First-name basis?

[DanteAlighieri]

I’ve been feeling unwell the past two days so I’ve been grumpy (and not just with you). Sorry for my abrasive comments.

I hope you feel better - I will pray for you!

Peace,
Dante

 

[DanteAlighieri]

This just came up in a conversation with a friend of mine.

Referring to Jesus as Christ or Lord is very different from referring to him as Jesus.

In part, it’s distancing. Saying “I love the Lord” puts him “out there.” Saying “I love Jesus” is much more intimate.

But as we talked we agreed there was an embarrassment factor in saying “I love Jesus.” It makes you very vulnerable to say that in front of someone else. It makes that relationship very clear, very real, and very intimate.

Wow - an interesting point! Perhaps I should think about this. I believe what I said about reverence, and I disagree with the “out there” assessment, but embarrassment…that’s something to chew on…

Thanks!

Peace,
Dante

 

[JReducation]

If we want to call Jesus by his formal name then we should call him by his legal name. Yeshua bar Yosef.

Christ is a modifier, not a name. It describes him. It’s not even a title, but a theological statement about his identity, as is Lord.

Fraternally,

JR

 

[DebChris]

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with calling Our Lord by His first name He is our King but He also wants us to know Him in a personal, intimate way. Not distantly. It’s possible to be close to Him yet still very reverent…

consider the Saints… they called Him “Jesus”, some even called Him “my Jesus” I think it’s beautiful!

God bless~

Wow - an interesting point! Perhaps I should think about this. I believe what I said about reverence, and I disagree with the “out there” assessment, but embarrassment…that’s something to chew on…

Thanks!

Peace,
Dante

I learned as a child to say “Jesus Christ,” and to bow my head at the name. This is still my preference because of the implied reference. It does not take away from the intimacy I enjoy.
I have lived in many different places throughout my life. There is respect that we show one another. Again as a child I was taught to never call an adult by his/her first name, to maintain formality. I do not like adding “uncle” or “aunt” to a first name to imply intimacy, unless that person is truly related. A southern tradition I love is adding “Mr.” or “Ms” before a person’s first name to show respect (the title) and familiarity (the title) simultaneously.
In conversation I most often say “Jesus Christ” while in prayer I or journalling I may write “Jesus, Lord” or simply “Lord.”

 

[Barry_Gabriel]

Reverence comes from the heart, not from a name. What would you call him other than Jesus, or My Lord? He did not have a surname as we understand it (perhaps BenYusuf, or maybe even Davidson). Besides, the gospels say “and Jesus said…”

 

[DebChris]

Reverence comes from the heart, not from a name. What would you call him other than Jesus, or My Lord? He did not have a surname as we understand it (perhaps BenYusuf, or maybe even Davidson). Besides, the gospels say “and Jesus said…”

I agree that reverence comes from the heart. There are times when I do simply say “Jesus.”
Nevertheless, it is my desire to show reverence that leads me to add “Christ.” I took criticism at one time because I could not say the name of Jesus without saying “Jesus Christ.” I would not expect the gospels to add Christ, which means anointed, every time they described the life of a human who just happens to be God.
Even in human relations, I learned early to say “ma’am” and “sir.” As a child it was unthinkable to call an adult by his/her first name, especially parents.
Yes, Jesus is my brother. He is still my Lord and my God. I still bow my head at the name of Jesus.
“Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory.”

 

[DanteAlighieri]

Reverence comes from the heart, not from a name. What would you call him other than Jesus, or My Lord? He did not have a surname as we understand it (perhaps BenYusuf, or maybe even Davidson). Besides, the gospels say “and Jesus said…”

This is not entirely true, otherwise there would not be a commandment about taking the Lord’s name in vain.

The things we choose to call the Son of God are very demonstrative of our attitude toward Him. As I said before, I always have felt more comfortable addressing Him as “Lord” or “Lord Jesus” and referring to Him as “Christ” – precisely because they are titles indicative of His majesty.

Peace,
Dante

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

The things we choose to call the Son of God are very demonstrative of our attitude toward Him. As I said before, I always have felt more comfortable addressing Him as “Lord” or “Lord Jesus” and referring to Him as “Christ” – precisely because they are titles indicative of His majesty.

I think there is a certain tension between recognizing Jesus’ human and divine natures. Compare what you said above about his majesty with this excerpt from Sunday’s gospel:

You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.

 

[DebChris]

I think there is a certain tension between recognizing Jesus’ human and divine natures. Compare what you said above about his majesty with this excerpt from Sunday’s gospel:

You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.

I do agree that there is a certain tension. It is often easier to look at the divinity of Christ and overlook his humanity.
Centuries after Jesus walked the earth, it is easy to overlook how radical a concept it was to call his father our own, as in the Our Father. We can even say “Abba” which means “Daddy.”
We are called to intimacy with our creator. We are called to intimacy with our God. It is not out of slavery that I say “Jesus Christ” during prayer.
Adding Christ is as natural to me as it was to add “sir” or “ma’am” when addressing my own parents. I never understood movies in which a parent told a child not to use those signs of respect. I know the difficulty many new recruits have calling NCO’s by rank rather than using the terms reserved for officers in the Army.
I do not think that Jesus is insulted when we continue to say “Lord.” Didn’t Mary and others call him “Rabboni” when she recognized him after the Resurrection? Thomas cried “My Lord and my God” after putting his fingers in the wounds of Christ. He had walked with the man for three years.