ASHAMED OF JESUS?
"…whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Matt. 10:32-33
Although public prayer has not YET been eliminated in the United States, I’m disturbed by a growing trend in public invocations. Many chaplains or “ministers” commonly conclude their prayers with, "In your name, Amen." Although some people see nothing wrong with concluding a prayer that way, I always wonder, "Whose name?" God the Father? Jesus Christ? Muhammad? Buddha?
Jesus specifically instructed His disciples to ask in HIS name (JN 14:13-14), and Paul commands Christians to do everything in HIS name (Col 3:17). Which is only reasonable, since Jesus is the Mediator between God and man - 1 TIM 2:5. Therefore, it is appropriate to end our prayers by saying, "in Jesus name" or "in the name of Jesus Christ".
When a minister has occasion to pray before a huge audience, he has a unique opportunity to publicly confess the name of Jesus Christ. So why end such a prayer a generic, "In Your name, amen"? Some might argue that it is "politically correct" to omit the name of Jesus in public prayer. Others assert that such endings avoid the possibility of offending Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, etc. But if omitting Jesus’ name from prayer avoids giving offense, why don’t we eliminate His name from our signs, advertisements, bulletins, tracts and church stationery?
Because omitting the name of our Lord would definitely offend HIM. Jesus said, "…whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father..." (Mark 8:38, Luke 9:26). In other words, omitting the name of Jesus Christ will cost us our salvation.
When it comes to the name of our Lord, we should never shrink away from any offense, penalty, or violence that His glorious name might evoke. Perhaps we should initiate a "Put Christ Back into Prayer!" movement.
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis
"…whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Matt. 10:32-33
Although public prayer has not YET been eliminated in the United States, I’m disturbed by a growing trend in public invocations. Many chaplains or “ministers” commonly conclude their prayers with, "In your name, Amen." Although some people see nothing wrong with concluding a prayer that way, I always wonder, "Whose name?" God the Father? Jesus Christ? Muhammad? Buddha?
Jesus specifically instructed His disciples to ask in HIS name (JN 14:13-14), and Paul commands Christians to do everything in HIS name (Col 3:17). Which is only reasonable, since Jesus is the Mediator between God and man - 1 TIM 2:5. Therefore, it is appropriate to end our prayers by saying, "in Jesus name" or "in the name of Jesus Christ".
When a minister has occasion to pray before a huge audience, he has a unique opportunity to publicly confess the name of Jesus Christ. So why end such a prayer a generic, "In Your name, amen"? Some might argue that it is "politically correct" to omit the name of Jesus in public prayer. Others assert that such endings avoid the possibility of offending Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, etc. But if omitting Jesus’ name from prayer avoids giving offense, why don’t we eliminate His name from our signs, advertisements, bulletins, tracts and church stationery?
Because omitting the name of our Lord would definitely offend HIM. Jesus said, "…whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father..." (Mark 8:38, Luke 9:26). In other words, omitting the name of Jesus Christ will cost us our salvation.
When it comes to the name of our Lord, we should never shrink away from any offense, penalty, or violence that His glorious name might evoke. Perhaps we should initiate a "Put Christ Back into Prayer!" movement.
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis
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