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“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”  2 Corinthians 5:20

It’s probably been a while since you went anywhere that necessitated a nametag. But think back to those good ol’ days (a year ago) when there were live conferences, work meetings, group service projects, etc.—any gathering where it was useful for you to know the names of people you haven’t met. Nametags allow us to know what company or organization others represent and allow for effective interaction with them.

Nametags also let us address others in a personal way, allowing us to initiate connection. If a cashier, for instance, wears a nametag, try to use their name when you thank them for helping you—it provides a bright “I-see-you” moment in their day’s monotony. Nametags can also have varied degrees of information on them: first name, full name, company name, some type of ID number, or even hometown. And they can be stick-on paper, laminated and on a lanyard, pinned on, or embroidered.

As followers of Jesus, we have a very special nametag: Christian. And our moniker is permanent—praise God, as He has sealed us with the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation, so no one or nothing can snatch us from His hands (John 10:28-29). The question is, what kind of nametag do we choose to wear in order to represent Jesus, as well as to communicate and connect with others?

Is it peel-and-stick, perfect for Sunday mornings, but easily removable when we start the workday on Monday morning…or hit the bar on Friday night? Or is our nametag a nice engraved plastic or metal tag that pins to our shirt? Sure, it may show more solid commitment, but there’s the ease of unpinning when the situation requires—perhaps in that meeting when the joking is unsavory, but we laugh right along. Perhaps our nametag is sewn right onto our shirt, so whenever we’re out in public, it is clear to others that we belong to Christ. Plus, the embroidered nametag serves as a great impetus to live in a godly way that doesn’t undermine our testimony. But, in the privacy of our own home, when others aren’t looking, that shirt can be removed, and our words and actions (and the TV or computer screen) can reflect the god of this world—Satan—more than our Lord Jesus.

Now, I’m a big fan of tattoos (and I have quite a few myself). So, sisters, what if we think of our “Christian” nametag as a tattoo—permanently inked into our very being, not easily removed when our fleshly desires draw our minds and hearts away from our Namesake. A tattoo calls us to live every moment of our life—public and private—as a representative of Jesus. Because we can’t take it off, it can be a constant reminder for us to love, forgive, and extend grace to others in the same way the Lord has loved, forgiven, and extended grace to us.

Tattoos are certainly a commitment. And they can be uncomfortable, even painful. But as our world becomes more hostile to believers, it’s more vital than ever to remain steadfast to Jesus and His Word. So, let’s pick a color and font—and commit.

“Lord, help me stand firm in my identity as a follower of Jesus Christ, demonstrating Your love and light to others in this dark world.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life