"If you think Scripture is telling you what you want to hear, take a long, hard second look."
- The Ancient Mariner
Wednesday, September 6, 2006
It is easy for us to turn good habits into empty rituals. Ending a prayer with “in Jesus name I pray, Amen†is a good example. I’ve known folks who could say that phrase so quickly that it was like one word (Jesunamaprayamn). I think for some it has become almost a magic phrase, as though God won’t hear your prayer without it. There are some good reasons to pray in Jesus’ name but nowhere are we told that we must use the phrase.
Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me… And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask for anything in my name, and I will do it†(John 14:6, 13-14). Jesus is teaching us that the only way to have access to God is through him. Because of Jesus’ death for us on the cross, our sins have been paid for and we can enter into the presence of a Holy and righteous God… “We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus†(Hebrews 10:19).
Were it not for Christ, we would have no way to enter into God’s presence let alone be assured that God hears our prayers. To do something in someone else’s name means that you do it with their authority. Only Christ can stand sinless before God. But Christ as our priest (or representative) before God makes it possible for us to be heard by God. Therefore because of Christ we can pray and know that we are heard. “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess…Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need†(Hebrews 4:14, 16).
Anyone who trusts Jesus prays in Jesus’ name whether or not he or she utters the words “in Jesus name.†The words are a good reminder, but we must beware using the words as a magic formula to gain access to God. “When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him†(Matthew 6:7-8).
As an aside, while I don't think saying "In Jesus' Name, Amen" is mandatory, I struggle some when I hear people say "In your name I pray, Amen." This may be because the first time I heard it, was in a public school by a non-christian. I've heard Christians do it in public contexts also and have wondered if it is a way to avoid offending anyone who would be offended by Jesus' name. Is it like saying "In ________ (fill in your god here) name I pray Amen"? If so, it's a cop out. On the other hand, I suppose "in your name" would make sense if you were praying to Jesus, but then why would it be necessary to say? Personally, I don't condemn people for saying "in your name I pray" because I think they are just repeating what they heard, but I'll never do it.
As another aside, when Jesus taught us to pray the model prayer in Matthew 6:9-13, he doesn't end with "In Jesus name I pray, Amen."
Most importantly, it is Christ, not your words that make your prayer legitimate. Doing something in someone else’s name means also doing the same sort of thing they would do. A more important concern is whether the content of your prayer is something that Jesus would pray. Jesus prayed earnestly, but also submitted to his Father’s will. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done†(Luke 22:42).
Trackbacks:
Trackback URL: http://thinklings.org/bloo.trackback.php/3278.
Comments on "Do You Have To Say, “In Jesus Name I Pray"?":
2. Philip
- 09/06/2006 4:49 am CDT
Another aside:
When I pray aloud with my children I make a point to interchangeably end with "amen" and "in Jesus name, Amen".
I don't want them getting stuck in a meaningless ritual either. I want Jesus name to mean something to them. So I change it up on purpose so they notice. It works.
3. Philip
- 09/06/2006 4:51 am CDT
No Jared, it's not sufficient!
Post yours dude!
We need more stuff on prayer...at least I do.
When I posted this I discovered that we had a whole thinklings category on the subject. I wonder how many posts are there? I'll bet we need more. :)
4. Pigwotflies
- 09/06/2006 5:07 am CDT
Why do we end with 'Amen'? A bit off your topic, but it can be the same sort of thing - a formula, a way of rounding off a thought and making the prayer sound finished, especially when praying with other people so they know you've finished and it's someone else's turn. I've been thinking about about praying aloud recently. It seems to take such different forms in different contexts. Messy and loud times when everyone prays together out loud, quieter ones where everyone prays under their breath, formal ones with well-constructed prayers, rounded off prayers, informal ones with long rambling, but equally heart-felt prayers. We're funny creatures, humans. Good thing God looks at the heart.
5. nhe
- 09/06/2006 6:12 am CDT
"In Jesus' name" simply points to Christ's advocacy for us - we're reminding ourselves that we can come boldly before the thrown of God and interact personally with Him because of what Christ has done.
It's an important reminder, but it stops serving the purpose to remind when it becomes remote, taboo, or moot - which it has.
8. Phil
- 09/06/2006 8:01 pm CDT
Many aspects of prayer can come by rote or even just habit. From listening to most of my evangelical friends pray, you'd think each line of prayer had to include the work "just" to be heard from on high. Is that some attempt at pseudo-humility? i.e., "I just pray, Lord, that you'd just heal Brother So-n-so and Lord that you'd just give peace to their family..." etc.
Dare I ask ya'lls view on "pleading the blood of Jesus" as part of prayer? ;-)
9. Nathan
- 09/07/2006 1:01 am CDT
Phil: oh heck yeah, guilty as charged on the "just". I think it's partly a desire to persuade God that our requests won't be too much trouble and partly a way of filling in time in a sentence in a situation where we're not comfortable saying "like". Possibly. The other one is "really". "Lord we just want to really lift your name just on high, Lord".
Again, as pwf says, it's a good job God looks on the heart... =o)
10. byevad
- 09/07/2006 1:40 am CDT
Phil, great post and great thoughts!
Prayer is such a broad subject and this post is just hitting the tip of the iceberg.
I agree that we can get can get caught up in rote prayers and or phrases. Phil, I agree that it is good to switch things up in order to maintain a "freshness" to the relationship with our God. (There was a point in time that I called God "Daddy" or "Papa" in my prayers instead of "Father" or "Lord" in order to achieve a different perspective in my conversation with God.)
Many years ago, a wise brother pulled me aside and talked with me about prayer. He suggested that I look at how I converse with others and compare it to how I converse with God. For example, in my conversations with Brother Bob do I sound like: "Bob, I just want to ask you to bring something for dinner, Bob. Brother Bob, I just need a break, Bob, could you watch my kids Bob?" (You get the idea.)
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating that we make our conversations with the creator of the universe become too "familiar" -- it's just a different way to think about prayer.
That bit of advice has helped me to be more "comfortable" in prayer and have a deeper conversation with God. And when I feel like things are getting stale or rote, the thought is a good one to get me jump started again.
11. Leslie28
- 09/07/2006 3:36 am CDT
Why is it that the "just" people are also the "Lord, Lord, Lord" people?
Lord, we just. . .Lord. And Lord, we just pray Lord that. . .Lord, and just. . .Lord."
Not important, just funny that they seem to go hand in hand.
Great post, Schrode/Philip/Thor/J-Mac Fanboy/today's nickname.
God, just help me to know if I think the same person is the nickname guy, Lord, or if I am just getting confused, Lord, with all of the guys here, Lord who just love you so much, Lord, and just want to just spread your truth, Lord, throughout just about the whole world, Lord, through the internet, Lord.
In Jesus' name, amen.
P.S. Some of those "just, Lord" people are my best friends, so nobody throw stones, okay? Just a loving chuckle, that's all. I'm guilty of it all at times, too!
12. Brian in Fresno
- 09/07/2006 5:52 am CDT
Jared, please, make your post on prayer. I'd like to hear, or read, what you have to say.
Philip, thank you. The sentence that stands above all the others for me is, "To do something in someone else’s name means that you do it with their authority." I'm so thankful that God has taken us under his wing and loves us so graciously that he would grant the authority of Jesus to us!
All praise, glory and honor to God, the Father, the Holy Spirit and our saviour Jesus Christ!
13. Jared
- 09/07/2006 6:18 am CDT
Brian, it was not going to be much of a post, honestly. It was actually going to be more of a survey-type thing asking folks if there was a certain "way" they prayed. If they followed a pattern or model or what-have-you.
Shrode's entry, in my mind, is actually thoughtful on the subject, not just inquisitive, and it seems that some folks in this thread are sort of answering the question I would have asked anyway.
Sorry I wasn't withholding anything profound! ;-)
14. Brian in Fresno
- 09/07/2006 6:35 am CDT
No apologies needed Jared.
I try to keep in mind that God is sovereign and will have his way. Does that mean I don't pray? No, not at all! I see things from my perspective and sometimes I can actually see what God's will might be. But I don't see the bigger picture. God does. I will pray for what I preceive God's will to be then confess that I can't see the bigger picture and pray for God's will to be done.
Dude, you're reading my mind or something. I was going to post on prayer today, but your entry is more than sufficient, and much better than what I had in mind anyway.
Way to go, Shrode.
Ricky B: Dear eight pound, seven ounce, infant baby Jesus. Watching your Baby Einstein developmental videos. Learning about your shapes and colors. We thank thee for . . .