Living with fictitious names
As Christians, it matters how we present ourselves to the world. We are not ashamed of Christ and the Gospel. Yet we become all things to all people in order to save some.
When we surrender our life to Christ, we're given a new name. Like Abram became Abraham and Jacob became Israel, we're handed a new identity and a new vision.
But we still live in a world far from God—among people who can't comprehend this new identity. So we use fictitious names. We present ourselves in ways people can understand. These fictitious names fall into two categories: 'also known as' (aka) names and 'doing business as' (dba) names.
'Also known as' names are meant to conceal one's real identity. Christians use aka names to hide their new identity in Christ, fearing rejection. Some use an aka name hoping no one will ever discover their true identity. Others use an aka name with the secret hope they can one day spring their real identity on people and 'win 'em to Jesus'.
'Doing business as' names are meant to present one’s true identity in engaging ways. Christians using dba names know that people won't fully understand their real identity until there's a relationship. Their hope is that understanding will come progressively over time.
Aka's are used to obscure. Dba's are used to relate. So we can all ask ourselves:
Am I able to connect with people far from God?
If so, is it by concealment? Or by making my true self more accessible?
The Good News penetrates bad news
However bad the bad news may be, the Gospel is greater.
Speaker 1: All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Speaker 2: But are justified by God's grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Speaker 1: The wages of sin is death.
Speaker 2: But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Speaker 1: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
Speaker 2: But if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Speaker 1: Whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
Speaker 2: But the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
A big step across a small stream
The deepest part of a valley often comes with a stream. Be refreshed there, then step across and you’ll be moving out of that valley.
I learn so much about God through others' stories. All the time I know of several people navigating valleys. Deep dark gorges really. The way down is blind. No way to know where bottom is—or even what the next step will bring. Just an unfamiliar wilderness. "Will I stumble? What was that noise?"
Eventually they come to a small stream.
They step across.
And everything changes.
Still just as deep in the valley, the way forward is up and out. There's a hint of light at the rim that draws them. Fear and exhaustion give way to hope.
Lord, when I face my next valley, let me remember that there is a bottom—that you are the Stream found there just as you are the Light at the rim. And let me be an encouragement to others when they face their own valleys. You've been through each one before and you're there now. I know because I've been through some valleys too.
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