What is your name? Is it Roman Catholic? If so, it is a contradiction of terms: for Catholic means on the whole, general; while Roman means something pertaining to Rome. Is it Latter-Day Saint? If so, you are not Apostolic: for the early Christians were not "Latter-Day" saints, but saints of the primitive kind. Is it Baptist? If so, you belie your name unless you baptize people: for that word means baptizer. Is it any name not found in the Bible to be applicable to the people of God? If so, then you are a sectarian and not a member of "the church, which is His body" (Eph. 1:22, 23): for its names are clearly set forth in the Divine Record. But let us see what the Lord Himself says about the name you should wear.

In Isa. 62:2 He says the Gentiles shall see Yahweh’s righteousness and all kings His glory, and to Israel He says, "and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of Yahweh shall name." Yes, "the mouth of Yahweh" shall name it! What, then, can the name be? Isaiah says it shall be "a new name" a name not worn by His people at the time the prophecy was uttered. The names Jews. Israel, Saints, Brethren. etc.. cannot, therefore, be under consideration. Again, Yahweh says, "And ye (Israel) shall leave thy name for a curse unto My chosen: for Yahweh Elohim (or, Jehovah God) shall slay thee (the Jewish-Dispensation or Institution), and call His servants by another name" (Isa. 65:15).

This "new name" was to be given in the house of God: for He says, "Unto them will I give in mine house ... a name better than of sons and daughters" (Isa. 56:5). But what is God’s house? "The house of God, which is the church of theLiving God" (I Tim. 3:15).

The "Gentiles saw God’s righteousness" in Acts 10th chapter. The time, therefore, had come for "the new name" to be given by "the mouth of Yahweh." Turning to Acts 11:26 we read: "And the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch." A new word — "CHRISTIANS"! A prophecy fulfilled! (Cp. Isa. 62:2). A "NEW NAME"! The heathen King Agrippa said to Paul: "Almost persuadest thou me to be a Christian" (Acts 26:28). The inspired Peter says, "If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf" or "in this name" (1 Pet. 4:16).

The church was established in Jerusalem, and was, at first, composed of Jews only; the Gentiles were called about ten years later, at the conversion of Cornelius. Messiah had come, and had been crucified, and had risen from among the dead. Messiah means The Anointed One—anointed as Prophet, Priest, and King. He had been crowned as such. The Gentiles had been called and had "seen Yahweh’s righteousness." The "new name" should be appropriate for both Jews and Gentiles. God showed superior wisdom in calling His people "Christians" or "Messiahians": for "Christ" is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word "Messiah" and is, therefore, Jewish; while the termination, "ian," is Latin and is, therefore, Gentilish. So "the new name" is appropriate for God’s people to wear, they having been called from among both Jews and Gentiles.

Some (who wish it so) say the name Christian was given in derision by the enemies of the Church. But this idea is childish and nonsensical: for the word "called" in Acts 11:26 is from Krematidzoo in Greek and means a divine calling or naming. In Matt. 2:11 the word is rendered "being warned of God." In Luke 2:26 it is rendered "it was revealed"—"revealed by the Holy Spirit." In Acts 10:22 it is rendered "warned from God." The word occurs nine times in the New Testament and in seven of its occurrences it is unquestionably used of a divine communication. The noun form occurs but once (Rom 11:4) and is there rendered "the answer of God." Robert Young’s Literal Translation renders Acts 11:26: "The disciples were, by divine appointment, called Christians, first at Antioch."

So we have, 1. "A new name." 2. A divine name. 3. A prophecy fulfilled. 4. A name which was approved by a heathen king (Acts 26:28) and by an inspired apostle (1 Pet. 4:16). A name upon which all can unite.