So, what’s in a nickname? No, I’m not necessarily talking about the fact that my given name is Joseph but everyone calls me Jay. In fact, my 4th and 6th grade teacher (same guy, the great Mr. Thompson from Forbes Elementary) refused to call me Jay as he didn’t “‘believe in using nicknames”. Even though I explained to him that EVERYONE called me Jay and I didn’t even know how to spell Joseph, he refused. No, not that kind of nickname.
I’m talking about a name given to you by someone else who knows you. Further, in the bible, there are names that people have received after coming to know the Lord or simply coming into some sort of relationship with Him. I don’t know the biblical reasoning behind it. Perhaps some of you much more learned and schooled than I can research or already know that. Yet, I am fascinated by the topic for a couple of reasons.
The first is simply why? Why did God change Abram to Abraham, Simon to Peter, Saul to Paul? The list is longer than that but those are just a few. Further, I want to know how that worked. Can you imagine poor Peter?
Jesus: “Peter…”.
Simon: “No Jesus, I’m Simon”
J – No you are Peter.
S – No, no, no, Siiiiiimmmmoooonnnn
J – Peeeeeeeeeetttttttttttttteeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
S – Why does he keep doing that?
All other disciples – “Simon…errrr, Peter, just shut up and go with it.”
It is in these entirely hypothetical exchanges that I find myself lost and amused. The truth is something significant is happening here. Jesus is naming Simon something new, something significant to the relationship they share. Simon was named by his earthly father. Now, his heavenly Father was naming him Peter (I would heed the advice of the other disciples and go with it). It was a name given to him by HIM. It showed that Jesus knew Peter and had a relationship with and an investment in Peter. That leads me to my other reason for a fascination with nicknames.
Brian VonBloch got involved with YoungLife when I was the Area Director. He came to know the Lord quite quickly and became known as BVon. I didn’t do it on purpose and, in fact, I’m not sure I even came up with the name for him. He, however, after not initially loving the change realized that it coincided with his commitment to the Lord. He is now known by all as “BVon” or even “Mr. BVon”. Shortly after that his brother joined the volleyball team of which I am the coach. There is and was a long standing tradition of giving the freshmen slightly derogatory yet entirely affectionate nicknames. Sean, BVon’s brother, was super quiet, backward even. He was the kind of kid that you marked absent even though they were there. I named him “Burlap Jones”. I tried to think of something Sean was not. I pictured an old African American blues singer from the south. Someone rich in life experiences who could tell a story that engrossed and en-captured you. Thus, plain old Sean VonBloch became “Burlap Jones”. Something else happened. Sean was involved with YoungLife. He too committed his life to Christ. The new creation in Christ became what the old Sean was not. No longer paralyzed by fear of what others thought of him, Burlap opened up and began to speak, relate, and interact with others. It turns out, Burlap was the perfect nickname. Years later, Burlap is known primarily if not exclusively as Burlap. His own mother would sign notes to me as “Burlap’s mom”. He became that for which he was named. Peter had done the same. Peter after all, means “Rock”. Peter certainly became that.
So, I love nicknames. They are biblical (again, why in each case I’m not entirely sure), fun, and show that the person is important and significant in your life. It is a great way to celebrate someone’s new identity in Christ (without going overboard and overly spiritualizing it). It is a way to show acceptance and yet encourage someone to grow (if they already look up to you in status or relationship).
Me? The only name like that I was ever given was by a man who had ties to, shall we say, “organized business” or a “family business”…if you get my drift. He called me “Blade”. I was not and am not nearly cool enough for this name (according to anyone who knows me) or have any history with knives beyond a deftness in the kitchen. Sadly, no one calls me Blade.