E-mailed Questions, Comments, and our Answers
Comment - "I Don't put too much stock in your contention of what the Lord's name is in the original language. I think He knows when I'm talking to Him."
Answer - I am sure he does, but will he pay attention to you? Maybe, maybe not? We get that question quite often from Christians who have grown up in a Church environment that refuses to acknowledge the proper name of the Almighty Creator even though they know better. Most do not want to admit that they have been duped for so long with the false (pagan derived) term 'gawd', which is not a name at all, but reference to a pagan deity of good luck and fortune. Calling on the proper Name of the Most High, is not for His (Yahweh's) benefit, but it is for you, for "Your" benefit, so that "you" will know who "you" are talking to. Would you not also think that a general "title" like "god" would apply to Muslims and their god, or those who are Mormons and their god, or the JW's who call their god Jehovah, or what about those who believe in Hinduism? Their god is called Brahma. Would they not believe the same thing? What about the poor ignorant human in the darkest jungle, who has never heard of Yahweh, or of the Scriptures, or of 'God' and who only knows his creator as the Mighty Spirit? He is probably the only one that has the closest relation with his Creator. But for Israel, they have been given the Name of their Elohim, and it is YHWH (Yahweh). For them to ignore it by the pagan substitute word 'God' is sin, and it is deliberate rebellion. I believe it is a violation of the commandment.
You do not bring the Name of Yahweh your Elohim to nothing, for Yahweh does not leave the one unpunished who brings His Name to nothing!" (Exodus 20:7).
Hinduism for example is the 3rd largest worldwide religion, and dates back some 4,000 years or so. It is an ancient Trinitarian religion that believes in a creator god called Brahma, and in Vishnu (Krishna) who is the preserver of the creations made by Brahma, and Shiva, the destroyer, who at times is also compassionate, erotic, and at times destructive. Like Modern Christianity, Hinduism is a religion, which recognizes a single deity, but also various other aspects of that supreme deity. I don't think that the Supreme Creator Yahweh (YHWH) The Elohim of Abram, Isaac and Jacob/Israel would respond to the Brahma of Hinduism if called by that name do you?
The Scripture says "And said The Elohim (mighty One) before Moses, "I am the existing" and [He] said; "say this to the sons of Israel, the existing has sent me before you." And said The Elohim again before Moses, "This say to [the] sons of Israel, "Yahweh, The Elohim of our father Abraam, and [the] Elohim of Isaac, and [the] Elohim of Jacob, has sent me before you. This is My Name and a remembrance for ages: generations of generations. (Literal Exodus 3:14-15 LXX).
A name is a name is a name. A name does not change from language to language. It is not something which is substituted, especially when it is the name of the Almighty Creator Yahweh, and when He has specifically given us His Name. It should be transliterated in the translated language, not replaced. There is an interesting passage in I Kings 18:21-39, It goes like this -
21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long would you keep hopping between two opinions? If Yahweh is Elohim (Mighty One), follow Him; and if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word.....(Read the rest from Vs 22-35).....36 And it came to be, at the time of bringing the evening offering, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, "Yahweh Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known today: that You are Elohim in Israel, and I Your servant, have done all these matters by Your word. 37 "Answer me, O Yahweh, answer me, and let this people know that you are Yahweh Elohim, and You shall turn their hearts back to you again." 38 Then the fire of Yahweh fell and consumed the burnt offering, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And all the people saw, and fell on their faces, and said, "Yahweh, He is the Elohim! Yahweh, He is the Elohim!" (I think it is time for another fire test, and we may not have too long to wait).
The word 'Elohim' in the Hebrew means 'Mighty One' but it is incorrectly translated as God in many English translations. The point is, Elijah did not call upon a generic 'Might One' (Gawd) and he didn't call upon a god by the name of Baal. Elijah called upon Yahweh. He didn't just say, "I know that Elohim (Mighty One) will know which mighty one (god) I am talking to." So do you think it made a difference to Elijah to know which god he was calling on? You better believe it, and so should you.
The church has been duping us far to long, and has led many into deliberate rebellion. Is not it time we should proclaim the Truth! If one was to a substitute term for Yahweh, then at the least it should be Elohim, or in the English one could use 'Mighty One.' It is not a name, but it does have Scriptural reference. 'Gawd' (God) should not be used.
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