Heinz Ketchup is currently running a promotion through their website that allows customers to personalize bottles of Heinz Ketchup. It’s a very easy process. One simply goes to the website and inputs the desired name into the box the company has provided, click add to basket, and you can buy your very own, personal bottle of ketchup. That is, of course, the company deems your name worthy of placement on their beloved product. According to numerous reports, mostly coming from social media influencers, certain names have been deemed unacceptable, causing great concern among Christians.
There are more than a few videos discussing the issue. In one such video, a woman visits the Heinz website and enters several names of religious significance. She begins with Allah, Muhammad, Buddha, Satan, etc. Each name immediately appears on the image of a bottle of ketchup and is allowed to be added to the woman’s digital cart. She then attempts to input the name of Jesus, but when she attempts to have it applied to the bottle she receives a response that reads, “This message has been flagged for moderation.” She attempts to input the name of Christ. Again, she receives the response indicating that this name too has been flagged. For this woman, and many others, this is just one more clear sign of the times and evidence that the world hates Jesus and His followers. Once again, it was seen as a cause for great concern (I’m told Coca-Cola faced backlash for a similar situation a while back).
The world not only rejected Jesus when He walked this earth, they killed Him. We shouldn’t be surprised if and when the world attempts to marginalize His name.
It’s quite possible that this is evidence that Jesus has fallen out of favor as of late. But, is that really anything new. Jesus Himself warned that His name and those who wear it won’t always be all that popular, to say the least. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first (John 15:18).” The world not only rejected Jesus when He walked this earth, they killed Him. We shouldn’t be surprised if and when the world attempts to marginalize His name.
All that said, I did a little research in preparation for this article. I actually went to the Heinz Ketchup website and attempted to put the name of Jesus on a personalized bottle of ketchup. Allow me to ease any concerns you may have. I was able to insert and add to cart bottles with the names Jesus, Christ, Jesus Christ, as well as YHWH and Jehovah. Not one name was “…flagged for moderation.”
In all honesty, even if they had been flagged, I don’t think is a cause for concern. I seriously doubt that Jesus is all that worried about whether or not a secular company thinks His name is worthy to be placed on their product. What I think actually is of concern for Christ is whether or not the people who wear His name are living in ways that are worthy. That is what should be of greatest concern to us as well.
What I think actually is of concern for Christ is whether or not the people who wear His name are living in ways that are worthy.
Consider with me for a minute, will you? How many people are really likely to have a life-altering encounter with Jesus because His name is on a bottle of ketchup? How likely is anyone to even see it in your refrigerator or on your table? Likewise, how many people are likely to be kept from Jesus because His name wasn’t allowed on a bottle of Heinz? Without question, people are much more likely to have a significant experience with Jesus if and when they see, hear, and experience the power of His presence in and through you. When you love your neighbor as self, the name of Jesus shines through you. When you refuse to return evil for evil, the name of Jesus shines through you. When you speak the truth in love, the name of Jesus is seen in you. When you offer forgiveness and mercy to those who have wronged you, the name of Jesus shines through you. When you offer compassionate care to the outsider, the outcast, and the unworthy, the name of Jesus shines through you. And, when you fail to live and love like Jesus, there is a blank space in our lives where His name belongs. Or worse still, we dishonor His name and do harm to His mission by misusing His name.
There is no greater name than the name of Jesus (Phil. 2:9-11). Our calling and commission as those who bear His name is to live lives that are worthy of that name. Honestly, we don’t always do a great job. Rather than concern ourselves with personalized ketchup bottles, we should concern ourselves with becoming more like the Jesus of the gospels so that a watching world can see and believe in the name we claim.
