What's in a name?

A few years ago, while I was working an event out west, I was able to get enough time off to go to church. It seemed to be a church that was in the process of coming back to life. The new pastor was struggling with a decision, the old name had to go. The name of the church carried too much baggage. It also wasn't "hip", nor did it necessarily square with the direction the new pastor wanted to take the church.

I made it back the following year, and the church seemed to be doing well on attendance. Of course, they were hosting a Christian Athlete group associated with the event I was working. He taught a forgettable sermon on something based on a couple of verses.

I actually made back for a third year in a row. Unfortunately, the pastor was off on vacation. The bulletin was full of self-help courses and most of the service was various ministries begging for help. One Sunday a year for three years isn't a fair way to judge a church... is it?

During this process, a local Bible College decided to change its name. It is amoung the oldest, best established Bible Colleges in the area. It decided that using the word Bible in its name failed to emphasize the all important traditions and teaching of the denomination to which it is affiliated...

He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
(John 21:17 NKJV)