Changing Name to Witness

[Christenstein]

How about changing one's name to witness? What are your thoughts on changing names legally as a witnessing tool?

Christenstein

 

[Magnetic Poles]

It's pronounced FRAHNK-en-steen!

 

[Christenstein]

It's pronounced FRAHNK-en-steen!

Your discouragement regarding spiritual matters speaks for itself.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

Your discouragement regarding spiritual matters speaks for itself.

You sure must get discouraged easily if a little humor gets you down. BUt to answer your ?, no. It is a silly idea to change your name.

 

[Christenstein]

You sure must get discouraged easily if a little humor gets you down. BUt to answer your ?, no. It is a silly idea to change your name.

What does the Bible say about encouragement and making fun of spiritual things?

What if the Lord renames you?

 

[Magnetic Poles]

What if the Lord renames you?

What if he makes a flying monkey live on my roof? What's your point?

Typically, people "hear" God telling them what they want him to say. Like those 19 guys on 9/11, who thought God wanted them to fly planes full of people into buildings full of people.

Of course if God wants to give you another name he can, but I'd have to be pretty sure that it was really God.

Oh, and the new name better not be "Suzie".

 

[Christenstein]

What if he makes a flying monkey live on my roof? What's your point?

Typically, people "hear" God telling them what they want him to say. Like those 19 guys on 9/11, who thought God wanted them to fly planes full of people into buildings full of people.

Of course if God wants to give you another name he can, but I'd have to be pretty sure that it was really God.

Oh, and the new name better not be "Suzie".

It is interesting to see what this world has come to when Christians take pride in making fun of other Christians regarding serious matters.

Sarah lacked faith when she laughed at the idea of having a child.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

It is interesting to see what this world has come to when Christians take pride in making fun of other Christians regarding serious matters.

Where have I made fun of you? You asked a question... and I gave you a little humor and a serious answer. My, my, my, aren't we hypersensitive today? You have also accused me of making fun of "spiritual things", whatever you mean by that? What "spiritual things" are you referring to?

 

[mcdirector]

I don't think it would be of any benefit to change your name to witness. I think it might do more harm than good.

 

[Salty]

May I grasp at a straw and mention, you might be thinking of Saul, whom became Paul. I dont want to change the OP, but why do you think the Lord changed the name of Saul. Could it be that as Saul, he was know as killer of the Christians? With a new name, at least he would have a change to witness?

Other thoughts?

Salty

 

[mcdirector]

May I grasp at a straw and mention, you might be thinking of Saul, whom became Paul. I dont want to change the OP, but why do you think the Lord changed the name of Saul. Could it be that as Saul, he was know as killer of the Christians? With a new name, at least he would have a change to witness?

Other thoughts?

Salty

A new name does have possibilities. But Saul did change his name to a conventional name.

 

[mcdirector]

I went back and read the OP. I had read it originally that the poster wanted to change the name to "Witness." Why did I see it that way? I don't know.

 

[Mr.M]

Many children are given biblical names, it is rather common witness to their Christian heritage and the Bible (of course not all with names from the Bible are a witness to such but many children are named directly after biblical people). My thoughts are that your name is what people call you, not what people think about you.

But hey, changing your LIFE so you can witness...now that's an idea.

 

[tinytim]

Many children are given biblical names, it is rather common witness to their Christian heritage and the Bible (of course not all with names from the Bible are a witness to such but many children are named directly after biblical people). My thoughts are that your name is what people call you, not what people think about you.

But hey, changing your LIFE so you can witness...now that's an idea.

I wonder what tinytim means!!! :laugh: :wavey:

 

[EdSutton]

What if the Lord renames you?

Aside from Abram to Abraham; Sarai to Sarah; and Jacob to Israel, name any others that happened to??

(Well, we are all, as believers, going to get a new name in the future, but I was referring to where it has already happened.)

I don't recall any others, off the top of my head. Do you?

Ed

 

[EdSutton]

May I grasp at a straw and mention, you might be thinking of Saul, whom became Paul. I dont want to change the OP, but why do you think the Lord changed the name of Saul. Could it be that as Saul, he was know as killer of the Christians? With a new name, at least he would have a change to witness?

Other thoughts?

Salty

A new name does have possibilities. But Saul did change his name to a conventional name.

Bitsy

Sorry, boys and girls. Scripture never says either that 'Saul' became 'Paul', or changed his name, or that the name of 'Paul' had been changed, before, nor does it say that 'henceforth he is to be known as 'Paul''.

What it does say about this is only this:

6 Now when they had gone through the island[a] to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.”
And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. (Acts 13:6-12 - NKJV)

That is the sum and substance of what is said about his two names. He had both, apparently, with Saul (Gr. "σαυλος" or 'Saulos') being related to his Hebrew lineage, and Paul (Gr. "παυλος" or 'Paulos') being related to his being a Roman citizen. Apparently the Holy Spirit chose to utilize the "Greek and Roman flavor" as Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles. Anything further, than the verse is pure speculation, and even I have engaged in a wee bit, here, although it does seem to fit, and seems plausable, as well. To me, at least.

BTW, SALTCITYBAPTIST, you grasped at your flag, 'er I mean straw! (Inside joke! Pete might get it, as well, if he's not too young. You know, push buttons, etc.) :wavey: :laugh:

Ed

 

[mcdirector]

OK Ed. My whole point - which I was trying to make again -- hence the use of the word conventional was that I mistakenly thought that the OP wanted to change his name to the name WITNESS which is unconventional.

I think my confusion had to do with the capitalization of the word witness in the subject line -- or it could have been my befuddled brain.

I also have experience with a name change. I've always been called Bitsy, but that was not the original name on my BC, even though I've never been called anything else. When I had my name legally changed to Bitsy, it did cause some issues legally. Some of those still crop up from time to time.

 

[EdSutton]

OK Ed. My whole point - which I was trying to make again -- hence the use of the word conventional was that I mistakenly thought that the OP wanted to change his name to the name WITNESS which is unconventional.

I think my confusion had to do with the capitalization of the word witness in the subject line -- or it could have been my befuddled brain.

I also have experience with a name change. I've always been called Bitsy, but that was not the original name on my BC, even though I've never been called anything else. When I had my name legally changed to Bitsy, it did cause some issues legally. Some of those still crop up from time to time.

How about the name of the late Chinese preacher, Witness Lee? Any clue as to whether that is anywhere near an accurate English rendering of his given name of "(李常受, pinyin Lǐ Chángshòu)"?? I honestly have absolutely no clue, as to this, but that is what I have always heard him called. I wonder??

Hmmm!

Ed

 

[pocadots1990]

May I grasp at a straw and mention, you might be thinking of Saul, whom became Paul. I dont want to change the OP, but why do you think the Lord changed the name of Saul. Could it be that as Saul, he was know as killer of the Christians? With a new name, at least he would have a change to witness?

Other thoughts?

Salty

From what I understand, God did not change Saul's name to Paul. If you read in Acts, Saul was his name to the Jews, even after his conversion, and Paul was his name to the Gentiles. Both names mean the same.

 

[John of Japan]

How about the name of the late Chinese preacher, Witness Lee? Any clue as to whether that is anywhere near an accurate English rendering of his given name of "(李常受, pinyin Lǐ Chángshòu)"?? I honestly have absolutely no clue, as to this, but that is what I have always heard him called. I wonder??

Hmmm!

Ed

Nope, his given in Chinese does not mean "Witness." I'm not sure exactly what it would mean in Chinese (maybe Su Wei can help), but in Japanese it would mean something like "already given."

Many Chinese Christians still choose a Western or Christian name for their children. On our trip to Hong Kong I was privileged to be asked by a young Chinese mother to help her name her little boy. I don't remember the name we chose, but I felt it to be a great honor to be asked.

Occasionally a Japanese Christian will do the same, but it is rare nowadays.