The men of Babel set out to make a great name for themselves, and after them Achilles, Alexander, Caesar, and countless others sought an everlasting name on the battlefield, by sexual conquests, or by political success. Making a name is what ancient heroism was all about.
We have not outgrown this impulse. What used to be the cult of the warrior is now the cult of celebrity, and many of us aspire to become celebrities or, failing that, to bathe in their glow.
At bottom, the desire for a name is good.
As Pastor Sumpter pointed out last week, Yahweh promised and gave Abram a great name. Paul commends those who seek glory, honor and immortality.
The question is not whether we’ll seek a name, but what great name we want and how we go about getting it. We can seize every opportunity for self-promotion or attach ourselves to every rising star. We can make our name shine by slander and gossip that destroys everyone’s name except our own.
We already have a great name, the name promised to Abram, the name of Jesus, than which there is none greater. You bear the name “Christian,” which means “anointed one,” priest and king. That name is a pleasing aroma. You don’t need any other.
Dear Reader,
Can I be direct with you?
War abroad. Socialists on the rise. AI upending human life. Endless uproar online. The modern attention economy doesn’t want readers — it wants users enslaved to the tyranny of the present.
First Things is the antidote: literary excellence, timeless truths, and a fixed point of reference in a culture that has lost its bearings.
But we can’t do it without readers like you.
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If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Giovanni Del Piero, Director of the Editor’s Circle, at gdelpiero@firstthings.com or 212-627-1985.
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