Family Name

In some cultures, when a couple marries, the wife does not take her husband’s last name as her own. Instead, she keeps her last name, but in formal introductions she is presented as her full name, of his last name. That small word—OF—carries deep meaning. It signifies belonging. She is now part of that household, that home.Some modern feminist movements may hear this and interpret it as, “Now she belongs to her husband.” From that perspective, the idea may feel uncomfortable. But if we look through the lens of ancient Jewish tradition, and more importantly, through the center of biblical truth, we find something deeper. Scripture tells us that a husband and wife leave their father and mother and become one. A new household is formed. A new story begins.Whether or not a woman takes her husband’s last name is not the point. What matters is that she now belongs to something new, a shared life, a shared future, a shared calling. A new house is being built.And that made me think…When we come to Christ, do we experience something similar? Do we, in a spiritual sense, take His name?The Bible tells us that in Christ we are no longer outsiders. We are brought into His household. We are grafted into His lineage. We belong to Him.Scripture tells us He sits at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us, speaking our names.So now, if we are part of the lineage of Jesus Christ, if we belong to His household, do we carry His name? Are we known as His?Something to ponderIn the meantime, let us rejoice, the Savior of the world went ahead of us to prepare something better for our eternity and since we are of his family, we have access to The Family Home!