The Name of the Church

by Travis L Quertermous

From The Reminder, March 6, 2011

In Shakespeare’s famous play, Romeo and Juliet, Juliet asks Romeo, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." But in real life, we understand the importance of names. In religion, however, many folks have somehow reached the conclusion that names are not important. And so, they proceed to give their churches just any name they please. But suppose someone were to rename your children? Would you appreciate that? Then how do you think our Heavenly Father feels when folks start trying to rename His children?

Actually, there is no one single name for the Lord’s church in the Bible. It is called variously the body of Christ, the church of God, the churches of Christ, the kingdom of God/heaven, the household of faith, the house of God, the church of the firstborn, the temple of God, etc. Each of these names gives glory to God and His Son, shows how the church relates to God and Christ, and teaches us about it from different vantage-points. In no way are these different denominational churches, however.

May we ever be satisfied with the names the Holy Spirit chose for God’s people in His word. “The churches of Christ greet you” (Romans 16:16b).