WHAT'S IN A NAME?

What’s in a name?

The mention of certain names (first names only) speaks volumes. These names can awaken memories of one’s childhood, seasons in life, and even periods of despair. The mention of names such as Whitney, Cher, Prince, Michael, Beyonce’ etc., are unmistakable. We know who they are without question, and to a large degree, their names represent something beyond themselves. I get this. I understand this. You, no doubt, can share my sentiments. Yet, though this is the case, there is something very perplexing to me about one specific name and its famous, or should I say, infamous social connotation.

Throughout the year I am honored to go to churches and do seminars related to my ministry, Christ Above Culture Ministries. On one such occasion as I was going over my first session, I noticed an individual who, as preachers would say, “was with me” the whole time. This means that their attention, eyes, occasional nods, proved they were engaging, if not agreeing, with what I was saying. Throughout the session I kept feeling a sense that the Lord, for whatever reason, was going to use this member to shape their church in this area of racial and relational unity.

After the session this member came to me and, began sharing their heart for the gospel and racial unity within the church. I told this individual I sensed that the Lord was going to use them in strategic ways in their church and as I did so she began to cry. She then said these words to me that gave a bit of humor to this very weighty moment. She responded by saying, “I sure do hope so. And it’s funny because my name is Karen!

What’s in a name?

It is a tragedy that in our country a name has been associated with the evils of racial exclusion (racism as it is known socially). Some of the social-cultural movements that seek to bring about justice end up creating injustices in their wake. We have given racial exclusion a name other than the one it deserves:

· The name of racial exclusion is sin

· The name of black-on-black crime is sin

· The name of cops killing black men is sin

· The name of white women treating black people bad is sin

· The name of black people treating white people bad is sin

· The name of slavery is sin

I think if we learned that name, sin, and all that it brings we would find that it comes in all shapes, sizes, colors and, yes, names.

My hope is that the church would stop capitulating to the world, its ways, and its evaluation of things. I hope that we will stop endorsing the nonsense of associating names with acts of racial exclusion. That we have done this shows not how widespread racial exclusion is but how deep and pervasive the depravity of man is.

I once met a lady named Karen. She was a kind and godly lady. She was a lady who told me she would walk to church if she needed to, because that is how much she loved Christ and her local church. That would not be a short walk she told me. This Karen spoke about her love for all people and her efforts to be a conduit of God’s grace, love, and kindness to all. I believe her. This Karen listened to my sessions and wept through a good portion of both. The content may not have been that moving… maybe it was really that bad! Here is what I sense was happening: the Lord was affirming her heart and passions for the unity of the bride, the church.

The words here represent my small, perhaps insignificant, attempt not simply to redeem (socially) the name, Karen. We do, however, need to stop this nonsense and, as the church, not fall into worldly cynicism regarding racial exclusion. This is my attempt to call us to not allow the superficial to dictate our actions. It is a call to think honestly, and intelligently about racial exclusion, an issue that poses a threat to the beauty of Jesus displayed in the unity of His people. This issue has never been about any Karen. It has always been about sin.

So, to the Karen I met, thank you. Thank you for loving Christ, loving His church, and loving all people. Thank you for letting love for Christ dominate who you are and how you engage all people. It would be humorous and above all glorious, if racial harmony comes through the witness and work of you… a woman named Karen.

May the Lord be pleased to shut the mouths of so many by doing so!