What Is Jesus’ Real Name?
On this episode of the Critical Levitical podcast, we're talking about Jesus' real name, Preston's favorite Bible, and how to be nice at church. Well kinda.
Does the pronunciation of Jesus' name matter? Is it a big deal that as languages have evolved over the last 2,000 years, we've started saying Jesus instead of Yahshua? What should the Christian response be to the "God Bless the USA Bible"? What should a church service look like to an unbeliever?
We'll tackle these questions and more in the Critical Levitical podcast.
1. What is the real name of Jesus? The Jesus/Yeshua Debate
This is an interesting but sometimes divisive argument: is "Jesus" the correct name to use or should we always use "Yeshua", as it’s rendered in the original Hebrew? The simple answer is that names often change across languages and history. Many people in the Bible even have their names changed or are referred to as different names at different point. God's power isn’t limited by pronunciation—to assume that we have to get it exactly how they did 2000 years ago seems to try and limit God’s power. The message of Jesus transcends language, and the early apostles themselves wrote his name in Greek—so maybe we should chill a little on this debate.
2. Patriotism & Faith: The "God Bless the USA" Bible
Should we blend faith and nationalism? Let’s take a look at the release of a Bible that includes some of the founding documents for America. Does this honor God? While there’s nothing wrong with loving our country, we caution against merging Christianity with patriotism in a way that elevates national identity alongside (or above) faith. The Bible stands on its own and doesn’t need extra documents to validate its importance.
3. Is Church for everyone?
Should churches should be fully tailored to make outsiders feel comfortable? We all agree—church should be welcoming, but it’s primarily for believers to grow in their faith. Non-believers are always welcome, but the gospel itself is challenging and even offensive at times. Instead of making church an entertainment venue, it should be a place where people encounter truth, even (or especially) when it’s uncomfortable.
