Have you ever wondered why it is a practice among
Christians to close our prayers with the phrase "In Jesus'
name, Amen"? From my early childhood days all the prayers
that were uttered publicly (and no doubt privately) were always
ended the same way. I was taught from childhood to end my prayers
in this manner.
There is a trend going around the brotherhood
today discouraging prayers in the name (or by the authority) of
Jesus Christ. Their rationale goes something like this: Since
Christ's model prayer (Matthew 6) does not end with "In Jesus'
name, Amen," why should we verbalize it? And, since there
is no example of the prayers prayed by Christ, the apostles, or
disciples in the New Testament ending with "In Jesus' name,
Amen," where is our authority to do it? Good question, indeed!
True, Christ's model prayer didn't end with the
phrase, "In Jesus' name, Amen," but it did end with
the word "Amen." Since Christ was the authority, we
can conclude that it was "by the authority" of Christ
that he taught his disciples this prayer.
The word "Amen" simply means "So
be it," or "Let it be so." Oft times it is used
to reinforce a statement. It is so used twelve times in Deuteronomy,
chapter 27. It is also used in 1 Corinthians 14:15 to voice one's
approval of a public prayer. Here Paul writes: "Else when
thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth
the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing
he understandeth not what thou sayest?" At least one time
it is used as the name of God. (Revelation 3:14)
But the word "Amen" is not really the
issue here. It is the phrase: "In Jesus' name."
Paul writes in Colossians 3:17, "And whatsoever
ye do in word or deed, do all in the name (or by the authority)
of the Lord Jesus ..." Christ tells us, in John 14:13, "And
whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father
may be glorified in the Son."
Based on the above, I will continue to conclude
all my prayers "In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
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