Reclaim His Name

Have the people who call themselves Christians lost the plot and forgotten the teachings of Jesus Christ? This question pierces the heart of faith today, summoning us to a journey of authenticity and deep reflection.

Today, the name of Jesus is often co-opted by those seeking personal gain or to endorse their political ideologies. But there are many believers in Christ who want to reclaim His name from the lips of those who by their deeds disgrace the name, and remind people what that name actually stands for.

If the only Jesus you ever knew was the Jay-sus of the Southern Baptists, we invite you to meet the real Jesus — a first-century Jewish son of a carpenter named Yeshua. He taught us about a love so alien to us, so bold, that when practiced the way he taught it, can change the world. This invitation beckons us away from the caricatures and towards the authentic Jesus of Nazareth, whose teachings cut to the heart of human experience and divine intention.

Reclaim His Name.

This refrain is not just about distancing ourselves from misrepresentations but about embracing the genuine essence of Christ’s message. It’s an acknowledgment that, too often, those who bear the name of Christian do not reflect the love, compassion, and radical inclusivity Jesus exemplified.

Mahatma Gandhi famously reflected this sentiment, saying, “I like your Christ, but I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” This observation stings with truth and calls us to a sincere examination of how well we mirror our Lord’s example.

Reclaim His Name.

It’s a challenge to reject the brand of Christianity promoted by charlatans who claim the mantle of Christianity without embodying its core commandment of love. These individuals, by leveraging Jesus’ name for purposes counter to his teachings, are guilty of taking the Lord’s name in vain—not in the trivial sense of verbal missteps but in the profound betrayal of His message.

The misuse of Jesus’ name for unloving ends is a grave misrepresentation of who He is and what He stands for. Those who misuse his name have caused so much pain for so many, tarnishing a name and a person who is the embodiment of love, grace, understanding, and acceptance.

Jesus only gave us two commands and told us they summed up all Scripture up to that point. They were to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor. Love is all that is necessary.

This profound simplicity underpins the entire Christian ethic. Love is not only the central tenet but the very essence of Christ’s teaching— a love that transcends boundaries, embraces the outcast, and seeks justice for the oppressed.

If you are an exvangelical, or are deconstructing an abusive faith, we want to urge you not to throw the baby Jesus out with the bathwater. We remind you that there are other forms of Christianity. There are mainline denominations like Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and Lutherans who put the love of Christ front and center.

Reclaim His Name.

Let this be our rallying cry as we seek to embody the true teachings of Jesus, distancing ourselves from those who misuse His name for their ends. Let us be Christians who live in such a way that others, seeing our love and our lives, might never have cause to echo Gandhi’s lament but instead find in us a reflection of the Christ we know, love, and follow.

In reclaiming His name, we commit to a path of love, justice, and humility, reflecting the heart of God who knows us, loves us, understands us, and forgives us.