a name, if we yield power to it. My grandfather called me Useless and I gave that name power for decades after he had died. A Greater Name broke that power but that’s a story I’ve told before. This post is about stories I haven’t shared until now.
Along with many of you, I’m wrestling with names right now. Names I’m being called. Names to call myself. What name would Jesus have me use?
One part of my soul shrugs it off, like who cares? Isn’t there serious work to be done? Call me whatever you like. Remember the comic, Bill Saluga? “You can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay . . .” Why can’t that be our story and we just move on? Maybe it can. But . . .
In the sixties, I was just a Christian. I loved Jesus. I believed the Bible. I was baptized and attended church. I was a Christian.
In the seventies, people would ask if I was a “born-again” Christian. This seemed an important modifier to them. Apparently, I thought, some Christians are not born-again. I wasn’t sure how that worked but I’d read my Bible and I’d read Jesus’s conversation with Nicodemus in John 3, so sure, I was a born-again Christian, if that helped them distinguish me in some way, but I began to be wary of litmus tests because of it.
That was also the decade where I considered myself a Jesus freak. I lived on the opposite coast of all that was happening with the Jesus movement and, being afraid of my own shadow, I wasn’t likely to hitch a ride in that direction but I could identify with the flower children who loved Jesus.
In front of older, more serious Christians, I called myself a born-again Christian but to my friends, I was a Jesus freak. There were so few ways I was cool as a teenager and following Jesus didn’t help. But, when we made the cover of Time magazine, I happily called myself a Jesus girl and that worked for a long time.
In the nineties, I was past the age where it was cute to call myself a “girl” so I returned to being a Christian. I dropped the born-again because the writer in me resists redundancy. Plus, as a young mom, I didn’t have time for nonsense.
I was in my early thirties before anyone told me I was an evangelical. I’d followed Jesus for at least thirty years without that information but the man who informed me of my status had great authority to do so.
He just happened to be my seatmate on a connector flight across country and he just happened to work for Billy Graham. We were flying to the same conference and I received an education en route. I’d come to accept
Jesus at the age of 4 when I heard Rev. Graham’s altar call during a televised crusade. This man explained that I was an evangelical and filled me in on many powerful and inspiring stories of what he’d witnessed following Rev. Graham around the world.
I didn’t have much call back in Rhode Island to announce that I was evangelical and didn’t use it as an introduction because, again, the redundancy factor but when people on the news were talking about evangelicals, I knew they meant people like me. During the first decade of the century, I began to see clearer why people needed to distinguish Christians from other Christians. I had a growing awareness that not every quacking bird was a genuine duck, so I often introduced myself as a Jesus follower.
This was a time when it became popular to explain we didn’t follow a religion, we had a relationship with Jesus. This made it awkward to check off any box on forms like at the 
hospital. Many of us crossed off RELIGION and penned in RELATIONSHIP: JESUS. I can’t imagine this did more than cause some eye-rolls in record-keeping.
Does the name matter? I don’t know but I think the conversation about the name matters very much. The conversation is about explaining what is so different about living life following Jesus. It’s not a message that fits inside one name except His.
How quickly life changed from 2011 to 2021! At the start of that decade, I explained to a state worker that a family in my care was evangelical Christian. The worker guffawed. “What kind of whacko, fringe-group is that?” he asked. Later that day, I received his emailed apology.
2016, I’m in an interview for a job I’m considering when the interviewer says, “I notice you’re a Christian writer. Are you evangelical Christian?” I nod. “How do you plan to keep your faith from affecting your work here?” I know what he’s asking but I don’t subscribe to that narrative so I reply: “Are you planning to ask me to commit fraud or lie? My faith will definitely interfere with that.” I don’t take that job.
Flash forward to 2021. I’m sitting in a room with someone who informs me I should have recused myself from overseeing people because just knowing I’m an evangelical Christian struck fear in people. “It really didn’t,” I reply,
but my reply isn’t necessary because my situation was determined without my input. You know, based on me being evangelical and all. I’m supposed to understand the complete horror that name implies. I know what I’ve heard in the headlines but when I replace that with the faces of fellow Jesus-followers, I believe the faces, not the media, hungry for viewers and clicks.
Another writer calls and tells me she’s probably not an evangelical any longer. “Have you lost faith in Jesus?” I ask. “No. I’ve lost faith in people who are happy being evangelical right now,” she replies, “So, I’m making an announcement.”
“Is that necessary? That’s getting weird like gender reveal reels, isn’t it?”
“It’s important.”
“I’m not sure that it’s going to offer you the protection you’re hoping for.”
“Whatever.”
My friend Doug calls himself a “radical affirmationist” based on 2 Corinthians 19-20 and suggests I do the same but I think that’s a long way to go to introduce myself to a seatmate on a plane. I revert to Jesus-follower. But the conversation hasn’t ended, has it?
What’s in a name? Does it matter? Does it matter in Somalia? In China? In North Korea? In Uganda? We’re not the center of the universe. Does what we call ourselves matter? It does. It doesn’t. It does.
The name of Jesus matters. Following Him matters. Living a life that reflects Jesus matters. What we call that? What are your thoughts?
Maybe it’s good to move away from the short-hand of a quick name or title to explain everything. Maybe it’s better to take the long way into a deeper conversation. Maybe we take ourselves less seriously but take Jesus more seriously than ever because let me tell you, I’ve sat in a room knowing I was viewed as a danger, an enemy, someone to be dispensed with, someone to be avoided association with at all costs because of my faith. I lost stuff in that room. Quietly. Behind closed doors.
Whatever I am called, I stand with Jesus. Whatever comes with that is not my call. At the end of the day, He’s the only one who gets to name me because I’m His. He calls me friend. He calls me daughter. He calls me redeemed. He calls me to follow. Jesus follower, I am.
What do we call ourselves now? What's in the name Christian anyway? https://t.co/TB8mnNt5pA #Jesus #EvangelicalChristian
— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) September 19, 2023
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Each thing you write takes me back 10 years when I began reading your work and the opportunity I had in TN to meet you and hear from you. “Disturber of Hobbits” also fits you. ❤️
So nice, you’ve said it twice!
Each thing you write takes me back 10 years when I began reading your work and the opportunity I had in TN to meet you and hear from you. “Disturber of Hobits” also fits you. ❤️
I remember it well, my friend!
Great post; I suspect many of us can relate to the titles. I have become uncomfortable with the concept of “accepting Jesus as my Lord and Saviour”. I am so thankful God draws us, but I didn’t accept Jesus, I gratefully came to a knowledge of His saving grace and work on the cross. Of His resurrection and my justification by His righteousness. Thank you for your thoughtful posts and your faithful witness to His word and of His love.
Thanks for that additional thought. I also have been more thoughtful about how I express that.
How about us giving a try at the old the Greek word hagios- means “consecrated to God.”?…..Some of the early church used that. But…. What’s wrong with just the word Christian to describe a believer? I like your walk thru time and the different adjectives added to/defining Christians. You must be about my age, as I had the same experience with those adjectives. (Although, I became a believer as a teenager in the 70’s) Something is going on in the Christian churches of America. I think the recent extreme culture changes and acceptance/tolerance of sin is in many churches. This is where the “need” to distinguish “true” followers using those adjectives comes from. Something is going on in the evangelical church, and I believe God is separating the wheat from the tares. Who do we want to please, God or man? Who do we fear, God or man? You know “true” Christians by the fruit in their lives, not the adjective used.
Now you’re getting fancy! If I’m ever trying to communicate with ancient Greeks I will certainly entertain this idea!
Thank you for provoking my thoughts!
As a family we are struggling to find a name the last few years. Sometimes we are “Messianic Christians” because we are part of the many-labelled movement that is looking for a Hebrew-mindset version of Christianity that finds the OT more relevant
But “Hebrew Roots” and “Sacred Name” are part of that movement, too – yet parts of them don’t fit us. Sometimes we are “Torah-following Christians” and other times we are just “God-followers” or “Christians”
Bottom-line goal: Get into a conversation with someone, get to know who they are, share who we are – if they are wanting to know
People like you / me / them . . .trump labels — if only we will talk with each other long enough to realize it
Wonderful points!
Really enjoyed this post, Lori. Most of my life, I’ve been called “short”. That would be because I am. It kind of defined my picture of myself for a long time.
“You’re too short to reach that.” “You’re too short to wear that.” “You’re too short to defend yourself.” You get the idea.
But having lived through about 5-6 decades since those times, I now realize that no one who is a Jesus follower is short. He makes me tall . . . tall enough to embody and live out His life through my life. And tall enough to wrap my arms around someone else and kneel with them.
That’s tall enough in my book.
Thanks, Deb! Names can stick but we have the power to refuse them.
Looking for clarity on what it means to respect and is it different from love, I found an article you wrote in 2021. Your claim to being a disturber of Hobbits intrigued me enough to look up your blog. Names matter, they describe, convey attributes, declare identity. I pray in Jesus’ name, I am His, He gave me life and light, salvation, identity. I say I am a Christian but, knowing the high standard of that given name in scripture, despite its intended mockery, has lead me to see “Follower of Jesus” to be much more accurate. I pray the things you lost behind closed doors are seen as dross, by those who know of them, compared to all that you have gained in Christ! Thank you for your sharing and wisdom.
They are truly dross. Thank you for dropping by! I love what you’ve shared!
Lori, I love this! And I’ve been there. Jesus gives us gifts we can’t ever earn.
Amen! Good to hear from you, friend! I’m sorry you’ve been there but happy you enjoy the gifts only God can give.
Me Too Lori! You’re so right (all the time). As a Jesus believer in the early ’70’s, it went on…until it became a “Right wing conservative, MAGA, Christian”. Just stop. I reject labels generally. The distinction game became a society classification: political, sociological, statistical and so on.
By nature, I tend to contrarian behavior, ‘defiance and disturbing’ of hobbits, so to speak. On hospital form blanks for religion: ‘Believer’, ‘Race’: Human (‘Slow’ or ‘Homosapien’…just for fun!)
The name “Jesus” is called all the time…on TV, in movies, in office conversations. Most often (sadly), not in reverence, awe or praise. It’s become just another expression of disgust, despair, disapproval.
Upon reading you today, I though of the following from Juliet, the romantic:
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
without that title…”
Methinks you have the rose phenomenon, as others I want to imitate, (ie.) you “smell like” a Christian believer. We say Jesus from Latin, Greeks said Ieusus, Jews said Yeshua. (There is no letter/sound ‘J’ in Greek or Hebrew. It is: ‘Y’. Even He has many names.
Whatever they call Him or us, I just wanna be so much like Him that people identify it from my attitude, behavior and treatment toward them. I don’t care what you call me, just call me when it’s supper!
Mac, I love your enthusiasm and yes to eschewing labels for ourselves or others. If I do have the aroma of Christ (which I pray I do) it is pleasant to those who are being saved but a stench to others as Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1. Hence, the names . .
Splendid way to analyze names and labels! So much that is simple is made complex to confound those that just need simple truth. The truth is whether or not one is trusting in Christ and not their own merits in order to spend eternity with a holy God. The world hates simple truth and assigning labels it what it uses to demean and discourage those that stand with the simplicity of the Gospel.
Great contribution to the conversation!
Lori, it seems in today’s culture people who don’t like being labeled love labeling others. I want my words to communicate and not stop a conversation. But it is hard to know how to react to some rude comments. Love your response to “How do you plan to keep your faith from affecting your work here?” A history in cheating, lying, and sleeping around probably wouldn’t have been questioned.
I think we can lean into some of the rudeness and ask people to tell us more about their issue with us, using personal examples, so we can minister to their pain if that is the source or discern the love of argument if that is. We must also refrain from labels we might create for othera!
The closing words on this Lori, the ones in bold at the end…. are going on my refrigerator. They help to keep a tender heart in the midst of the barrage of the world. As usual, thank you Lori for using your gift of writing.
Love it!
Lori, I printed the ending lines below to put on my refrigerator. This is worth repeating!! Thank you…as usual … thank you for your insight, it is special gift.
“Whatever I am called, I stand with Jesus. Whatever comes with that is not my call. At the end of the day, He’s the only one who gets to name me because I’m His. He calls me friend. He calls me daughter. He calls me redeemed. He calls me to follow. Jesus follower, I am.”
That’s great!