In Jesus' Name
2009
November
19
I’ve noticed a trend.
A trend that sadly I’ve been a part of.
Often people will begin praying with “Dear God” or “Father…” or “Heavenly Father…,” all of which essentially means the prayer is directed towards God the Father.
Yet the prayer often ends with the phrase “In your name.” Praying to God the Father by God the Father.
That can’t make any sense right? Right, it can’t. And it doesn’t.
We have access to God the Father through the person of Jesus. It was his sacrifice alone that paved the way for us. And this should be included in how we pray.
We pray to God, through the Son…by the power of the Holy Spirit. This might sound familiar…
We don’t pray to the Father, through the Father…but through Jesus.
In Jesus’ Name.
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Tyler Braun.
You’re absolutely right! Christ is our mediator. If you look at the Lord’s prayer (an example of how we are to pray), you’ll see that Christ addresses the Father and just ends with an abrupt “amen”. A considerable amount of my prayer isn’t formal though. But I agree with what you’re saying.
One could argue that you are kind of praying to Jesus due to the whole trinity thing, but does anyone fully understand the trinity? When trying to comprehend the trinity…Mind blown.
Of course, tacking on “In Jesus’ Name” at the end of a prayer doesn’t qualify as praying in Jesus’ name, either. We pray in his name by praying what he would pray.
(We can’t pray “Father, please make sure the garage door is closed so I don’t have to get out of bed and check it myself” in Jesus’ name no matter how we end the prayer.)
Absolutely agree. I think the statement is an acknowledgment that we cannot approach the Father on our own. It is through Jesus. And of course, as with anything, it can become meaningless when just simply said without a recognition of what is being said.
Tyler, my husband has worked in Israel quite a bit, deals with Israeli companies in his work, etc. He got a great insight into this through his dealings with even a modern Hebraic culture. He said anytime a contractor would greet you they would say “Hello! I greet you in the name of ____(insert company name here).” For instance, Phil would have said “I greet you – and come to you – in the name of the Army of the United States of America.” Phil said it helped him to understand praying in Jesus’ name, and even doing work in Jesus’ name – we come through him, we represent him, our only authority is from him. Just like an employee speaks not on his own behalf, as Christians nothing is of ourselves – we don’t have the right to ask, to come, or the power to do anything in our name alone – it is only through the name and power of Christ. We are his ambassadors, which is not pertaining to prayer, per se, but is somewhat related I think.
Yes, Christ is our mediator. We only come to the Father through Him.
Jan, that’s a great way of thinking about this whole concept. Kind of like a police officer saying, “Stop in the name of the Law!”
Yes! Love it Jan, thanks.
I know this won’t be a popular position but…
If you start a prayer with “Our Heavenly Father…” then being as the Trinity is 3 in one, if you close with “In Your Name…” or “In Jesus Name…” to me is inconsequential. If you are praying to one part of the Trinity then you are praying to them all and I would think that God understands that.
Jesus prayed directly to the Father and I would not think this one detail would keep God from hearing our prayer.
Adam-
I don’t think this is about God hearing our prayers or not, but having an understanding of what is truly happening when we are praying. Each part of the Trinity plays a different role within it.
Every time I begin my prayers with:
My Father…
I always dwell on what Christ said:
John 20:17 “go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
And I think, “Wow, because of only what Christ has done only through the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit, I get to go to God the Father.” That always changes my tone in my prayers.
Thank you for pointing this out. I’ve noticed this with so many prayers.
Personal piety and public expressions take on different issues.
If you’re addressing your prayer to an individual member of the Trinity, indeed, I think your prayer is being heard and loved loud and clear.
But if eating meat causes my brother to stumble, far be it from me to eat meat. In other words, if we now realize that puublicly leading a prayer “in the name of Jesus” inadvertently denies the Trinity, we may have committed a grievous error.
Trinity is important. The Church grew by the Trinity’s involvement. It should not be suppressed or hidden. It is relevant, incomprehensible, unapprehendible, and true.
We may be wasting time quibbling about how to address prayer. A prayer to (our?) God is a prayer to the Trinity. And there’s nothing wrong with praying “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” That formula meant a great deal to our predecessors. They died for it like some of our soldiers die for the Constitution or the Pledge of Allegiance.
I never said praying in the name of each part of the Trinity was wrong, I’m saying that praying to the Father through the Father…makes no sense theologically.
If I prayed in English (being a non-native speaker), people might find more things to pick on than just starting or ending the prayer ‘not making sense’ theologically.
but if I prayed in non-English, most of my friends would think I’m speaking in tongue and many wouldn’t understand.
This is why I’m never a fan of public praying
Gotta pick my battles..there are much bigger issue in Christianity and people (I think…) than this.
Tyler! You mean Mary isn’t our mediator? Oh crap, where did all my prayers go before I became a Protestant!? Haha.
=P
lol Ben.
“I and my Father are one.” ~ Jesus
Semantics in such a situation are the least of God’s concerns. I think that’s where your issue is: the words, not the heart of the prayer.
Who cares about the trend? Pray to Him as your heart leads you, Tyler, and as your mind and language lead you.
God hears prayers. Period. Even if they aren’t worded perfectly….
I’m not saying that this is some HUGE issue in Christianity. But, if it is theologically incoherent…then why should we pray in that way?
tyler: theology is so meaningless if we have no relationship w/ God.
There are thousands in the world who don’t understand an ounce of theology, and yet….they’re relationship w/ Him are far greater than i could ever imagine….they will enter the throne even before you or i.
prayer is just…talking.to.God. what if i DON’T say anything? in your name, in jesus name?….at the end of my prayer? is God going to be offended? no
it’s not an issue at all, i believe….and God is not offended. you’re concerning yourself w/ semantics. that’s it. words, translation. he knows the heart of the human being.
“in your name” probably just rolls of the tongue quickly for some…i doubt people really put much thought into it. it just is.
honestly, tyler, if it bothers YOU that much, just be conscious enough to say “in jesus name” when you pray. why be consumed w/ what you think is “bad” trend?…and how do you know it’s a trend nation-wide or world-wide? you’re not in every church, or prayer closet or gathering? how do you know?
food for thought.
My point isn’t being made for those who don’t know. I’m saying for those who realize that praying in such a way is theologically incorrect, then why should they continue praying in that way? It would be like me continuing to blog with the same typo every time knowing it is a typo. I am working on being conscious of praying this way. When I say trend it is because I have noticed it at many places beyond just my church and my circle of friends. Obviously I can’t know if people in Virginia are praying this way, but it is pretty safe to assume that if many are praying like this around where I am, it isn’t just happening here.
and i’m saying to you.., why does it matter if people are “theologically correct?” is it really your job to educate people that you think are “theologically wrong?”
if you’re going to be a pastor in the real world of any kind, you’re going to realize that in this world, in this day and age: theology isn’t enough. people don’t want theology, they want a real God: believers and non believers alike. theology is what’s killing the church, b/c pastors and people are so worried about the semantics the appearance of things that they forget the heart of the matter, the heart of the people, the heart of God. they’re so busy w/ the technical aspects of what “christian looks like” or what “church looks like” that they forget what it’s really about….
and, if you’re going to go after a “trend” and theology- you should not assume w/ facts, studied statistics. what you’ve noticed lately, around, in “many” places….focus on you.
K Ash. I guess we disagree. I know people want more than theology. Sorry that is what this post turned into for you.
Good point Ash!