Who named you? Pastor Alan Wright, discussing Peter’s confession of Jesus at Caesarea (Matt. 16:13-20), makes the point that the power to name a person is huge, for that power belongs to whoever or whatever is most important to you.

Peter recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah of Israel and the Lord of creation. When Jesus named him Peter (he had been “Simon” until then) it was settled. Peter means “rock.” Though Peter had to walk through some tough lessons, he was indeed the rock that Jesus said he was. He gave the key address at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-42) and was a recognized leader in the early church. He was most honored by being martyred for his faith.

In our neo-polytheistic culture, it is no wonder that so many are confused as to their identity. With the proliferation of gods giving out names to people, the fog of confused self-identity has settled on the land. Money is a favorite god dispensing names. Those who value it most are named by it and spend their lives running from poverty and trying vainly to accumulate enough of it to be significant. They measure their standing based on the symbols of wealth like houses, land, possessions, and the friends to whom those metrics are important. Many of these people (God called them fools in Luke 12:13-21) are so sad while trying desperately to be happy.

Another popular god is sex. When this god is given the right to rule it names people based on their various lusts and desires. While this is spun to look like freedom of expression, in reality it reduces humans to the level of animals, which are primarily defined biologically. Content or even proud to be identified by sexual preferences and practices, some conclude that they have no option but to be named by this criteria, but they have yet to hear that God has a better name for them.

We could go on identifying the gods of this culture that are eager to name people. For instance, those who value peer approval above all will be named by that cruel tyrant. They will live each day for secondhand pleasure. Not able to enjoy what they are doing because they are concerned what others think of it, they are slaves to approval and affirmation. The list is long and growing as other gods crowd into the mix, but you get the point. Who should name you?

There is only one who has the right to name us. He created us with a gracious plan for our lives. We are His by creation. After Adam and Eve chose to disobey Him, Satan began his long habit of accusing the race and assigning names based on criteria other than God’s word. But God’s plan was permanent and gracious. He sent His Son to be sin on our behalf so that we could be called the sons of God. We are His by redemption.

So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Gal. 4:7 (ESV)

This identity makes all other roles we play work in harmony. Living in a false identity guarantees disharmony and dissatisfaction. When God is most important to us we listen when He names us. We refuse to allow any of the cultural gods to have that power. They did not create us nor redeem us. They just want to conform us. They don’t have that right.