Is praying to Jesus appropriate?

[Mysteryman]

"Jesus" is the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit ? Where do you see that in scripture ?

Beside the obvious that Jesus told the Apostles to baptize in the name (singular) of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and that went about baptizing people the the name of Jesus, to which we both agree was NOT in disobedience. Other such as Colossians 2:9 that says that all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in Christ bodily, and in Zachariah were God said the say will come when He shall have one name ect..... that one name is Jesus

Hi W.

This is how I understand your reply ------ My beliefs are such, that whatever I want the word of God to say, I make it so by my beliefs, instead of allowing the Word of God to interpret itself.

Now, can you support your claim with scripture that the name "Jesus" is synonymous with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit ?

 

[awaken]

I believe we pray to the Father..in the name (authority) of Jesus. It was because of what Jesus did on the cross that we have access to the Father.

Jesus prayed to the Father while he was on earth...So I pray to the Father!

....and I thank God for the sacrifice of His Son...what love is this..that He would give His only Son?
Without the sacrifice of God and the Son...where would we be?

 

[PacificCoastMommy]

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Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (1Corinthians 1:2)

JamesG

Thanks James - good text. Now I guess the big question is whether or not "calling on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord" and "praying to Jesus Christ our Lord" are the same thing.

My husband says it's not the same but I wonder how a person would call on Jesus if not in prayer when he is no longer here on earth for us to talk to? Also, when he lived on earth, the disciples were able to talk to Him but now that he is in Heaven we are no longer allowed to open dialogue with him?

Oh and for the record, I am not trying to argue with my husband, but rather I would like to know the truth for my own conscience. I am ok with him not praying to Jesus nor will I pray to Jesus aloud when I'm with him, however he has reprimanded others for praying to Jesus in the past and I wonder if that was appropriate or if it was just his strict upbringing that causes him to think this way? My husband and I like to have good discussions about stuff like this

 

[Mysteryman]

.
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (1Corinthians 1:2)

JamesG

Thanks James - good text. Now I guess the big question is whether or not "calling on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord" and "praying to Jesus Christ our Lord" are the same thing.

My husband says it's not the same but I wonder how a person would call on Jesus if not in prayer when he is no longer here on earth for us to talk to? Also, when he lived on earth, the disciples were able to talk to Him but now that he is in Heaven we are no longer allowed to open dialogue with him?

Oh and for the record, I am not trying to argue with my husband, but rather I would like to know the truth for my own conscience. I am ok with him not praying to Jesus nor will I pray to Jesus aloud when I'm with him, however he has reprimanded others for praying to Jesus in the past and I wonder if that was appropriate or if it was just his strict upbringing that causes him to think this way? My husband and I like to have good discussions about stuff like this

Hi

Your husband is correct. However, you do not seem to be sure, so you are out searching on your own.

You imply that when your husband's back is turned, you pray to Jesus , instead of praying to the Father through the name of Jesus Christ. His reprimand of others is appropriate, because he has scripture to back him up. Now you need to confirm within your understanding , that the Word does tell us to ask the Father through his Son's name Jesus Christ.

Remember this as a wife. When you are not absolutely sure about something. That your head (husband) in the Lord, is your covering.

 

[PacificCoastMommy]

.
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (1Corinthians 1:2)

JamesG

Thanks James - good text. Now I guess the big question is whether or not "calling on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord" and "praying to Jesus Christ our Lord" are the same thing.

My husband says it's not the same but I wonder how a person would call on Jesus if not in prayer when he is no longer here on earth for us to talk to? Also, when he lived on earth, the disciples were able to talk to Him but now that he is in Heaven we are no longer allowed to open dialogue with him?

Oh and for the record, I am not trying to argue with my husband, but rather I would like to know the truth for my own conscience. I am ok with him not praying to Jesus nor will I pray to Jesus aloud when I'm with him, however he has reprimanded others for praying to Jesus in the past and I wonder if that was appropriate or if it was just his strict upbringing that causes him to think this way? My husband and I like to have good discussions about stuff like this

Hi

Your husband is correct. However, you do not seem to be sure, so you are out searching on your own.

You imply that when your husband's back is turned, you pray to Jesus , instead of praying to the Father through the name of Jesus Christ. His reprimand of others is appropriate, because he has scripture to back him up. Now you need to confirm within your understanding , that the Word does tell us to ask the Father through his Son's name Jesus Christ.

Remember this as a wife. When you are not absolutely sure about something. That your head (husband) in the Lord, is your covering.

No, I do not pray to Jesus, but I'm wondering if it is wrong to do so because I know of others who do. One time, even our pastor did it in our church during congregational prayer. Just trying to find out the truth. This text seems to imply that it's not inappropriate to pray to Jesus by "Calling upon His Name"

 

[Bob Carabbio]

"We are told in the Bible that Jesus is Lord. So should we pray to Him? Or should we only pray to the Father as indicated by Jesus in the Lord's Prayer?"

I see no reason to depart from Jesus' instructions in that regard. He SAID to Ask Father "in his name" - i.e. "as a representative of that which His NAME stands for". Personally I simply "Frame prayers" that way - to Father in the authority of Jesus' name.

Bearing in mind that Father KNOWS what we have need of before we even ask, so nothing we ask comes as a "Surprise". AND HE KNOWS our hearts. SO no reason to do other than the Bible indicates as the "Proper way". Some folks pray to the Holy Spirit, and Mary, and to Angels, and "Saints", and, and. But if simply praying to Father in Jesus' name doesn't "get 'er done" - it ain't gonna happen.

The "Lord's Prayer" isn't necessarily a prayer that we're SUPPOSED to pray - it's just a prototypical prayer that is representative of the "elements" a prayer should have - worship, praise, petition, recognition of who God is, forgiveness, - etc.

There are a couple of slightly different versions in the Bible. Luke 11: 2-4 is short and sweet,

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

And Mat 6: 9-13 - while it makes the same exact statements -

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

AND it includes a "Tag": For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

 

[PacificCoastMommy]

I understand that Jesus gave us the Lord's Prayer as an example. However, it is not the only prayer listed in the Bible. And as someone previously mentioned, Jesus was still on earth when he gave us the Lord's Prayer (and the people on earth could speak to him directly). The Bible also says that we are to bring "in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Phil 4:6) and "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess 5:16-18). We see prayers offered by Job, Miriam, Mary, Paul, and a multitude of others listed in the Bible and they are not all praying the Lord's Prayer.

I believe that Jesus is Lord. I believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit - 3 separate persons yet one God. I am thankful to Jesus for the tremendous sacrifice he made for me. Am I allowed to thank Him in prayer? Or is it completely inappropriate to even address Jesus? If they are all one God, why is it only appropriate to address the Father?

I guess it would help if I could get the answers to the following:

What does it mean in I Cor 1 where Paul mentions those who "call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ"?

How does one "call on the name of the Lord Jesus"?

Would this not be a reference to calling on his name in prayer?

Or is there another manner in which we can call upon our Lord?

Thanks to anyone who can answer

 

[Bob Carabbio]

"How does one "call on the name of the Lord Jesus"?

The "NAME" of the Lord Jesus is essentially an invocation of the AUTHORITY that resides in that name.

Remember the Centurion that came to Jesus about his sick servant -

Jesus says O.K.!! - let's get over there and minister to him - but the Centurion said:

"That's not necessary, y'all!! I'm a man under authority, and I HAVE (as a result of being under authority) delegated authority of my own - and I tell this guy to "jump" and he immediately asks "how High"!!! - SIR!!

I understand that you (Jesus) "operate the same way" - so just Say the WORD, and things'll be hunky-dory".

Jesus stated that the Centurion possessed REAL FAITH - like He hadn't encountered yet in all of Israel - so apparently the Centurion's appraisal of the situation was accurate.

In a related way:

I'm the "Chief Engineer", and as such I'm UNDER the authority of Bailey Tool. and as a result of that, I HAVE "Authority". When I walk out on the production floor - it's not ME - but a fully empowered executive representative of the Corporation. And when I tell somebody to DO something - they do it (if they want to continue working there, they don't really have a choice).

SO when I "Speak" - it's not Bob Carabbio talking, but the Chief engineer of Bailey with all the political/economic "clout" that represents. If I WASN'T "Chief Engineer" my words wouldn't mean spit.

IN the same way, if I am under God's Authority as a fully empowered representative of JESUS - since I invoked His name in my prayer (In Jesus' name = with Jesus' authority) then it's not ME that's speaking, but a authorized REPRESENTATIVE before Father God of everything that Jesus IS.

The PROBLEM with many professing Christians is that they're really NOT "under God's authority" - since they've never really submitted to Him 100%, and as a result have NO IDEA what their "Delegated authority" (If they have any) is. They appreciate the "Fire insurance", but don't really want to "Crucify their flesh", "Take HIS Yoke upon them", OR "Learn of Him".

It'd be like me invoking the name of "General Motors" in a business discussion. There's no problem with the "Clout" of General Motors Corp. - but I'm NOT under GM's authority, and I have NO "Authority" to use their "Name" for anything.

When you Pray to Father IN JESUS' NAME - you're "calling on the name of the Lord Jesus".

If you haven't bothered with YOUR part of the agreement (To make Jesus LORD), and sought Him, Read His Word, or Prayed, or gathered with His People - etc. you may find that nothing much happens -

 

[Vic C.]

PCM and Bob, good posts. Thanks for the replies.

Bob, welcome to the site and this thread. I agree with what you have posted. :yes

There were some latter posts that did little to edify the topic or to keep it relevant and they have been removed.

totopic

 

[elijah23]

We are told in the Bible that Jesus is Lord. So should we pray to Him? Or should we only pray to the Father as indicated by Jesus in the Lord's Prayer? (when he was asked, how should we pray he gave the Lord's Prayer) Also, with regards to the Lord's prayer - the way I learned it has way more words than what is written in the Bible versions I have (NIV, RSV, KJV) - where did these extra words come from?

I think Jesus was God in the flesh, so I don’t think it is wrong to pray to Jesus.