ll my preaching life, I have been told, "Don't call names when you preach!" It is ironic that many of my own brethren will get upset if I call a denomination by its name even when no one present in our assembly is a part of any denomination! Should a preacher or teacher of the gospel call names? Is there a proper place for identifying a false teacher or practice? Let us notice some principles the Bible sets forth concerning calling names.

bviously, names are given in order to identify! You would have no idea who I was unless I told you my name! In the beginning, God named the first man and woman, Adam and Eve. Further, we find that God brought every creature to Adam to see what he would call them. Adam gave names to the animals! Friend, this is the way we know the difference between a cat and a mouse! We find that God sometimes gave special names to individuals; for instance, God changed the name of Abram to Abraham and Jacob to Israel. These names had a special meaning to God; He gave them to these worthy individuals. The Bible also teaches of a new name that God's people would wear: "...You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name” (Isa. 62:2). This name is first applied to the disciples at Antioch, i.e., Christian! Let us remember that names arc given in order to identify something or someone!

hat about calling names from the pulpit? Many say there is no need! Well, let us see. The Bible teaches that we are to “note” those who cause division and offenses (Rom. 16:17). If a person or a group of people are causing division, how do you "note" or "mark" them without identifying them? We have a responsibility to withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly! Just suppose the elders were to announce to the congregation their intent to withdraw from a brother or sister, yet not identify the person! Was it not the practice of Jesus and His apostles to call names when necessary? Who were the hypocrites that continuously tempted Jesus? "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!" what apostle was overtaken in hypocrisy? It was Peter (Gal. 2:11-13). The reason we know this is that Paul identified him by name! Yet, some will have you to believe that it is wrong to call names. "You might run them off!" is the cry (Peter didn't quit, did he?)! Not only did the teachers of the New Testament call names of individuals, they called the names of religious groups also! For example, the Judaizers were the Jews who were trying to bind the Old Testament on Christians! Such groups were identified many times with language that would get most preachers thrown out of pulpits today! In reference to these Judaizers notice how Paul warned the Philippians, "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!" (Phil. 3:2). What would you do if the preacher where you worshipped identified false teachers and religious groups with language like Paul's? I am sure that the Jews did riot like being called dogs, evil workers, or mutilators, nevertheless Paul simply warned his readers! The names Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Catholic, Lutheran, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness, etc; are names that identify religious groups, what they believe, and what they practice! These are names that people wear voluntarily. In fact, many are proud to wear such names! But it seems that my own brethren get out of sorts if a preacher calls them by the name they proudly wear!

ome still object and say to call names is not "speaking the truth in love!" Was the apostle Paul "speaking the truth in love" when he pointed out the false teachings of the Jews (Phil. 3:2)? Was he "speaking the truth in love" when he named Hyrnenaeus, Alexander, Phygellus, Hermogenes, and Demas (1 Tim. 1:20; 2 Tim. 1:15; 4:10)? Was John "speaking the truth in love" when he wrote concerning Diotrephes and said, “I will call to mind his deeds which he does" (3 John 9-10)? Sure, some may call names with an attitude that is not becoming to a Christian. But this does not mean it should not be done (Phil 1:15.18)!

et, another will object, "Preacher, you'll make them mad!" If my name is Randy, should it make me mad for someone to call me by that name? If one proudly wears a religious name, will it make him mad for a preacher to represent by name and what he believes? Suppose you went to a denominational church and their preacher said, “We have one who is 'Christian' here today!" Would you get mad if he taught what you believe? If so, maybe you need to be reminded of the words of Peter; "Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter" (1 Peter 4:16).

rethren, instead of getting mad at the preacher for calling names, maybe you need to support the preaching of the Gospel of Christ! There is a proper time and way to identity people and groups by name, warning others of their false doctrines! &

THE LORD’S SUPPER:

A COMMUNION MEAL

By Bob Myhan

he Lord’s Supper is not designed for the satisfaction of physical hunger and thirst, or for the nourishment of the physical body. It is designed to meet spiritual, rather than physical needs. As pointed out in our October 31 issue, it is a memorial meal, eaten in memory of the Lord’s death on our behalf. But it is also a communion meal. “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” (1 Cor. 10:16)

he word rendered “communion” in this passage is from the same word translated “fellowship.” It means “participation, association, intimacy.” When Christians eat the bread and drink the cup in the Lord’s Supper they participate in and have fellowship with the blessings of His body and blood.

f course, our fellowship or communion with Christ is not limited to that which we have in the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 1:9; 1 John 1:3). Paul wrote,

“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Phil. 3:8, 10).

his does not minimize the importance of the communion of the body and blood of Christ, which Christians enjoy in the Lord’s Supper. It is not possible for individuals to have a more intimate fellowship with the sacrifice of Christ than that which is available in the communion meal. When partaking worthily, their minds and hearts are consciously centered upon the suffering of Christ and the blessings involved in that loving sacrifice.

lso, the communion we have with the body and blood of Jesus Christ through the Lord’s Supper is but a foretaste of heavenly glory. In heaven our fellowship with Christ will be constant and eternal. The unity between Christ and Christians will never dissipate in heaven, and fellowship between them will never end. Joyful is the fellowship of believers on earth. But it will be immeasurably intensified in heaven, when we shall forever eat of the tree of life. &

The Bible teaches that, to become a Christian, an individual must:

Hear the word of God (Matthew 13:3-9; 18:23; 17:1-5)

Believe that Jesus is the Son of God (John 3:16; Acts 16:31)

Repent (Luke 24:46-47; Acts 17:30)

Confess faith (Romans 10:9-10; 1 Timothy 6:12)

Be baptized for the remission of sins (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 22:16)