“Name Dropping”
Sermon Preached at The Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia
on Sunday May 3rd 2009 by the Reverend Alan Neale
“Name Dropping”
Today’s Collect (Prayer for the Day)… “Jesus is the Good Shepherd of the people: grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us by name and follow where he leads”
As an older woman entered a country church, the usher asked where she would like to sit. She indicated the front row. “Oh” said the usher, “you shouldn’t sit there because they were having boring guest preacher that day”. The woman, bristling, asked, “Do you know who I am?”. When the usher said no, she said, “I am the preacher’s mother!”. The usher then asked her if she knew his name to which she replied no. “Good” he said and quickly left!
Sometimes we will do our best not to drop names – even our own!
But look to today’s reading from the fourth chapter of Acts and we see names being dropped in abundance.
First, Luke would have us be impressed by the array of those who were about to interrogate the fisherman from Galilee… Luke mentions in passing “the rulers, elders and scribes” but that becomes insufficient and so he quickly begins to name drop… “Annas, Caiaphas, John and Alexander”.
Second, the prisoners are asked by what name they had healed the lame at the Gate Beautiful… Peter and John, it was clearly assumed, would name drop.
And third… “Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit” tell his inquisitors that he had acted “in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth”.
And the practice continues in the third chapter of John’s first Epistle (read also today)… “we must believe in the Name of Jesus Christ”.
Most of us, even those a little guilty of the practice, find the habit of “name-dropping” a little obsequious, somewhat irritating and generally rather pathetic… as Her Majesty the Queen once said to me!!!
I will confess to you that as we prepared for our 150th Celebrations and were looking for sponsors, I sometimes readily “name dropped” as to those already supporting the event… which, I know, shaped the response of a few corporate sponsors and, yes, even an individual or two in the congregation!
And yet… upon a little reflection we come to realize that those who habitually are prone to “name dropping” are probably a little insecure of their role and anxious about their value.
And yet… as a Christian early in the faith (some 45 years ago) I was taught to regularly end my prayers with the phrase… “In Jesus’ Name”… that here was the Name above all Names, the Name at which everyone will one day bow, the Name (to quote John Newton) “sweet to the believer’s ear”.
And yet… we see the power of names throughout the Scriptures…
In Genesis, Adam is charged to “name” the animals and, thereby, to exercise control over them,
in Genesis, Jacob wrestling with the angel tries to discover the angel’s name so that he might overcome him,
I in the Gospels, Jesus often discovers the name of the demon before him so that with authority he might then exorcise it and dispatch it quickly…
To know and use the name… is to indicate some special relationship, to disavow isolation and own one’s place in community.
To know and use the name… is, at least, to exercise some influence and, at best, control and power.
It is then surely not surprising that the traditional way in which the addict introduces him/herself at 12 Step Meetings is by name and also by addiction… my name is Bill and I am an alcoholic for thereby the addict affirms he is no longer alone and isolated and by naming his addiction and disease he moves “through the triumphant arch” toward freedom!
And this practice, surely, must continue in the lives of Christians and in the life of the Church… that which threatens and debilitates the spiritual health of the Christian and the spiritual life of the Church may sometimes have to be named… otherwise what is faced and courted is increasing isolation and fragmentation, otherwise what is faced and courted is the increasing influence of destruction and negativity.
And this task (to identify and name that which is destructive) is incumbent not only upon the spiritual leaders of faith communities but also, for example. Incumbent upon those given charge of families and, also, those given charge of our nation.
To use the name indicates some relationship… isn’t this why some of us bristle a little when the telemarketer calls us… by name and indicates a long-standing friendship. Am I the only one who sometimes responds (a little testily) “Do I know you?”.
To use the name indicates some control… and yes I learned this truth so quickly (and of necessity) when I was teaching in England. To point and say, “You boy, there…” is by no means as effective as speaking the name.
Today’s Gospel from the tenth chapter of John speaks of the Good Shepherd and, though the verse is not actually in today’s reading, the chapter contains these words (chapter ten, verses three to five)… “He calls the sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice… (verse thirteen) I know my own sheep”.
Friends, I believe that here is some of the greatest news which our souls long to hear, which our lives crave to be true… the Good Shepherd not only knows us each by name but He also calls us by name daily, probably even from moment to moment and one of the tragic and wretched sadnessess of so many (perhaps uniquely poignant and pathetic in the church) is that often we are persuaded the Good Shepherd does not care… does not know…. does not lead. This, oh let it shouted so loudly, this is patently not true.
We are today, you, me, are invited to renew our relationship, friendship, acquaintance with the Lord Jesus (The Good Shepherd) but we are also charged to surrender to him… there is no other way to the place of “green pastures, still waters and abundant tables”.
On this day of our Annual Meeting, if we will want God’s blessing upon our lives, upon this church, then we will re-commit ourselves to friendship with Jesus and to surrender to Jesus. This is the way
I conclude with words written by the erstwhile slave-trader John Newton… the man who discovered that despite his cruel and wicked life, Jesus loved him with an abundant love and showered upon him “amazing grace”… the man who surrendered his life to Jesus.
“How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear;
It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds and drives away our fear.
It makes the wounded spirit whole, and calms the troubled breast;
‘tis manna to the hungry soul and to the weary rest.
Dear Name, the rock on which I build, my shield and hiding place,
My never-failing treasury, filled with boundless stores of grace”.
Today I invite you to join with me… as I renew my friendship with Jesus and offer, as best I can, my surrender to His most perfect will.
And will you say… AMEN?
