To Name Or Not To Name

What is in a name? For individuals our desire is to have someone hear our name and associate with it good character qualities. Companies desire that customers think of quality and service when they hear their name or see it written on a bill board. Churches also desire to have their communities see them in a good light as a place that loves, serves and cares about people. Along with this comes a desire to be known as a place of truth. The question today concerning our church name concerns the importance of denomination and the placement, or lack there of, on the churches name. Should we be known as “Rocky Road Baptist Church” or would it be better as simply “Church of the Rock?” For some removing the denominational association is equal to denying the faith. What are we going to do next, let a woman be the pastor? Are we ashamed of being so and so church? Do we still believe the Bible? It is interesting to me that folks associate denomination with theology and doctrine. Oh I understand that seeing a denominational association immediate tells you certain things about their beliefs but this is usually only for the believer not those who do not attend church. I have also made assumptions about a congregation because of their denomination only to find they were totally different from the norm.

I believe if we are really seeking to win the lost we should be more concerned with being seen as Christian rather than Lutheran, Baptist, Pentecostal or whatever other label we may hold. Those who already attend should know what the congregation and pastor believe and from what platform they may build those beliefs on without having to confirm it on their sign. Visitors, especially if they are already believers will figure out quickly what kind of church you are and know if they are in agreement. Visitors who do not know Christ need first to know you love them regardless of where they are or where they come from and that God loves them too. This is not to say that denominational names on a sign create automatic positive or negative associations. What it is a call to is an honest evaluation of what it is we really want to promote. Is it Christ and the gospel or an association? If we can do both effectively then by all means go forth and conquer, but if not which one will we make the trump card?