A Texas church of Christ has changed its name. According to a story reported in the May issue of the Christian Chronicle, (p. 8), a church of Christ and a Christian church have merged in Beaumont, Texas, and are calling themselves Christ Covenant Church. Similar instances of name changing is happening more and more often. What is wrong with it? What's in a name anyway? Is the name important?

It was in the case of John the baptizer. Before his birth an angel appeared unto Zacharias, his father, and announced that his wife Elizabeth would bare a son and that he was to be called John. As a sign, Zacharias would be unable to speak until all these things were done. Family and friends wanted to name him after his father, but Elizabeth objected, "Not so," she said, "He shall be called John." But, they reasoned, "There is none of thy kindred that is called by that name". Being unable to speak, he asked for a writing tablet and wrote: "His name is John." It was then that everything had been performed as the angel had instructed, and his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he was able to speak. (Luke 1)

Suppose the parents had taken the suggestion of their neighbors and kin folk and had given him the name of his father or some other name. Would Zacharias have been able to regain his speech? I doubt it. Why? Because the name God chose was important. It was an authorized name. No other name would suffice.

Names are important, especially names that are authorized by God. This is certainly true of the name of the church, Does God give an authorized name for the church? In Romans 16:16, we read "The churches of Christ salute you." Who is to deny that "church of Christ " is an authorized name?

The name is appropriate because the church belongs to Christ. It is a scriptural name; not a denominational name. It is an authorized name given by God. However, it is not the exclusive name by which the church is called in the Bible. It is also referred to as "church of God", "church of the Firstborn", etc. but, most of all, just "the church". All these names are scriptural.

In the business world, names are important. They are so important that they are often copyrighted. Not just anybody can use those names. Using unauthorized copyrighted names in business has brought on countless lawsuits.

You might say that the names that God has authorized in the Bible for the church are divinely copyrighted. Authority to wear these names is limited only to the true church, the church that we read about in the Bible. In order for any religious organization to have the right to wear any of these names, they must be able to prove that it is a New Testament church. Otherwise, it would be guilty of wearing these names illegally.

In order for a religious organization to prove that it has a right to wear any of these divinely authorized names, it must show from God's word that it is the church of the New Testament. It must show that it is exactly like the church we read about in God's word. It must have the same founder - Christ; founded at the same time - the first Pentecost day following Christ's resurrection from the dead; founded at the same place - the city of Jerusalem; have the same organization Christ the head with elders assisted by deacons in each local congregation; have the same worship - Lord's Supper each Sunday with acappella singing, praying, preaching and giving. And it must have the same terms of membership - faith, repentance, confession of a faith in Christ, and baptism for the remission of sins.

Does your church wear names that are authorized in the scriptures? And if so, does it qualify to wear those names legally?