The ‘sacred name movement’ did not begin in the New Testament Church that Jesus Christ set up, instead it originated by man in the early 20th Century from the ‘Church of God’ (Seventh Day) following the preaching of the founder of the Jehovah witnesses and was promoted in the 1930’s with the intent of conforming Christianity to it’s ‘Hebrew Roots.’
Generally those who belong to the ‘sacred name movement’ (SNM)
also practice some of the Old Testament laws given to the Israelites such as
Sabbath, food laws and festivals.
An early descendant of the SNM created the ‘Holy Name New
Testament Bible ‘in 1950 changing the names
from God to ‘Elohim’, Lord to
‘Yaweh’ and Jesus to ‘Yeshua’. SNM adherents also claim it is blasphemy to
use any other name but yet many inside their movement are undecided which name
is truly the sacred one. Since then
there have been various other translations of the bible from various sects of
the SNM.
While “Yahweh” and “Yahshua” are the
most common, some propose “Yahvah,” “Yahwah,” “Yohwah,” or” Yahowah” for God
and “Yeshua” or “Yahoshua” for Jesus as being the only names.
Some SNM members do not
believe Jesus is God and some believe that God is all in one-singular God.
(Modalists)
Many SNM members claim that the
names of God have to be properly pronounced for salvation and they claim to
have that pronunciation, yet many are still
struggling over which one.
Many also
claim that the Hebrew language is the one that His name must be spoken in. One interesting note is that the Hebrew
language did not use vowels so they run on supposition as to
pronunciation. Many also claim that if
one claims salvation under the Greek names as referred to in the New Testament
that a person is not saved as they have not called upon the proper name.
(Of which, remember, they don't agree on which one that is.)
(Of which, remember, they don't agree on which one that is.)
If this were true there
would be no way for many to be saved as there are nations that cannot pronounce
the Hebrew language. God’s Word does not
command us to learn the Hebrew language.
If we are all to speak ONE language (such as Hebrew like the SNM
believe) then why did God scatter the people and confound the language at the
tower of Babel? (Genesis 11)
Nowhere in the entire
bible are we instructed that there is one specific name to be used and one
pronunciation, instead we see MANY different names used. Here are just a few:
Alpha, Omega, Almighty (Revelation 1:8)
El Shaddai
(Shadday) God Almighty (Genesis
17:1)
I Am (Exodus 3:14)
El Elyon- Most High (Genesis 14:19)
Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The
everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6)
King of Kings and Lord of
Lords (Revelation 19:16)
Holy One (Isaiah 41:14)
God has, in His Holy Word, given us the name of our
Savior:
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted
him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at
the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in
earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue
should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)
Neither is there salvation in any
other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we
must be saved. (Acts 4:12)
The Greek name for Jesus is:
Iēsous
ee-ay-sooce'
Of Hebrew origin [H3091]; Jesus (that is, Jehoshua),
the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites: - Jesus.
Many SNM members claim
that the New Testament was written in Hebrew (which is the basis of their
claims and without it, their philosophy falls apart) thus stating that the
Greek words used for God, Lord and Jesus are coming from supposedly pagan
origins, thereby calling Christians pagans who use such names. In fact, the majority of SNM reject
Christianity itself, thereby denying holy scripture.
And when he had found
him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they
assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples
were called Christians first in
Antioch. (Acts 11:26)
Then Agrippa said
unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. (Acts 26:28)
Yet if any man suffer
as a Christian, let him not be
ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
(1 Peter 4:16)
(1 Peter 4:16)
They also claim that the
New Testament (New Covenant) may have been tampered with and
mis-translated. The proof is contrary to
their unbiblical accusations and
therefore it is supposition-adding to or taking away from God’s Word.
(Revelation 22 and
Deuteronomy 4)
Many
SNM members are involved in mysticism therefore alluding to (not necessarily
stating outright) that there is power in what they say are the proper names and
a special relationship with those who speak them. This is of the unbiblical Word of Faith
movement. There is no
indication in the Holy Scriptures that shows us there is power in a name.
We are to believe upon WHO Jesus was, (and what He did) not
specifically His ‘name’.
All these issues from
the SNM stem from the fact that they do not believe that the Living God of the
bible could deliver His Word (in truth or intact) to us today but instead imply that it is
corrupt and in need of correction by retranslating it into Hebrew, therefore
denying the scriptures that clearly show us the Old Covenant is gone and the
New Covenant is here (Hebrews 8) and been fulfilled by Jesus Christ
Himself. (Matthew 5:17)
So in summary we see the SNM
movement has many errors in their unbiblical theology and man-made
philosophies.
*SNM movement started roughly1900
years after the beginning of the New Testament church.
*The origins of the SNM stem
from the Jehovah Witness and Hebrew Roots which are unbiblical in the denial of
who Jesus was.
*They refuse to believe all the inspired writings of the New Testament
*Some believe that there is ONE God not three in one (God,
Jesus, Holy Spirit).
*Some believe that Jesus was not God.
*SNM groups are scattered in
their beliefs therefore to not have a solid biblical foundation to stand
on.
*They believe there is one specific name for God, Lord and Jesus but
they do not agree on which those are.
*They believe
that there are particular
pronunciations of the name of God, Lord and Jesus, yet
they do not all
agree on what pronunciation those are.
*They believe that the proper name must be believed upon in order
to obtain salvation; therefore (by their
theology) those who
have believed upon the
name of Jesus (or any other name contrary to which they have picked) be saved.
*They believe
there is power (mysticism) in the actual Hebrew names they claim.
*They believe
that the New Testament is in error by being written in Greek instead of Hebrew,
of which evidence is contrary.
*They do not believe that the Old Covenant is gone and the New has been
fulfilled by Jesus Christ, thereby denying scripture.
As we look at the evidence of the SNM we see they are outside of God’s
truth and therefore their theology is unbiblical and should not be
followed. Please help those you know to
see the truth and repent of their ways.
Jesus said in John 4:24 we must worship in Spirit and Truth.
Let’s look at God’s Word to see what happens if we worship in a lie:
Blessed are they that do his
commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in
through the gates into the city. 15 For
without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and
idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. (Revelation 22:14-1)
We love others so we share the truth
in love.
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life saving truth of the good news (gospel), please CLICK HERE to learn how you
can gain eternal life. Jesus said you
must be born from above to see the kingdom of heaven.
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