Peace Lutheran Church - Austin, Texas                      January 1, 2012       William J. Sappenfield

Luke 2:15-21

¹⁵When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

²¹After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

            This year the first Sunday after Christmas has fallen on January 1, the eighth day of Jesus' birth when the scriptures tell us that Jesus went to the temple for the ritual of circumcision and receiving his name.  It is a festival day, so that is our celebration this morning – the name of Jesus.

            We are not going to pass over this opportunity;  January 1 does not fall on a Sunday that often and names are important.  They may be more important than we often think about.

            God's name is very important.  Later in our worship service we will pray the Lord's Prayer, as we always do.  The very first thing we will say in that prayer is "hallowed be your name".  God's name is important.

            God gave us the Ten Commandments.  First he told us that we should have no other gods before him.  Next on his list: "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain."  This is not a commandment for us to avoid God's name.  It is to get our attention about how important God's name is.  He does not say "Do not take the name of the Lord your God."  He says "Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain."       The name of God is not to be avoided; but it is not to be used irresponsibly.  Do not take God's name uselessly.  Do not take it for no good purpose.  Do not waste God's name.

            God's name is a precious thing.  It is given to us by God himself.  It is not to be taken lightly.  But it is to be taken.

            It is a frustrating thing to try to communicate - when you have something that needs to be said, or you want some information, or you need to have a conversation - and you cannot find out who you are dealing with.  You do not have a name you can call.

            When I first entered the ministry, I was under the direction of a man named Bishop Wissenbuehler.  He told about how worried he was early in his career as a bishop because it was getting back to him that he was insensitive to the concerns of people.  The story making the rounds was: people would complain to him and he would not respond.  He thought about that, and he realized the only complaints he did not respond to were anonymous letters or members of the synod council who would say, "I've been told by someone who has asked me not to use his name...".  He said he once got a telephone call expressing a great deal of anger.  And the bishop said he would try to find out more about the situation and call back.  He asked, “What is your name?”  The caller said, "I'm a concerned Christian." and hung up.  Bishop Wissenbuehler said it did not take long for him to learn not to take an anonymous concern too seriously.  If a name was not attached to it, there was no real commitment - just anger.

            I have seen people angry.  They want things changed, they want someone to know they are angry but sometimes they do not have the commitment to talk to the object of their anger.  They will not give that person their name.  Because to give the person their name they would have to enter into a relationship, they would have to work and change.  It is risky.  It' i more secure to just talk about someone and hope the anger will get back to them.  That way anger can be expressed without commitment.  That can only be done by withholding a name.

            When we want to get things done we give our name.  Of course, then we start having requirements to change things.  We have to enter into relationships.  It is risky.  We have to take responsibilities.  If you give someone your name, he can call on you.  He can make you a part of the change.

            Giving your name is risky.  God took that risk.  God gave us his name.  He came to us as Jesus Christ.

            As always, that was a risky thing to do.  We are not always a trustworthy group.  Humans have been known to take God's name and get it involved in some doubtful enterprises.

            God's name is being used in Iowa this week in an attempt to win elective office.  A thousand years ago we had the crusades.  A thousand years before that the crucifixion itself took place to protect God's name.

            Even with all those risks, God gave us his name.  ^“After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.”            God identified himself in no uncertain terms.  This would not be an anonymous God.  God wants you to know him.  In spite of how we may misuse the knowledge, God wants us to know him.

            Call on him; make him part of your life.  God wants you to know him; that is why he came as Jesus.  Make him part of your life - but not in vain.  Not uselessly.  God identifies himself; he gives us his name; and he tells us not to waste it.

            Baptism is an ancient custom.  Somewhere along the line the church started the practice of "officially" giving a baby his name at the time of baptism, and this has been called christening.  It is modeled on this rite that Jesus experienced in the temple when he was eight days old.  The covenant between this infant and God was affirmed and the infant received his name.  That is exactly what has happened countless times in the sacrament of baptism.

            But notice what the practice is called when the baby is named.  "Christening"  A baby is named - but it is not the point that he receives his name.  He receives the name of Christ.  The child is christened, named with the name of Christ.

            The child is made Christ's.  Marked with Christ's cross; given Christ's name...Christened.

            This is the day of "The Name of Jesus".

            We who are gathered here this morning have taken the name, too.  We call ourselves "Christians".  You are identified.  You are a Christian.  People have your name.  As always, that is a risky business.  When we identify ourselves as Christian we are expected to have a commitment to certain things.  We are expected to be willing to help people who need it.  We are expected to want the best for others, to practice higher ideals.  We are part of the Body of Christ and that is more than we could ever be on our own.  We have a purpose to bring God's love into the world that is more important than our individual lives.  We have a direction for our lives that will continue after we are gone.  Because of our name.

            Every time you identify yourself as a Christian you have "taken the name of the Lord your God".  God is happy about that.

            Do not waste it.  Do not take Christ's name "in vain".  Use it.  Call God into your life.  We need the strength that God can give us when we are discouraged, or tired, or bored.  We need the vision of a God who promises that all things are possible.

            You are named "Christian".  Take that name and give yourself life.  Walk around telling everyone your name through the things you do, the kindness you show, your imagination.

            An eight day old baby was named.  He was identified as the baby who had come for the purpose of bringing God into the world.

            You were created for a purpose, too.  You were named by God to welcome his kingdom.  You were marked with the sign of the cross and given the name of Christ. 

Take that name.  Do not take the name in vain.  Do not waste it.  It is too precious a gift.  It is a gift that identifies us, and leads us, and makes us one with God.  Do not take it in vain, but do take the name.  You are named by God as one of his own.