Don’t Mention Jesus And You Won’t Get in Trouble

4

The latest news on the culture war front comes from North Carolina. It seems that Pastor Ron Baity of Berean Baptist Church in Winston-Salem was named an “honorary chaplain” of the North Carolina House of Representatives. Although he had been invited to lead in prayer for an entire week, that invitation was rescinded after he refused to omit the name of Jesus from his prayers. According to this news report, he was allowed to lead the invocation for one session but then was told that his services were no longer needed.

During our drive to Chicago several days ago, we heard Pastor Baity interviewed on Fox News. I was impressed with how clearly he expressed that all truly Christian prayer must be offered in Jesus’ name. Speaker of the House Joe Hackney, a Democrat, and Paul Stam, House Republican leader, issued the following statement:

“It has been our practice in the North Carolina House of Representatives for many years to request, but not require, that our guest chaplains deliver a nonsectarian prayer. This is intended as a show of respect for all the religions practiced by the members of the House and the people we represent.”

This is pure nonsense. All prayer is “sectarian.” There is no such thing as “nonsectarian” prayer. Imagine telling Muslims they can’t mention Allah because it might offend someone or telling Hindus they could not mention their deity. Christians pray in Jesus’ name because we worship him as our Savior and Lord. Telling us not to pray in Jesus’ name is the same thing as telling us not to pray at all. 

What should we learn from this?

1. The name is Jesus is truly explosive. Christians tend to forget that because we sing songs like, “The name of Jesus is so sweet, I love its music to repeat.” True, but some people hate the name we love.

2. If you want everyone to like you, keep quiet about Jesus.

3. It doesn’t matter to me if a legislative body opens with prayer or not. But if they do, they should put no restrictions on the content of those prayers. Forcing ministers to pray sham “nonsectarian” prayers makes a mockery of religious belief. 

4. You don’t have to literally say “In Jesus’ name” when you pray. It’s not the literal words that matter. I develop this further in my message In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

5. But if someone asks you not to mention Jesus’ name, then you must not back down. Either don’t pray or say, “I would be untrue to my deepest convictions if I did not pray in Jesus’ name.” Then pray audibly in the name of Jesus. 

Please don’t buy into the nonsense that we can water down our faith and still honor our Lord. While we mean no offense, we take greater offense at those who wish to neuter Christians when we pray in public. 

Let the Muslims pray Muslim prayers, the Hindus pray Hindu prayers, the Unitarians pray Unitarian prayers, and let the rabbis pray Jewish prayers. When we are asked, we will pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am not arguing for prayers before public events one way or the other, but I am saying that if we take part, let’s pray Christian prayers. And that means praying in Jesus’ name. 

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Visitor Comments:

July 15, 2010, 8:22 AM patrick sullivan says:
British / Australian . Retired Pastor. Hospital Chaplain. Creator and Webmaster of www.jesuschristonly.com	well said Ray. This ‘Do not offend people of other faiths’ has gone to far. Political correctness is simply a smoke screen for militant humanists to try and block and hold back the Gospel of the Lord. It takes many forms, like a Christian Air Hostess in the UK being told to remove a small cross from her necklace encase she offended some of the passengers. Muslim leaders have been asked on TV in Australia, if singing Christmas carols in the schools and shopping centres offended them? the answer was a resounding NO it does not offend us. This still did not stop our local shopping centre banning carols and all decorations that showed the Christmas story..... Pat
July 15, 2010, 8:37 AM jo-ann bouclair says:
	Pastor Ray, You are so right!! Years ago when our daughter now 34 graduated from high school, a prayer was said by a minister ..that he prayed to the high eternal being.... Our neighbour (muslim)’s daughter was in that class and I am sure that they like us wondered what on earth he was talking about..... watered down? or just plain washed up!!!Jesus wasn’t in that prayer ..jusr plain sad
July 15, 2010, 1:13 PM Diane says:
	May I recopy your post for our church newsletter? thank you
July 15, 2010, 11:39 PM Shirley Putman says:
	I am so thankful that there are some people still holding up the faith of our lord and savior jesus Christ.People are forgetting the one main thing without our savior they would have nothing where they believe it or not.If people are truly born again and washed in jesus name they should stand up no matter what.I am truly sick of people taking our savior jesus Christ out of everything thing.Who unto the sinners.Al lot of christains to that will not stand up .Shame on you all.What if jesus comes today.Are you not going to claim him.Good for you for standing up ,This is what we truly need in our world today.If you do not want to hear it set down and be quite but respect the true christains please.—God bless you in jesus name—-sp5751@aol.com