The Power to Name: When Governments Claim the Right to Define Identity
Governments have claimed enormous power over their people—sometimes reaching into places that feel deeply personal, even down to a citizen’s name. I opened this episode with a modern example from Iceland, where a Personal Names Committee evaluates whether a name is acceptable, and citizens must choose from an approved list unless permission is granted for something new. In the case I referenced, a British father reportedly couldn’t renew his children’s passports because the system did not approve the names “Harriet” and “Duncan.” At first glance, that might look like a cultural policy meant to preserve language and tradition, but it also illustrates something larger: when authorities assume the right to approve identity markers, they are implicitly asserting the right to define identity itself. 2-4 the-power-to-name
That’s why names matter. Scripture treats naming as meaningful—often tied to calling and purpose. God renames Abram to Abraham and Jacob to Israel, marking covenant and destiny. In the New Testament, Saul of Tarsus becomes Paul, a name associated with “small” or “little,” reflecting a changed orientation toward power and status. Names aren’t mere labels; they signal who someone is, who they belong to, and how they understand their place in the world. 2-4 the-power-to-name
I also pointed to Genesis 2:19, where God brings the animals to Adam “to see what he would call them.” The point is not trivia about zoology—it’s a picture of dominion and dignity. Adam’s naming is a form of delegated authority and creative liberty under God. When earthly powers start deciding what you can call yourself, what words are acceptable, or which truths may be spoken, that’s not just regulation—it can become a bid to control conscience and identity. 2-4 the-power-to-name
This is part of why the American founders treated liberty of conscience and speech as foundational. Early Americans had lived under systems where governments attempted to control religion and speech, and dissenters could be punished for preaching without permission. The Declaration of Independence framed rights as something “endowed by [our] Creator,” not granted by committees or rulers. That premise matters: if rights are received from God, then government is a steward with limits—not an owner with total claim. 2-4 the-power-to-name
From there, I tied the civic concern to a spiritual one. Galatians 5:1 speaks directly: Christ sets people free, and believers are warned not to return to a yoke of slavery. That yoke can be obvious or subtle—sometimes “soft control dressed in civility,” where restrictions accumulate until conscience is managed and truth is narrowed to what is “approved.” In that context, John 8:32 matters: truth liberates, lies enslave. For Christians, this becomes a loyalty question, echoed in Acts 5:29—obedience to God must take precedence over obedience to men when the two collide. 2-4 the-power-to-name
I closed with a promise from Revelation 2:17: the faithful receive a white stone with a new name known only to the one who receives it. That image is deeply personal. It’s God’s way of asserting ultimate ownership over identity. Christians live as citizens on earth, but our first citizenship is in heaven. When governments presume the authority to rename, redefine, or control the moral boundaries of speech and belief, we have to remember where our identity actually comes from—and where our allegiance ultimately rests. 2-4 the-power-to-name
Application
Treat “small” controls seriously. Pay attention to policies that claim to protect the public good while quietly expanding control over language, conscience, or identity. Unchecked authority often grows in incremental steps. 2-4 the-power-to-name
Practice truthful speech with restraint and courage. Commit to telling the truth plainly, without cruelty or fear. When truth is treated as a problem, the answer is not silence—it’s faithfulness. 2-4 the-power-to-name
Anchor your identity in what God has said. Regularly return to Scripture’s categories for identity: created by God, accountable to God, redeemed by Christ, and called to obedience. This keeps political pressure from becoming spiritual confusion. 2-4 the-power-to-name
Know where your lines are before pressure arrives. Decide in advance what you cannot affirm, what you must confess, and what you will endure rather than compromise—so you don’t improvise under stress. 2-4 the-power-to-name
Stand for liberty of conscience as an act of neighbor-love. Free speech and religious liberty are not only for “your side.” They protect the ability of ordinary people to seek truth, worship God, and speak without coercion. 2-4 the-power-to-name
Devotional Questions
In what ways do you see “soft control dressed in civility” showing up in your own life or community? 2-4 the-power-to-name
How does Genesis 2:19 shape your understanding of human dignity, responsibility, and delegated authority under God? 2-4 the-power-to-name
Where are you most tempted to trade truth for comfort, quiet, or social acceptance—and what would faithfulness look like instead? 2-4 the-power-to-name
How does Galatians 5:1 apply not only to personal sin patterns, but also to cultural pressures that try to redefine conscience? 2-4 the-power-to-name
What does Revelation 2:17 teach you about belonging, identity, and the limits of what any earthly authority can claim over you? 2-4 the-power-to-name
TL;DR
Names represent identity, calling, and belonging—so when authorities claim power over naming and language, they can be asserting power over identity itself. Scripture presents naming as a God-given expression of human dignity, and it frames freedom as both spiritual and practical. The American tradition of rights “endowed by the Creator” reflects the conviction that government has limits, especially over conscience and truth. Christians are called to stand firm in Christ’s freedom, speak truth with love, and remember that ultimate identity belongs to God—not any earthly power.