Recently, I was asked to pray a prayer of blessing before the meal at a public gathering. I was cautioned, “Don’t use the name of Jesus.” So okay, I will certainly respect the wishes of whoever asked me, but later I thought, “When did the name of Jesus become a dirty word?”

I’m not really sure when, but sometime in the recent past, it was decided that it is not politically correct to use the name of Jesus. But why? Who is going to be offended? Maybe an atheist…but an atheist would have been offended at the first line, “Dear God.” So it must not be the atheists of the world.

Having taken a class entitled “The Great Religions of the World,” I knew that Muslims regard Jesus as a Prophet, so it wouldn’t be offensive to them. Buddhists regard Jesus as an Enlightened Being, so it wouldn’t be them. Hindus regard him as an Ascendant Master, so I don’t think I would be offending them. Those that follow Judaism know that Jesus was a Hebrew who believed in the Torah. So who would be offended?

I couldn’t figure it out. I would certainly mean no offence if I mentioned the name of Jesus and I am certainly not trying to cram him down anyone’s throat. Jesus himself was never one for trying to convert the masses of the world. He gave several stern warnings about the price you would pay if you decided to followed him. It was never an easy Christianity you are being called to if you decide to follow him.

I never did come up with an answer. But as a believer in Jesus the Christ; I must say I am not ashamed of his name. He is my ideal and the one I must strive to be like. I must also tell you that as his follower, I fail daily. I am sure many times I have not been the person he has called me to be. But that doesn’t diminish Him, only me.