These days, some Christians believe there is special power, privilege, or meaning in using what they believe to be a Hebrew sacred name of God.
However, Christians have NO need to use an ancient Hebrew sacred name for God. They are unnecessary, not commanded, and are misleading. The following seven points will help explain why:
However, Christians have NO need to use an ancient Hebrew sacred name for God. They are unnecessary, not commanded, and are misleading. The following seven points will help explain why:
1. In Matthew 6:9, Jesus specifically taught believers HOW to pray. He taught us the name of the Person we are to pray to: Our Father..., not Yahweh. Why would we disregard the Lord's teaching about prayer?
2. Jesus' High Priestly prayer in John 17 was to the Father not Yahweh. Why didn't the only Begotten Son of God honor His Father with a special Hebrew name during such an intimate time in which He wanted others to hear? He didn't, so why should we?
3. Jesus cried out on the cross, "Eli, Eli ... my God, my God" in Aramaic (Matthew 27:46), why not Hebrew? Why not an ancient Hebrew sacred name at such an ultimate beyond-words experience? Perhaps because the Hebrew names were not important?
4. Jesus taught us the name of God we ought to be praying to, "our Father" (Matthew 6:9, John 17:1).
"Our Father which art in heaven"
5. Hebrew names for God are more titles than names as we think of them (e.g. Adonai—Lord and master; Elohim— almighty God, Jehovah—self-existent one etc.). They are references to God, the Creator, the Almighty, Lord God.
But Jesus taught us a new and living way (Hebrews 10:20), which is that in Christ, God becomes our Father (cf. Galatians 4:6). Why go back to the old way of ancient Hebrew names when Jesus has given us a new way?
But Jesus taught us a new and living way (Hebrews 10:20), which is that in Christ, God becomes our Father (cf. Galatians 4:6). Why go back to the old way of ancient Hebrew names when Jesus has given us a new way?
6. The specific term Yahweh has conspicuous similarities to pagan sources. Do we really know what we are saying when we use these sacred names?
7. Where is the command in the New Testament for believers to use some kind of special Hebrew sacred name? We are taught to pray to the Father in Jesus' name (John 15:16).
Hope this helps some who struggle with the topic. Let me know what you think in the comments.
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Ancient Hebrew manuscript image source: https://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/benedek
Open Bible Image source: kelly-sikkema-275193-unsplash
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