A list of godly names

by C. Hodge

As teachers, scholars, professors, coaches, and mentors, we live in a time when identity is constantly being redefined by a hectic and unrelenting world. If God’s people are not careful, the world’s descriptions of coworkers, principals, teachers, parents, family, and friends can easily become critical, condemning, and censorious. Instead, we find our language shaped by the Word of God and the names by which the people of God were identified in Scripture.

According to the New International Version, the term “Christian” is mentioned 3 times, “Saints” appears 67 times, “Disciples” is used 296 times, and “Believers” occurs 38 times. Each of these names reflects a distinct aspect of our spiritual identity: followers of Christ, set-apart ones, learners of His ways, and those who put their trust in Him. These names remind us who we truly are in the midst of a changing world.

When the world seeks to redefine us, may we stand firm in the truth of who God says we are. Let us walk daily in the confidence of our calling, bearing His name with humility, courage, and love.

My grandfather once told me, “It’s not what you are called; it’s what you answer to.” That truth still echoes in my heart, and it should in every teacher’s. Would you answer to “Beloved,” which appears 47 times, “Child of God,” mentioned 11 times, or to the word “Servant,” which appears well over 1,100 times in the New International Version? As we keep our eyes on Jesus and greet one another with a holy kiss (1 Corinthians 16:20), our heart’s posture aligns with the mind of Christ, affecting our eyes, ears, hands, and feet.

We are called many things as educators. Yet as we keep our eyes on Jesus, the names He ascribes to His servants will begin to take root, sometimes unknowingly, until Jesus makes plain the identity He has for our lives: Beloved, Sister, Brother, even Gentile and Jew.

Scripture reminds us of the foundation for our identity:

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” (Ephesians 5: 1–2)

Be careful. Too many today cling to an incomplete version of Jesus Christ and His identity that culture has remade, a “Jesus” who tolerates sin, excuses confusion, and never corrects. That false Jesus cannot save. Only the risen Christ, the Jesus of Scripture, has the power to free and redefine us.

In a world where teachers and teens run to diagnoses, online identities, and peer validation for safety, we must lovingly remind the that true refuge is found only in the name of the Lord.

The Challenge for Christian Educators

  • Engage—don’t avoid. Teachers and students are drowning in false identities. Speak truth into confusion with compassion and conviction.

  • Stand firm. Do not let cultural pressure silence the authority of Christ’s name. His Word remains final.

  • Teach discernment. Help teachers and students recognize the difference between who the world says they are and who God says they are.

  • Pray with authority. Pray over your classrooms in Jesus’ name, not as a ritual, but as a declaration that His name reigns over every other.

Practical Ways to Live This Out

Speak identity with intention. Call coworkers by name and speak life: “Leader,” “Capable,” “Wise,” “Faithful.” Refuse to echo negative labels, and encourage one another daily as we see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:25).

Challenge false words. When a student says, “I’m stupid,” or “I’ll never get this,” stop and remind them: “That’s not true. You are able. Let’s work through it.”

Address name-calling immediately. Teach that words carry weight and that power should be used to build, not break.

Pray faithfully. Pray privately before the day begins. Always invoke the name of Jesus.

Anchor lessons in identity. Whether teaching math, history, or art, remind yourself that Jesus, the Teacher, is near, knowing that He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

As disciples of Jesus Christ, this is more than good pedagogy—it’s a sacred calling. Our mission is to point one another to the only name that truly matters:

Jesus Christ—the name above all names.

Reflection: Which name, Christian, Saint, Disciple, or Believer, speaks most to your walk with Christ today, and why?