The Name of God

Whatever language you use to pray to or worship the Almighty God, make sure your mind and heart are set on the Almighty, your Father and not a Gentile or heathen god.

Many languages substitute the true name of our creator for another word that does not represent Him. There is only one God and in original Hebrew and His Name we are directed to use to represent Him is YHWH and His only son, Jesus or Yashua in Hebrew or Iesous in Greek.

Most of us do not speak Hebrew or Greek, but we must still know that the words we use represent our true God. Therefore, we use names such as Almighty God, Father, Jesus, and King of Kings. However, most Gentile countries had other gods before spreading the Gospel abroad. These names were used for centuries before Christianity and do not represent our God. Therefore, Christians should replace these names with the name of our Almighty God.

One example is the word "atua" used in the Maori language. Unfortunately, mainstream organisations calling themselves Christians and society in New Zealand have accepted this word and even used it in the Maori translation of the Bible. Let us see why Christians should no longer use it.

The definition: "Atua = (noun) ancestor with continuing influence, god, demon, supernatural being, deity, ghost, object of superstitious regard, strange being - although often translated as 'god' and now also used for the Christian God, this is a misconception of the real meaning. Many Māori trace their ancestry from atua in their whakapapa and they are regarded as ancestors with influence over particular domains. These atua also were a way of rationalising and perceiving the world. Normally invisible, atua may have visible representations." (as per https://maoridictionary.co.nz/).

Therefore to use "atua" in prayer or singing could be calling to something other than the "God of Nations" that the poet would have referred to in the NZ Anthem. "Hear, O Israel: YHWH is our God, YHWH. alone." (Deut 6:4,5) and we are to have no other. There are many "gods" but there is only one God Almighty and creator over the nations according to the Bible and that is YHWH and by His son Jesus.

As the Maori did not know the True God before colonisation, it would be better to formulate a new word using the Maori alphabet. I would suggest Iahwe for God and Iahua for Jesus.

Yahweh, as we commonly pronounce His name (not the incorrect Jehovah), put His name into the "Angel of Hosts" or "Angel of God" who led Israel out of captivity (later known to be called Jesus (Jude 5). Putting His name into something means to "dwell" - to put His essence or presence in someone or something. Therefore the one true God dwelled in the messenger of Hosts or in the burning bush and other occasions much as appearing to Abraham and Jacob where it is scripturally obvious that God's Spirit was in the visible messenger (as to look upon actual God would mean death). They were one and the same.

In John 1, God came to dwell in human flesh as Jesus. This is the first time Yahweh had done this and it was His only way to offer reconciliation and the end of death for His human children after the "fall" in Eden. In this way Jesus was unique. John 3:16 was translated as "only begotten son" but in fact, the Greek here (monogenes) was "unique" as in the only human child born from God and human (this is confirmed by the translation used of the same word in Heb 11:17 referring to Abrahams son second son Isaac as he was uniquely born of Sarah).

The only way a person can be reconciled back to God (not offered by any of the world religions) and regain what we were designed to have, eternal life and partnership with God. By accepting that we have faults but that by the blood of Jesus, who lived a righteous life on our behalf, the penalty of separation was paid for us and only this unites us back with our heavenly Father and gives us birth into His Kingdom (Romans 5:6-8).

As Jesus prayed, "This is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." (John 17:3). And you can not know the true God and accept His son by worshipping or giving loyalty or paying homage to other gods or things that do nothing for you that are not the Almighty God.

Hence Christians should not use Maori spiritual words unless they have only one defined meaning and purpose that accurately depicts our saviour and God. This applies to such words as atua and taniwha and the wearing of Gentile religious artefacts such as tiki or manaia. This is not racism but showing our loyalty to the one true God of nations and heaven: Yahweh and the Son of man, Jesus, our Messiah and King (Yeshua, Jesus Hebrew name means Yahweh is Salvation).