articlesforchristians

It has been making the rounds for quite some time that we need to call God and Jesus by the Hebrew names. Some say that this may not apply to everybody. Others declare that you are worshiping an idol by not calling God by His Hebrew name. I am addressing those that make this a salvation issue.

Now I want you to think about this carefully. Yes, we are supposed to worship God as he desires and not by the traditions of men. However, I want you to answer two very important questions.

1. Who created the languages?
2. Who knows man’s heart?

The answer to question #1 can be found in Genesis 11:9. Therefore, is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. God created the languages when he confounded the language of all the earth. Therefore, isn’t logical that since he created the languages that he also understands the languages. I am not getting into the argument that says the words were mistranslated (that is for linguistics to figure out). God knows that those that speak English use the words that are English. Learning the Bible is hard enough without having to learn a new language just to pray. Remember that on the Day of Pentecost, God poured out His Spirit.

• Acts 2:4-11 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Notice how that God started the church by translating the wonderful works of God into many different languages.

The answer to question #2 can be found in 1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. If what is in your heart is correct, then your actions will be correct. Thankfully God is all knowing. He knows what you are trying to say. He knows the intent of your heart.

Now if you have a heart’s desire to learn Hebrew, by all means learn it, but don’t make others feel bad by acting like they are dishonoring God by not learning Hebrew. I would rather that people pray in whatever language that they know and seek God with all their heart, soul, and mind than get discouraged by not knowing how to pray in Hebrew.

It is good to learn Hebrew and Greek for studying the Bible, but when it is time to witness to others, even God on the Day of Pentecost translated it into their language. He started the church by translating what needed to be translated and it wasn’t just Hebrew that he translated the words into.