Why change my name?

I have often heard people talk about names and the need to change the name they answer in order to be free from some form of curses or attack. It is believed that the name of a man has an impact on his destiny. Hence, there is the need for a name change. The dilemma of hovering around the need for a name change most of the time happen to new converts.

I know the proponents of this belief system have some bible references to that effect; hence, I would start by explaining the concept of name and its significance. In the old covenant it took a more spiritual dimension, names were not just given without an attachment to either an event, purpose or prophecy. In summary, a child is named according to an image the parents want the child to conform to. So, names are a representation of who a child is to become.

Based on the above knowledge I would do an analysis of some characters that are used in relation to change of names. Abram was carrying a name that doesn’t show who he was meant to be. The image he was to conform to was not reflected in the name he answered. Abram was prepared by God to be the father of many nations; he needed to be conscious of this, which explains his re-naming. When he hears the name Abraham, despite his age that seems not in favour of the image behind the name, faith is birthed to his heart to believing it- the father of many nations.

Abraham and Sarah needed to consistently see the image of what they were to become in order to increase their faith in the God. No wonder he was named the father of faith. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God”- The formula was put to work.

Now using the case of Abraham as a prayer point to change your name and to validate the premise to change the name as a new convert or already existing son for a breakthrough should bring a question to your heart; what am I conforming into?

The essence of the change of name is to conform to an image. As I shared in the article “Is it necessary to pray in the name of Jesus?” names have covenant attached to them which brings about an inheritance. Many other persons answer the name Abraham after the one we know, but, they don’t have that covenant which makes one a father of just two nations. It is a spiritual attachment, not just about the academic transcription of the letters of the name. Hope you know there were other people who answered the name Jesus in the bible? It didn’t make them savior of the world. It’s more than academic meaning. So, you can change the academic one and without that of the covenant, you only had a fanfare.

So, the reason behind change of names was conforming to a particular image which the nomenclature brings to mind.  However I must let you know that this is only an event tenable in the old covenant. The fall of man in the Garden of Eden led to the collapse of the original image, which made it difficult for man to have it in whole. They could only pick it in parts on selected few. The good news is that we now have the fullness of the image in the person of Jesus, so there is nothing else to conform to which the name a man answer will be suggestive of outside Jesus. Inside of Jesus is where all names are now made perfect.

But there was still a change of name in the new covenant I hear you say!

Saul, who was later popularly known as Apostle Paul was born a Jew and his Jewish name was Saul, however, because his father was a Roman citizen, Saul also had a Latin name, Paul. Since he grew up among the Pharisees, the name Saul was preferred. But, after his conversion Saul was known with his Roman name because he now had to relate more with the Gentiles. He was called to preach to the Gentiles, and he had to get acquainted with them adopting the name they were accustomed to just as you will prefer to call your friend a name that most speak of your culture.

I answer the name Olufemi Victor. If I find myself among people from England or having to share the word in this part of the world, it is almost natural for them to adopt calling me Victor and I would also prefer to introduce myself as Victor as this connects to them better than my indigenous name. In fact the Latin meaning of the name Paul is “small” or “humble”, it has almost nothing to do with the ministry and life of Paul.

The mirror of all we are to become now is expressed in Jesus. He brought back in full the image that got scrambled. It is now whole in Him. The entire name you desire to bear is inside of Him. You don’t matter now, He does. The name given to you by your parents doesn’t bring faith to your heart, it is the name given to us by God- Jesus- that does. The essence of name is conforming, and it’s only His name we all need, to form into His image. (Rom8vs29).

So, when you are changing letters without the conscious change of a covenant, it makes absolutely no difference. In Him, all things, including why you want to change your name have been made new.

However, just as Paul, if you don’t feel comfortable with a name, you could change to that which you prefer but not on the basis for destiny retrieval. Change of name won’t get you there, acceptance of His Name (covenant and inheritance) will do.

I hope you get this.

Enjoy your week.

Be Innovated

Olufemi Ibitoye
@toyeolufemi