Cost of receiving new name
When I acted upon the command of God to take on a new name, I immediately
suffered persecution. My first persecution was by my immediate friends. People
who I had known for many years simply would not accept my new name. "You’ll
always be that old name to us," they would say.
"I have changed and am a new creature," I would explain. But they would not
believe me. Friends fell away fast.
I also tried to communicate with my earthly parents. They refused to
acknowledge the new name. They continued to write letters to the "old man." They
reasoned that they had created my name and were not going to abandon it.
Finally, I sent back one of their letters, unopened, along with a properly
addressed, stamped envelope. Even then, they would not put the letter inside the
envelope and remail it. For then they would be acknowledging that I was a new
creature.
| At least 50% of the population change their name when they are
married - it is common practice. Why, then, when I announce my marriage
to Christ, is my new name rejected? |
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