Hello Christians:

Does it diminish a prayer if the prayer leader ends it with just a plain Amen, instead of "in the name of Jesus, Amen"?

I ask, because as I watch the NASCAR race, I'm offended when they pray to Jesus. It kinda leaves ME OUT. I don't like to be left out.

I've also heard them end their invocation INCLUSIVELY, too. That is WITHOUT mention of Jesus. Are THOSE prayers less effective than those when Jesus's name is invoked?

excon

PS> Yeah, I complained about it right here several years ago... It STILL pisses me off.

Wondergirl

Adding "in Jesus' name" definitely makes it a Christian prayer (Mooresville area IS part of the Bible Belt, if that's where the races are held -- my old stompin' grounds).

Hmmmm, I'm guessing (educated guess) that any prayer honestly prayed is good to go, mention of Jesus or not. I don't imagine God picks around through all the prayers and tosses out the non-Jesus ones.

jenniepepsi

i agree with WG. i firmly believe that god doesnt worrie about what your words say. he listens to your heart. i dont think it makes any difference to god if we invoke jesus' name or not. i believe god to be more tolerant than that.

Fr_Chuck

It divides who you are praying to.

When they prayed to a "mother goddess" at a music event I walked out till the prayer was over.

If you are not christian, merely don't pray with a christian prayer.

excon

Hello Padre:

The thing is, you can't tell if it's a Christian prayer until they make it one at the end. It ain't right to say the whole thing and get snookered at the end.

excon

Wondergirl

If Jesus didn't creep into the prayer before the ending, consider it just a regular prayer. Some pray-ers remember at the end "we gotta stick Jesus' name on this or it ain't a Christian prayer" so heck it's just a name. Jesus was a Jew and good guy, so go with it.

N0help4u

It doesn't leave you out of prayers EX.
Prayers are said FOR US and interceded THROUGH Jesus.
For example:
Like a kid (you/us/we) goes to mommy (representing Jesus here) and asks mommy to intercede for him to daddy (representing God)
to please reconsider an answer.
Should the kid be pissed off at mommy because he asked through mom?

Prayers can end in either Amen or in Jesus name
They are still prayers either way
Amen means so be it
Jesus name means you are asking him to intercede

paraclete

It's that damned PC again EX you can't use the name of Jesus in a public place because you might offend someone. If Christians have come together in prayer I don't see the point of tacking Jesus name on it because when we are gathered in his name we have the assurance he is in the midst, but out in the open spaces at a secular event you would need to be specific

One day Christians will learn that you have to go all the way

s_cianci

Any believing Christian will end a prayer "in Jesus' name" because a fundamental tenet of the Christian faith is that Jesus is the mediator between God and man (as in 'humanity.') But let me ask you this ; even if you don't believe in Jesus (perhaps in other than a strictly historical context), why would you be offended by the mention of his name? After all, if you truly don't believe, then it's not real and that's that and anyone who thinks it is is a poor deluded fool ; hardly worth taking offense at. Pity maybe, but not offense. After all, I don't believe in Santa Claus but I'm not offended by little children who do. And I don't get offended when I see people dressed in Santa costumes in department stores talking to children and posing for pictures with them. So why is it any different when it comes to religious matters?

excon

Hello again, s:

You're ordinarily a pretty smart man... But, I guess when it comes to religious matters, you lose your mind.....

Why was I offended??????? For the same reason YOU would be if they ended a NASCAR invocation with the words "in Allah's name we prey".

excon