Do you use God's name?

Question

I'm a Christian who receives (and enjoys) newsletters from JewsforJesus (thanks guys--keep up the good work!) I'm curious: I've heard reasons as to why many Jews do not use the name of God as stated in Exodus (YHWH, Yahweh, or Jehovah in KJV), and I've even seen some Jews write "G_d." Do Messianic's hold the same beliefs concerning the Father's name?

Answer 1

If you have a friend, do you simply say "Hey you!" all the time? We are supposed to develope a close relationship with God. Why not call Him by name? He told us His name in Psalms 83: 18, Jehovah.

Oh there are different ways of pronouncing it, but that is the most common way. It is important to use it as true Christians can be identified by using that name just as Jesus did.

Answer 2

Yes, I do use it as it differentiates himself from all the false gods that He, as the Father, has also chose to include, by name, in his Word the Bible.


Here, however, is some info that shows why the name faded over the centuries and only in the last 100+ years has been restored to it's proper place regardless of what others may have to say. Remember Jesus stated:

“I have made your name manifest to the men you gave me out of the world -John 17:6

Also, regarding prophecies about the Christ:

(Psalm 22:22) I will declare your name to my brothers; In the middle of the congregation I shall praise you.

(Acts 15:14) Sym′e·on has related thoroughly how God for the first time turned his attention to the nations to take out of them a people for his name.

Superstition hides the name.

At some point a superstitious idea arose among the Jews that it was wrong even to pronounce the divine name (represented by the Tetragrammaton). Just what basis was originally assigned for discontinuing the use of the name is not definitely known. Some hold that the name was viewed as being too sacred for imperfect lips to speak. Yet the Hebrew Scriptures themselves give no evidence that any of God’s true servants ever felt any hesitancy about pronouncing his name. Non-Biblical Hebrew documents, such as the so-called Lachish Letters, show the name was used in regular correspondence in Palestine during the latter part of the seventh century B.C.E.

Another view is that the intent was to keep non-Jewish peoples from knowing the name and possibly misusing it. However, Jehovah himself said that he would ‘have his name declared in all the earth’ (Ex 9:16; compare 1Ch 16:23, 24; Ps 113:3; Mal 1:11, 14), to be known even by his adversaries. (Isa 64:2) The name was in fact known and used by pagan nations both in pre-Common Era times and in the early centuries of the Common Era. (The Jewish Encyclopedia, 1976, Vol. XII, p. 119) Another claim is that the purpose was to protect the name from use in magical rites. If so, this was poor reasoning, as it is obvious that the more mysterious the name became through disuse the more it would suit the purposes of practicers of magic.

Answer 3

Yes, the Messiah himself noted the importance of using the Divine Name.

(John 17:26) [Jesus said] I have made your name known to them and will make it known, in order that the love with which you loved me may be in them


Interestingly, even the Encyclopaedia Judaica says that “the avoidance of pronouncing the name YHWH ... was caused by a misunderstanding of the Third Commandment.”
http://www.jehovantodistajat.fi/e/20040122/article_02.htm

(Psalms 83:18) That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah, You alone are the Most High over all the earth

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/na/
http://watchtower.org/e/20040122/

Answer 4

I dont know.

John 3:16[kjv] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

so when we believe in JESUS we have eternal life.JESUS lived a sinless life and gave up his life as a sacrifice so we can be sin free. Ask JESUS to come into your heart and forgive ur sins and cleanse ur past with his blood.

With a simple prayer like above u can be saved.JESUS loves u and wants u to be saved.

Answer 5

What exactly are 'Messianics'?

I'm Jewish, and I don't use G-d's name except in prayers. We use words like 'HACHEM', or 'G-d' (or 'D.ieu' in French), and if we have to recite a prayer to teach it to someone, we do not use the same word as when we're reciting the prayer for real. For example, in Hebrew, 'barou'h ata AMONAÏ' .. the last word not being the same as when we say the prayer 'in earnest'.

As for why .... consider whom you're addressing. A minimum of respect would seem logical, would it not..?

Answer 6

NO ONE CAN, simply because He has no name. If you check Genesis when Moses asked, "who should I say has sent me?" God replied, "say that Jehova, YHWH, etc. (I am who I am) has sent you." He tells Moses that He has no name. Therefore, no one can say God's name.

Answer 7

I say " Oh god" when I get a fright.

Answer 8

yup

Answer 9

YHWH. yes.