Jehovah's Wittnesses...?

Question

I know you place great importance on children obeying and respecting their parents, and rightly so. The way I was brought up, and I am sure it will be the same for many others, it was considered respectful to call your parents "Mum", "Dad", "Mother", "Father" etc. To call one of your parents by their actual given name would be disrespectful and a sign of rebelion in most families.
You often refer to God as your heavenly Father and speak of your relationship with him as being a child/father relationship of love and respect etc.
Considering the fact that some parts of the Bible indicate that God's name may be too holy to utter, and that you consider him to be your 'Father', don't you think it is disrespectful to call him "Jehovah"? Would you go up to your mother or father and call them "Michael" or "Kathy" or whatever their name is?

To everyone who's saying "God's name is in the Bible so therefore he wants us to use it"...we all know our parent's names too, that doesn't mean it is respectful to call them by those names.

Answer 1

I'm not a Witness; I studied and considered getting baptized, but decided against it.

I don't believe that God's name is too holy to utter, but I also don't believe it is necessary to address him by a personal name, especially since Jesus told us to pray to Our Father in the heavens. I also think that if it was important for us to use his personal name, he would not have let the name become unknown - YHWH is not a pronuncable name.

To keiichi who quoted the Scripture in Romans that whoever calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved:

If you aren't aware of it, the original Greek doesn't say "the name of Jehovah", it says "the name of the Lord" and the context is speaking about Jesus.

EDITED

The context of Romans 10:13 is speaking of Jesus> Correct

Context, for those unfamiliar with the meaning, refers to the surrounding verses of a scripture. Verses in Isaiah are not "context" for verses in Romans.

When considering the context of Romans 10:13 which says in original Greek "name of Lord" Romans 10:9 (context) plainly states that Jesus is Lord. Verses 14-17 (also context) plainly says that the preaching about the One in whom "they" need to put faith is "the word about Christ." (verse 17).

Anyone who argues about that is clearly not interested in what the Bible actually says.

TeeM

I certainly don't think that chaps 9-11 are exclusively about Christ. The verse in question is verse 13 which you say is a quote from Joel. But Luke doesn't refer to Joel at all in that chapter. All three of those chapters primarily deal with the failure of the Jews - Paul's brothers according to the flesh - (Rom 9:4) - to accept Jesus.

In verse 9, Paul specifically says that "Jesus is Lord; verse 13 says they must call on the name of the lord; verse 14 says they must have faith to call upon him, and to have faith, they must be preached to; verse 16 says that not all put faith "in the thing heard from us" (i.e. preached by us) and verse 17 says "the thing heard is through the word about Christ."

Jews of the flesh didn't need to be convinced to believe in Jehovah; it was Christ they rejected. Beginning in Romans chap11 verse 12, Paul turns his attention away from the Jews, and toward the Gentiles. But chapter 9 is directed mostly toward the Jews and the need for them to accept Jesus and call upon him.

Why couldn't it be Jesus? 1 Cor 1: 2 says that the holy ones are calling upon the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. I think it's about 95% in favor of being Jesus, but since the original just says "lord", it should have been translated "lord", not "Jesus" and not "Jehovah".

Answer 2

Isaiah 9:6-7 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society



6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, [a] Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

This prophecy is about Jesus and refers to him as a Everlasting Father. Why is it ok to use Jesus name but not his Fathers name Jehovah? Jesus name means Jehovah is salvation. Jesus used his Fathers name and so should we.

John 17:6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world

John 17:26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

Answer 3

No, it is not disrespectful.

It is true that in the model prayer Jesus said to pray to abba or father. However, Jehovah himself made it clear that those utter his name will be the ones gaining salvation.

Rom 10:13 - For “everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.”

David also wrote in a psalm: "Concerning the name of Jehovah our God we shall make mention."—Psalm 20:7.

The prophet Isaiah wrote: "Give thanks to Jehovah, you people! Call upon his name. Make known among the peoples his dealings. Make mention that his name is put on high."—Isaiah 12:4.

Answer 4

he never said not to call him by his name. he even made his name known to us (humans). he told usthat his name willbe preached in all theinhabited earth. i think if his name were to be considered unmentionable, he would have told us. he has made no secret of letting his purposes and requirements be known. especially naming his followers.........."you are my witnesses is the utterance of jehovah"

EVERYONE who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved." (Romans 10:13)
"Those knowing your name will trust in you, for you will certainly not leave those looking for you, O Jehovah."—Psalm 9:10.
Since Jehovah has linked his name with his qualities, purposes and acts, we can see why the Bible says that God's name is holy. (Leviticus 22:32) It is majestic, great, fear-inspiring and unreachably high. (Psalm 8:1; 99:3; 148:13) Yes, God's name is more than a mere label. It represents him as a person. It was not merely a temporary name to be used for a time and then to be superseded by a title such as "Lord." Jehovah himself said to Moses: "'Jehovah . . .' This is my name to time indefinite, and this is the memorial of me to generation after generation."—Exodus 3:15.

"'From the sun's rising even to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place sacrificial smoke will be made, a presentation will be made to my name, even a clean gift; because my name will be great among the nations,' Jehovah of armies has said."—Malachi 1:11; Exodus 9:16; Ezekiel 36:23.
Hence, the sanctification of God's name is far more important than any other issue. All of God's purposes are linked to his name. Mankind's problems began when Satan first profaned Jehovah's name by calling Him, in effect, a liar and unfit to rule the human race. (Genesis 3:1-6; John 8:44)

Answer 5

I am not a Jehovah's witness but the term in the Bible Jehovah Jireh means "my provider". My parents have many terms. They are my providers too.I may not walk around calling them my provider, but if I did it would be a true statement. Thus not making it disrespectful in my eyes to call Him this. Its just another title.
Just like Jehovah Nissi (my banner) and Jehovah Shalom (my peace).

Answer 6

Psalms 83:18 and Exodus 6:3 tells you his name. You are starting to look like you don't read the Bible everybody knows his name.

Answer 7

Jehovah is not just our Father.

Jehovah is also our God.

Jehovah commands us to use his name.

Jehovah tells us his name is a strong tower, a place of refuse.

Jehovah tells us he is writing a book of the names of the faithful,

to be in this book you have to use and think his name.

If Jehovah thought his name was to holy to speak, why did he command us to use it?, to Call upon his name? to Make his name known?

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edit Romans talks about both Jesus and Jehovah

The quote and context of Rom 9:27 Is the book of Isaiah 

Rom 9:27 Moreover, Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Although the number of the sons of Israel may be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved. 28 For Jehovah will make an accounting on the earth, concluding it and cutting it short.” 29 Also, just as Isaiah had said aforetime: “Unless Jehovah of armies had left a seed to us, we should have become just like Sod′om, and we should have been made just like Go·mor′rah.”

That is not Jesus, You can claim that Jehovah is Lord, but same titles do not make same people.


Rom 10:5 For Moses writes that the man that has done the righteousness of the Law will live by it. 6 But the righteousness resulting from faith speaks in this manner: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ that is, to bring Christ down; 7 or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.” 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your own mouth and in your own heart”; that is, the “word” of faith, which we are preaching. 9 For if you publicly declare that ‘word in your own mouth,’ that Jesus is Lord, and exercise faith in your heart that God raised him up from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation.

11 For the Scripture says: “None that rests his faith on him will be disappointed.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for there is the same Lord over all, who is rich to all those calling upon him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.” 14 However, how will they call on him in whom they have not put faith? How, in turn, will they put faith in him of whom they have not heard? How, in turn, will they hear without someone to preach? 15 How, in turn, will they preach unless they have been sent forth? Just as it is written: “How comely are the feet of those who declare good news of good things!”


Notice context of Rom 10:9 Also talks about Jesus and God (Jehovah) who raised the Lord from the death.

In this instance Lord God and Lord Jesus are not the same

vs 13 Paul is quoting Joel (Not Isaiah)

(Joel 2:32) And it must occur that everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will get away safe; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will prove to be the escaped ones, just as Jehovah has said, and in among the survivors, whom Jehovah is calling.”

vs 14 & 15 Roman Gentiles did not know Jehovah nor Jesus.

vs 16 Paul quotes Isaiah concerning Jehovah. Thru chapter 11 is still dealing with Jehovah and God.

Ch. 11:1 I ask, then, God did not reject his people, did he? Never may that happen! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject his people, whom he first recognized.

To limit Chapter 9, 10, 11 solely to Christ is to ignore context.
and what is actually written.


.

Answer 8

Yup, and what I get out of it is "I AM" meaning don't you dare put a label on Me. I remember a sermon one time where names were labels of control, and God did not give anyone a name, it was rather a rebuttal that became a name. God just is, was, and always will be. "God," "Lord," etc. are equally appropriate ways of addressing the Almighty.

Answer 9

The point is a good one. Endearment I see as expressed in how we address our
God as Father is indeed important.

Answer 10

an excellent point. The WT is full of double standards like this. You can't have it both ways, yet the WT pulls out all the stops to give it the old college try!