The Name: Honor or Blasphemy

The “Name” of God in Scripture carries profound meaning, because of its ultimacy. How a person treats the “Name,” either with honor or with blasphemy, determines his or her eternal destiny. Whether you honor or dishonor the one Lord God the Trinity can save or damn your soul.

Israel used “the name” (Heb. sem) to refer to the reality and power of the covenant Lord God. According to Old Testament theologians, “Yahweh and his name are interchangeable” (F. V. Reiterer et al, in Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament). This correlation between God and his name is so tight that, negatively, the Israelites were warned never to dishonor the “Name” of God (Exod. 20:7). By contrast, positively, true believers were taught to confess continually and exclusively the one true God, whose covenant name is Yahweh, “the Lord” (Deut. 6:4).

The New Testament makes it clear that this confession of divine unity includes the truth that “Jesus is Lord.” The basic Christian confession of “Jesus is Lord” can be said only by the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:3) and must be confessed, with faith, in order to constitute salvation (Rom. 10:9-10). In other words, Jesus, enfolded in the divine unity, is the “one Lord” (1 Cor. 8:6), who is “God” (John 1:1). The true believer will confess, like the inspired Apostle Thomas, that Jesus is “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).

Jesus required his followers to be immersed in his “Name” (Grk. onoma), the singular divine name of “the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19). And his Apostles restricted eternal salvation to those who know his “Name” (Acts 4:12). Hearing his Name, believing his Name, and confessing his one and only Name with faith and honor is, therefore, absolutely necessary for personal salvation.

“Blasphemy,” by contrast, is the rebellious angelic or human abuse of the Name (Neh. 9:18, 26; Rev. 13:5-6). Jesus Christ warned those false teachers who blasphemed the Holy Spirit that they were committing the unforgivable sin (Mark 3:28-29). Blasphemy, by definition, is directed against God. In this case, blasphemy was directed against the Spirit, who is God with the Father and the Son. Knowing and confessing the one and only true and living God, who is the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, is of paramount importance for your soul!

But here comes the rub today: Sometimes, the very people calling for blasphemy laws abuse his Name. One can see this from radical Muslims in Pakistan, who demand blasphemy laws, and from radical rightwing Christian Nationalists in America, who include Arian sympathizers.

Rather than inventing human laws for unbelievers not to abuse his Name, it would be wiser if those who call themselves “Christian” made sure they themselves truly hear, understand, and honor his Name. The scribes who came down from Jerusalem presumed they were honoring God, even as they dishonored the Holy Spirit of Jesus by claiming he was Beelzebul (Matt. 3:22)! Those presumptuous theologians thereby condemned their own souls. 

Speaking rightly or wrongly of the identity of God carries eternal consequences and ought never be attempted without dependence on divine revelation, heartfelt prayer, studied forethought, and humility before the Lord. The scribes who confronted Jesus thought they understood who God is, but they dishonored him through their very presumption before his human face and wild accusation against his spirit. Moreover, the problem of presumptuous theology did not stop in the New Testament period.

Later in his ministry, Jesus warned his own followers that many “false Christs” and their “false prophets” would come, so that even the elect might be led astray, if that were possible (Matt. 24:24). The warning issued by the Lord ought to be taken seriously in a day when many presume they know who God is and speak of him so glibly, especially after Immanuel Kant. The Enlightenment philosophy of Kant inhibited our epistemological access to metaphysical reality, suggesting theology is a matter of mere personal speculation.

Another great difficulty that came out of the Enlightenment concerns our general inability to take seriously enough the realm of the world of spirits, that is of angels. Let us remember that the Dragon and Antichrist and False Prophet are evil spirits (Rev. 13). And the Devil hates the Name of our Lord Jesus. What is Antichrist’s goal? To deny worship of Christ, to demote the power or authority of Christ, to doubt the wisdom of Christ, to deflect prayer away from Christ, to downplay the mystery of Christ, to denigrate the deity of Christ, to divide the unity of Christ, and/or to demean the humanity of Christ. Antichrist wants to dishonor, or blaspheme, Jesus Christ the Lord through every false doctrine.

Historic and contemporary and future heresies and errors and blasphemies against the very name of God are enormous problems that must be taken into account. How many think they know the Name of “God,” “the Lord,” “the Father,” “the Son,” “Christ,” and “the Holy Spirit,” when they really don’t? How many false teachers today, like the scribes of Jerusalem, don’t even know they are that which they condemn?

Honoring or dishonoring God by your confession is serious business with permanent consequences. So, how can you ensure that you yourself truly honor God’s Name?

First, pray! Jesus said, if we pray “in his Name,” that is, with his divine authority and according to his divine identity, then God would hear and answer our prayers. The fact that Jesus taught that such prayers can be pointed either toward the Father or the Son contradicts both ancient and modern Arians who claim we can pray only to the Father. Pray for God in Christ to help you honor his Name by his Holy Spirit (John 14:13).

Second, recall that every knee shall one day bow and confess his Name: “For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11). Have you prepared for that day by confessing Christ is God, who came in the flesh, died on the cross, arose from the dead, ascended to the eternal throne, and will reign forever?

Third, learn to hear the Spirit’s witness to the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ through the testimony of the universal church of Jesus Christ (Rev. 2:7, 11, etc.). Beware those who protest that they alone can be trusted for truth. This cultic attitude easily bends over into sectarian behavior that can pervert the preaching of the gospel. Let us learn to rejoice in the witness of believers in other times and places, too (John 10:16). This is where the major creeds, like the Nicene Creed and its clarifications regarding Christ and the Spirit in the subsequent ecumenical councils, become very important.

Theology for Every Person (3 Volumes)

A few years ago, the good people at LifeWay asked me to propose a set of systematic theology books. They allowed me to choose to focus either on the academy or on the people in the churches. I chose to focus on the churches as the primary audience, and from my proposal we together worked up a series entitled "Theology for Every Person." The three volumes are intended to help everyone realize that God calls each person to know and love him with all of one's heart, soul, mind, and strength. These three volumes, when taken together, cover the basic and most important details of systematic theology for the college and seminary classroom.

Volume 1: God

The first volume in the series is entitled God and was published in 2024. This book helps the reader enter the conversation of talk about God. The overarching theme is that of a journey into knowing God. The major doctrines considered are God, revelation, and theological method. I have written about these doctrines in numerous academic works. The academic details are summarized and simplified as much as possible without losing their meaning. My hope is that the reader will be delighted to enter the conversation with and about our Creator. You can find the book on sale with the publisher, B&H, or at a major retailer, such as Amazon.

Volume 2: Word

The second volume of Theology for Every Person is entitled Word and was published in 2026. This book helps the reader continue their journey into knowing God by focusing on the second Person of the Trinity, the eternal Word or Son of God. After two chapters on the Person of the Father are two chapters focused on the Person of the Word. Chapters five and six then consider the doctrines of creation and providence, while the next three chapters focus on who human beings are as created in the image of God yet as sinful. The final four chapters consider the work of Jesus Christ, centered in the cross but inclusive of his resurrection, ascension, heavenly session, and eternal reign. You can find the book on sale with the publisher, B&H, or at a major retailer, such as Amazon. 

Volume 3: Spirit

The third volume will be entitled Spirit and is expected to be published in 2028. It will consider the doctrine of the Person of the Holy Spirit, as well as the doctrines of the Kingdom of God, salvation and the Christian life, the church, and the last.

Endorsements

I appreciate how pastor theologians like the late Steve Gaines, as well as Andy Brown, Mark Forrest, Ryan King, and Darin Wood, alongside academic theologians like Glenn Butner, Rick Durst, Adam Harwood, Michael Haykin, and Kenneth Keathley, have kindly endorsed both these volumes. 

Video Sessions

I have taught portions of these books in various churches, testing them out on the laity, and been surprised by the great responses. I have also taught each chapter in the classroom to University and Seminary students, and many before gatherings of Pastors, Ministers, and Missionaries seeking a refresher course in theology. 

Recently, the First Baptist Church of Midland, Texas, led by Dr. Darin Wood, recorded three such sessions delivered to ministers who came from all over West Texas, including as far as El Paso. You are welcome to sit in on those sessions by videos located here:

• Session 1: Theology is for Every Person 
• Session 2: Is God Trinity? 
• Session 3: What Must We Say of the Trinity? 

May the readers be edified and the Lord be glorified by all three volumes of Theology for Every Person.

The Kindnesses of My Lord Jesus

Twenty-five years ago, I walked into an examination room at the Theology Faculty of University of Oxford to defend my dissertation. I shook, fearing Oxford’s Professor of Reformation History and the Archbishop of Wales would return this boy from the swamps of Louisiana to his home without honor.

They stood in their full regalia. As I visibly trembled, Rowan Williams nodded to Sir Diarmaid MacCulloch and broke the news to me: “Please sit, and do not be anxious. If this viva goes as we expect, we will propose this be one of the few dissertations published by Oxford University Press.”

That was one of the kindest things that had ever been done to me in an academic setting, exceeded only by the call I received earlier from Bill Tolar of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, announcing that my beloved alma mater elected me to return and teach theology with my own mentor, James Leo Garrett Jr.

On that day in 2000, I learned how to pastor younger theologians in an academic context from the future Archbishop of Canterbury. Yes, he helped ensure my work was of the highest academic quality, but he also helped ensure I was treated with dignity as one made in God’s image.

Yesterday, it was a joy to reunite with Rowan Williams for a moment as we stood on the stage by the pulpit of B. H. Carroll at the First Baptist Church of Waco, Texas. I presented him a copy of my latest book, God, the first volume of “Theology for Every Person”.

I also presented Todd Still, the Dean of George W. Truett Theological Seminary, with a copy of Special Revelation and Scripture. Dr. Still and Baylor University kindly granted me the use of their rooms at Regent’s Park College in 2022 so I could write my portion of that book co-authored with David Dockery.

I was also delighted to renew friendships with Steve Bezner and Preben Vang, professors at the university which spawned my Seminary 120 years ago. Dr. Vang once prompted Baylor to award Garrett a rare third doctorate before he passed. Dr. Bezner and I have often encouraged each other.

While I missed the celebration of David Dockery’s birthday, I was elated to renew some important relationships in my own life. It was also good to hear the first two of Rowan’s three Parchman lectures on the Trinity. The second lecture in particular will help orthodox Christians.

I also want to thank Matt Snowden, the Pastor of First Waco, for his kindnesses to my Teaching Assistant and me. Finally, Derrick Bledsoe, who plans to write on the Trinity, traveled with me to hear these lectures on Nicaea. Derrick was, as always, a personal blessing to me.

Our God has been so good to me. I feel as if every moment of my life has been one act of divine kindness stacked upon another. While I sometimes worried I might not make the grade or wondered how I would provide food for my children, Jesus my Lord has guided my life every moment.