Posted on 09/27/2013 7:11:44 AM PDT by NYer
Ping!
My understanding was that certain groups of conservative Jews objected as they found it offensive.
That’s a shame, because, far from being forbidden to Christians to use the name, it is very much encouraged:
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13
I’m a pre-Vatican 2 Catholic and never used the Hebrew word for God. It was not said in the Mass, either. Must have come into fashion later...
I suggest — just a suggestion — that since the Annunciation the, so to speak, “operative” Name of the Lord is Jesus, and I would appeal to Philippians 2:5-11 as a guide to pious practice if not to theology.
The wide use of the name of God, rather than “God” or “Lord,” stems from the Jerusalem Bible, especially in the Psalms.
It deeply offended many Jews.
Sure, I agree that Jesus is Lord. However, if you start substituting the name “Jesus” for “Yahweh”, you are, in a way, eroding the whole idea of a trinitarian God. If the names are interchangeable, then it implies the persons are interchangeable, which implies that a trinity is a bit superlative.
“It deeply offended many Jews.”
I don’t see why, since they don’t consider gentiles to be bound by their laws.
God has a lot of official names (HaShem, Adonai, El, etc), the Tetragrammton is a very specific one and a very formal one, only spoken by the High Priest at certain times in front of the Ark of the Covenent, and forbidden to be said at other times.
Now, as Christians, I know that sort of thing doesn’t apply, but it sure seems a bit rude to use the name in any other manner than directed by God Himself, so I always thought this was a wise decision.
Regarding Jews who right “God” as “G-d”, the article is incorrect. Jews are not permitted to let the name of God (however written) get defaced, so, in causual writings (like the internet), the word is avoided or written like “G-d.”*
* Learned this on FR from some of our more helpful Jewish Freepers.
The prohibition against pronouncing The Name isn’t just any law.
The decision by the editors of the Jerusalem Bible was needless.
“The prohibition against pronouncing The Name isn’t just any law.”
Was it given to anyone but the Jews?
That’s all that really should matter to them, the way they view God’s laws. They have one set given to them, and another for the rest of us. So, if God gave it only to them, their own interpretation says that gentiles don’t have to obey it. Otherwise, they are being hypocritical.
Got to remember that except in the USA, in other countries, the readings came from the Jerusalem Bible. I have a hard cover copy of that Bible.
See my tag line
This is my understanding of the sacred names of the father and of his son
What doesn't?
There is no such demand or direction from YHWH. In fact, if you would read the law, you will see that "YHWH" is to be His name of remembrance among men - It is supposed to be on our lips. It is the name that we are to swear by.
But instead we cover it up and make it secret.
We’re not talking about the professional “I’m-offended” crowd. The taboo against pronouncing the Name is not trivial.
We’re not talking about the professional “I’m-offended” crowd. The taboo against pronouncing the Name is not trivial.
Sadly, too many folks “assume” everyone is in that particular group, the “I’m offended because of _____ (fill in the blank for favorite offended group). I kid you not.
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