Jehovah vs. LORD

A couple Jehovah's Witnesses came to my door the other day. We talked about few things, but the one doing most of the talking brought up something I had not heard from them before, or from anyone for that matter.

He took issue with the fact that our translations of the Bible render the name Jehovah as 'LORD' in the Old Testament. He seemed particularly bothered by this and pointed to other scriptures where God instructs that His name ought to be treated as holy.

He challenged me a bit asking, "Why does your translation render it LORD?"

Good question. To be honest, I'd like it very much if it were to render His name instead of a title as a substitution.

But...

There is another name by which God has revealed Himself that is rendered directly. The name above all names. Jesus Christ.

That name is rendered directly. It is not substituted with Lord or any other title. It is rendered so faithfully so often that it has become quite familiar to us.

There is an old saying, "Familiarity breeds contempt."

What have we done with the name of Jesus Christ? How is this name now used in our world today?

I have yet to hear anyone respond negatively to something that frustrates them by shouting, "Siddhartha Gautama!"

I'm ok with not rendering the name of Jehovah in the Old Testament. I would like it if the translators did, but I think by rendering it as LORD, that name may have been spared some of the disrespect that has befallen the name of Jesus.