Do You Call Your "Earthly" Father by His First Name?

     All growing up I did not know God by any other name besides Jehovah.  If I made an innocent mistake and called Him; God, I would get a sharp rebuke from my mother, or by any other adult Jehovah Witness who just happened to be within ear shot.

     I cannot tell you the times that I was reminded that God's name was Jehovah and that if I wanted Him to listen and receive my prayers than I'd better call Him by His personal name.   For the typical witness using the name Jehovah is never an option, it's always a rule.

     After I finally left the organization in 2003, I detested that name.  I literally could not say it without a vile taste coming up into my throat.  To be honest I never took the time to analyze why I felt this way, I merely assumed that I was repulsed by the name.  How wrong I was.

     One of the  first things that I  needed to establish is if the name "Jehovah" had any merit.  In the Old Testament (OT) that was originally written in Hebrew the name "Yahweh" was repeatedly used.  History reveals that ancient Hebrews changed the pronunciation of the word "Yahweh" to Jehovah.  Which has been translated into the English word "LORD."  In the original transcripts of scripture "Yahweh" appears over 6,000 times in the OT. In fact,  research proves that "Yahweh" is the most frequently used name that God used to describe Himself in the OT.  According to the founder and director of Single Life Ministry's  Dick Purnell,  "God deliberately calls Himself "Jehovah"  throughout the OT to constantly remind us that He along processes the ultimate sovereignty;  that is the right to rule over creation."

     After taking this evidence into consideration, I concluded that the name "Jehovah" did have merit. 

     Next, I needed to dig deep and try and find out why I was so offended and agitated whenever I read or heard that name being used.  What I found interesting about my logic was when I heard the name "Satan" being used I did not become offended  or agitated.  It's strange, but even the name  of God's arch enemy didn't  bother me, but one of the names used to identify the God of the OT did?

     I have a theory that it was never the name "Jehovah" that offended me.  Instead, it was the organization that promoted that name that ticked me off.  The witness organization perverted that name, by verbally abusing me with it.  By not allowing me the freedom of referring to God in a way that made me feel comfortable they took something that was made good and turned it into something bad.  I mean think about it, if a man uses his belt to hold up his pants the belt has a good purpose.  However, if he uses that same belt to beat his wife and kids, that belt then becomes a weapon instead of a piece of clothing. 

     So.....  do I still find the name "Jehovah" offensive?  No way.  See, I've learned that "Jehovah" is my Father!  He isn't just this authoritarian figure who is keeping close tabs on me, and when I fail to  measure up, He's then  gonna spatter my guts all over the place at the battle of Armageddon. Sadly, as a witness this is all that I had been taught  about Jehovah and I can assure you that this is a very narrow view of God the Father.

    However, I'd be lying if I said that it was easy for me to use the name Jehovah, because it was not. I can tell you that  less than two years ago I still would not use the name.  Thankfully I received a revelation that changed my life.  "But when the right time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.  God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children.  And because we are His children, God sent the Spirit of His son into our hearts, prompting us to  call out, "Abba, Father."  Now, you are no longer a slave but God's own child.  Galatians 4: 4-7.  God sent Jesus to buy freedom for me!!!!!  I am His daughter, and because He has adopted me, I not only have the right to call Him Father,  I have the right to call Him; Papa!!!  And I do call Him that! I've called Him Papa for almost two years now.  As soon as I got the understanding that I had the right to call God; Father, Daddy, Abba, or Papa the name "Jehovah" stopped being offensive!  

     Let me just leave everyone with this thought:  How many father's do you know who allow or even want their children calling them by their first names?  Finally, what did Jesus call  God while He was on earth?  What did He instruct "others"  to call God when they prayed to Him in the Lord's Prayer?  Think about it.