By David Pennington
Alarmingly, Bible-believing Christians in the United States of America
are being denied their God-given and constitutional rights. A clear
example is that clergy or designated individuals who open the Indiana
House of Representatives in prayer have been forbidden to pray in
Jesus’ name (see December 1, 2005, edition of the Indianapolis Star).
Surprisingly, this prohibition was upheld by Judge David Hamilton who
required “any person chosen to give the invocation be instructed it
must not advance any one faith or be used in bid to convert listeners.”
Judge Hamilton’s ruling included the prohibition of invokers praying in
Jesus’ name.
Prohibiting Christians from praying in Jesus’
name violates the “free exercise” clause of the Constitution of the
United States. Although the Constitution upholds the “free exercise” of
religion, Christians are told that prayers must be generic and
inoffensive to citizens with differing religious or secular views.
Legislators apparently believe that praying in Jesus’ name violates the
Constitution’s “establishment clause.” In other words, they believe
that a minister or designated individual who prays in the name of Jesus
invoking God’s blessing upon the House of Representatives somehow
“establishes” a religion. Perhaps the Supreme Court of the United
States of America needs to define clearly what constitutes
“establishing” a religion. Apparently, our nation has stooped to a new
level of secularism by believing that any mention of a particular
religion, even in prayer, “establishes” a religion and violates the
Constitution of the United States. Thus, today’s American citizens can
offer only generic prayers stripped of any religious teaching and
completely inoffensive to anyone who believes anything. Such praying
may supposedly purge America of “religious intolerance,” but it does
not allow individuals to freely exercise their God-given beliefs or
religion.
Forbidding Christians to pray in Jesus’ name violates the freedom of
speech in the Bill of Rights. To limit or restrict a minister from
praying in Jesus’ name is to deny him the right to speak what he
genuinely believes. His praying in the name of Jesus does not in any
way deny others the freedom to believe or speak differently. He is
simply expressing in his prayer his sincere religious beliefs.
Christian ministers have the right to free speech also!
Prohibiting Christians from praying in Jesus’ name violates the
authority of God’s Almighty. The reason ministers pray in Jesus’ name
is because the Word of God instructs them to do so. If ministers or
other Bible-believing Christians do not pray in Jesus’ name, they
violate the very Word of God they believe and teach. By doing so, they
place man’s authority over God’s. In the early church, the apostles
faced similar opposition. They were commanded they could not teach in
that “name” (Acts 5:27, 28). To which they responded, “We ought to obey
God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
To pray, or for that matter to do anything, in someone’s name is to do
so in the authority of that person. For example, in Matthew 7 false
believers claimed to prophesy, cast out demons, and do wonderful works
in Jesus’ name. Yet their claims were false, and Jesus rebuked and
brought judgment upon them. They were claiming that they did these
things in the authority of Jesus. Jesus exposed their claims as false
and dishonest.
The name of Jesus is a prevalent theme throughout the New Testament.
Wonderful works were done in His name (Acts 3:6). Eternal salvation
comes through His name (Acts 4:12). Men have access to the very throne
of God and receive promises of answered prayer through His name (John
14:13, 14; 15:16; 16:23, 24). Therefore to deny Christian ministers the
right to pray in Jesus’ name is to cause them to disobey the teachings
of God’s Word.
Sadly, America has become a secular nation that denies Christians their
constitutional right to the free exercise of religious beliefs, that
restricts Christians from freedom of speech, and that causes them to
disobey specific teachings in the Bible that command Christians to pray
in Jesus’ name. The apostle Peter gave encouragement to believers
facing similar persecution in his day. He writes, “If ye be reproached
for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of
God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your
part he is glorified” (1 Pet. 4:14). God’s people may soon find
themselves facing imprisonment or financial fines simply for praying in
Jesus’ name. In spite of such opposition, it is important to be
obedient to God’s directives. May the Lord give His people the courage
and boldness to pray in Jesus’ name in their public and private prayers!
Dr.
David Pennington pastors Burge Terrace Baptist Church in Indianapolis,
Indiana, and is also on the Executive Board of the Fundamental Baptist
Fellowship International.
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