By Rev. J R Norwood, PhD
In modern American culture, people are known by many different names. Sometimes the names are their formal legal name, written on the birth certificate and other legal documents. And, sometimes the name is more of a well-known nickname, given by family, friends, and community members. There are some people who are better known by their nicknames than by their actual names. There are also various aliases that may be used for business. Sometimes entertainers or authors will use pseudonyms instead of their actual name. None of these various names are necessarily in conflict with the concept of receiving a “new name” when one is born again as a “Child of God” or the victorious eternal name granted by our Lord and Savior when we will be received in his heavenly kingdom.
In biblical history, many of the heroes of the faith were known by various names. Sometimes the alternate names were given by God himself. Abram became Abraham, Sarai became Sarah, Jacob became Israel. In the New Testament, we see that Levi becomes Matthew and Simon becomes Peter. However, there are also alternate names that were given to various biblical figures by their communities or political leaders: Joseph became Zaphenath-Peneah; Gideon became Jerubaal; Solomon was also known as Jedidiah; Uzziah was also called Azariah; Daniel became Belteshazzar; and the Babylonian names of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were actually called in Hebrew, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Additionally, there are alternate names that are used where a name is translated into a different language, so Saul becomes Paul and Peter is also known as Cephas. So the concept of having various appellations referring to the same individual is commonplace even in Scripture.
When our ancestors were converted to Christianity, the misguided teaching of the missionaries falsely added their cultural bias to the proclamation of the gospel and declared our ancestral names to be “heathen” or “savage” names… and even speaking our ancestral language was demonized and punished by non-Native authorities. Our ancestors were encouraged, and sometimes forced, to replace their names with names of European heritage. However, such a teaching has no biblical basis and is actually racist. There is no culture or race whose language and whose names are inherently more holy than any other. And if we were to erroneously suggest this to be the case, then the most logical languages to be used for Christian naming would not be of English, Spanish, Italian, German, or French origin, but rather should be Hebrew and Greek, the original languages of Scripture. And, based upon this assumption, logic would also dictate that we would be encouraged to use the original forms of the biblical names in our worship, so that “Jesus” would be pronounced “Yeshua,” which is our Lord’s name in Hebrew... or “Iesous,” which is how our Lord’s name is pronounced in Greek. But this is not the common practice among American, English-speaking, Christians. Nor is it part of the common practice today that modern missionaries force European names upon converts in non-European countries. It could be said that the continuing practice of the naming ceremony among Christian tribal people is a correction of grievous cultural crime committed against our ancestors, and a witness to the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ saves us as American Indians and not by making us into Europeans.
People interpret the giving and receiving of tribal names in different ways. However, at the core of the giving of such a name is the notion of honoring that individual with a description of what they already have demonstrated themselves to be, or representing the hopes and aspirations of what they shall one day become. Giving a ceremonial name is a celebration of one’s culture and receiving a tribal ceremonial name is being blessed and honored by that culture. It is called a “ceremonial” name because it was bestowed in a tribal ceremony. It does not “change” any other name by which a person may be already known, nor does it limit the names that may be attributed to an individual in the future. The name is given and received in a way of honoring the culture out of which it comes. It is a way of perpetuating that culture into the future. It represents the way you are seen by the name giver and the way that the community may view you, not necessarily how you may see yourself.
For some, they may choose to use their tribal ceremonial name as their primary name and some have even changed their legal name to the name given in tribal ceremony. However, this need not be the case, nor is it the case, for most people who have received a tribal ceremonial name. Some simply use it as an alternate name on occasions, others incorporated into the way that they may write their own names from time to time - placing the ceremonial name between their legal first and legal last name or even just as their last name. Still, for others, it is a private matter that is rarely used in public settings. Some have said that the tribal ceremonial name is the name by which they approach God in prayer, opening or closing their prayers by stating their name before him as reminder to themselves in prayer about how their community views them or what their community hopes for them. Others have simply used it when introducing themselves as they represent their tribe at various functions. How it is used, is a matter of personal interpretation. However, although often repeated, the tradition that the name bestowed in a naming ceremony is the name by which you must approach the Creator in order for Him to recognize you or the only way that the ancestors will recognize you is neither a Lenape, Nanticoke, or Christian historical tradition. As the Creator is all-knowing, one of his children need not identify themselves for him to know who they are or acknowledge them.
As a Christian, I understand that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ knows me better than I know myself and has known me and claimed me by his mercy and grace from before the beginning of time (Ephesians 1). I am grateful for the name my parents gave me at birth, for the many loving and affectionate nicknames given at various stages of my life by family and friends, and for the ceremonial name I was honored with during a tribal naming ceremony. Jesus Christ is well aware of all of these various names. He knows me by each of them, and he knows me by the name given through his grace and the name I shall know myself as, when I one day see him face-to-face. Celebrating the culture through which he created me and in which he saved me is an honorable thing, especially as I celebrate him and the salvation he brings within the context of that culture. Accepting a ceremonial name and striving to live up to the depth of its meaning is done within the context of my walk of discipleship. I was given the name “Smiling Thunderbear” because the one who gave me the name said she saw my jovial and joy filled nature expressed with a smile that she said seemed to stay upon my face and because she could sense that I would be a ferocious defender of my people, like a bear… whose roar can be heard from a distance, like thunder … and, like a fierce bear still appears to be “cuddly” (as she put it) my fierceness is covered in warmth and approachableness. This is an honorable thing. What she saw in me to give me this name does not stem from me, but from the Lord working on me and through me by divine grace.
Life’s achievements or struggles may cause new names to be given to any who have already received a tribal ceremonial name. This was common among our people. The names can be seen as forming a story of one’s life and how the community witnessed that life. Whether a person receives a name or not is a matter of personal preference and conscience. No one should be forced to receive a name, nor should they feel as though they must receive one in order to be “more Indian.” However, no Christian should ever feel as though they should avoid receiving a name because it is in conflict with biblical doctrine. This would be an error based upon cultural biases and not biblical truth.
In modern American culture, people are known by many different names. Sometimes the names are their formal legal name, written on the birth certificate and other legal documents. And, sometimes the name is more of a well-known nickname, given by family, friends, and community members. There are some people who are better known by their nicknames than by their actual names. There are also various aliases that may be used for business. Sometimes entertainers or authors will use pseudonyms instead of their actual name. None of these various names are necessarily in conflict with the concept of receiving a “new name” when one is born again as a “Child of God” or the victorious eternal name granted by our Lord and Savior when we will be received in his heavenly kingdom.
In biblical history, many of the heroes of the faith were known by various names. Sometimes the alternate names were given by God himself. Abram became Abraham, Sarai became Sarah, Jacob became Israel. In the New Testament, we see that Levi becomes Matthew and Simon becomes Peter. However, there are also alternate names that were given to various biblical figures by their communities or political leaders: Joseph became Zaphenath-Peneah; Gideon became Jerubaal; Solomon was also known as Jedidiah; Uzziah was also called Azariah; Daniel became Belteshazzar; and the Babylonian names of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were actually called in Hebrew, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Additionally, there are alternate names that are used where a name is translated into a different language, so Saul becomes Paul and Peter is also known as Cephas. So the concept of having various appellations referring to the same individual is commonplace even in Scripture.
When our ancestors were converted to Christianity, the misguided teaching of the missionaries falsely added their cultural bias to the proclamation of the gospel and declared our ancestral names to be “heathen” or “savage” names… and even speaking our ancestral language was demonized and punished by non-Native authorities. Our ancestors were encouraged, and sometimes forced, to replace their names with names of European heritage. However, such a teaching has no biblical basis and is actually racist. There is no culture or race whose language and whose names are inherently more holy than any other. And if we were to erroneously suggest this to be the case, then the most logical languages to be used for Christian naming would not be of English, Spanish, Italian, German, or French origin, but rather should be Hebrew and Greek, the original languages of Scripture. And, based upon this assumption, logic would also dictate that we would be encouraged to use the original forms of the biblical names in our worship, so that “Jesus” would be pronounced “Yeshua,” which is our Lord’s name in Hebrew... or “Iesous,” which is how our Lord’s name is pronounced in Greek. But this is not the common practice among American, English-speaking, Christians. Nor is it part of the common practice today that modern missionaries force European names upon converts in non-European countries. It could be said that the continuing practice of the naming ceremony among Christian tribal people is a correction of grievous cultural crime committed against our ancestors, and a witness to the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ saves us as American Indians and not by making us into Europeans.
People interpret the giving and receiving of tribal names in different ways. However, at the core of the giving of such a name is the notion of honoring that individual with a description of what they already have demonstrated themselves to be, or representing the hopes and aspirations of what they shall one day become. Giving a ceremonial name is a celebration of one’s culture and receiving a tribal ceremonial name is being blessed and honored by that culture. It is called a “ceremonial” name because it was bestowed in a tribal ceremony. It does not “change” any other name by which a person may be already known, nor does it limit the names that may be attributed to an individual in the future. The name is given and received in a way of honoring the culture out of which it comes. It is a way of perpetuating that culture into the future. It represents the way you are seen by the name giver and the way that the community may view you, not necessarily how you may see yourself.
For some, they may choose to use their tribal ceremonial name as their primary name and some have even changed their legal name to the name given in tribal ceremony. However, this need not be the case, nor is it the case, for most people who have received a tribal ceremonial name. Some simply use it as an alternate name on occasions, others incorporated into the way that they may write their own names from time to time - placing the ceremonial name between their legal first and legal last name or even just as their last name. Still, for others, it is a private matter that is rarely used in public settings. Some have said that the tribal ceremonial name is the name by which they approach God in prayer, opening or closing their prayers by stating their name before him as reminder to themselves in prayer about how their community views them or what their community hopes for them. Others have simply used it when introducing themselves as they represent their tribe at various functions. How it is used, is a matter of personal interpretation. However, although often repeated, the tradition that the name bestowed in a naming ceremony is the name by which you must approach the Creator in order for Him to recognize you or the only way that the ancestors will recognize you is neither a Lenape, Nanticoke, or Christian historical tradition. As the Creator is all-knowing, one of his children need not identify themselves for him to know who they are or acknowledge them.
As a Christian, I understand that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ knows me better than I know myself and has known me and claimed me by his mercy and grace from before the beginning of time (Ephesians 1). I am grateful for the name my parents gave me at birth, for the many loving and affectionate nicknames given at various stages of my life by family and friends, and for the ceremonial name I was honored with during a tribal naming ceremony. Jesus Christ is well aware of all of these various names. He knows me by each of them, and he knows me by the name given through his grace and the name I shall know myself as, when I one day see him face-to-face. Celebrating the culture through which he created me and in which he saved me is an honorable thing, especially as I celebrate him and the salvation he brings within the context of that culture. Accepting a ceremonial name and striving to live up to the depth of its meaning is done within the context of my walk of discipleship. I was given the name “Smiling Thunderbear” because the one who gave me the name said she saw my jovial and joy filled nature expressed with a smile that she said seemed to stay upon my face and because she could sense that I would be a ferocious defender of my people, like a bear… whose roar can be heard from a distance, like thunder … and, like a fierce bear still appears to be “cuddly” (as she put it) my fierceness is covered in warmth and approachableness. This is an honorable thing. What she saw in me to give me this name does not stem from me, but from the Lord working on me and through me by divine grace.
Life’s achievements or struggles may cause new names to be given to any who have already received a tribal ceremonial name. This was common among our people. The names can be seen as forming a story of one’s life and how the community witnessed that life. Whether a person receives a name or not is a matter of personal preference and conscience. No one should be forced to receive a name, nor should they feel as though they must receive one in order to be “more Indian.” However, no Christian should ever feel as though they should avoid receiving a name because it is in conflict with biblical doctrine. This would be an error based upon cultural biases and not biblical truth.
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