“…in the name of Jesus…”
“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
to God the Father through Him.” (Col 3:17 NKJV)
Possibly no phrase has been more exercised, uttered, or parlayed than “…in the name of Jesus.” And this all with the biblical justification as can be found in numerous passages of Scripture. The problem is that the phrase has been so overused with little regard for its true meaning that it has degenerated into a platitude or cliche. Most Christians wouldn’t think of ending a prayer without concluding it with “…in Jesus’ name.” It is almost as if we have reduced the expression to some sort of ritual or at least a religious saying with seemingly magical power. The Apostolic Church teaches that one must be baptized using the phrase “…in the name of Jesus” only in order to be saved.” Pat and I taught in a Christian school which included many young people from the Apostolic Church. In their minds the rest of us in the school were idolatrous believing we worshiped three gods. They refused to sing with us because of their faith.
But is this what Jesus was talking about in the Bible? Is this what the disciples were practicing as we read through the book of Acts and the letters of Paul? I wonder how many times have we applied this phrase without receiving the anticipated response? We believed we were following Jesus’ directions by asking something “…in the name of Jesus.”
I believe to discover what the essence of this phrase really is. I am going to suggest three guidelines which are not meant to be exclusive or conclusive in their rendering. I believe doing anything in the name of Jesus entails embracing his will, his purpose, and his character. Saying the words in any application while ignoring these salient points would constitute a miscarriage of Bible hermeneutics. Interpreting scripture requires an open mind and unbiased approach and involves understanding the biblical context while even delving into definitions from the original languages of the Bible.
Embracing the will of Jesus may be more difficult than one might imagine. This is because it involves the absolute surrender of our own will. Most of us are used to getting our own way and this is a very powerful motivation in the average life. I think the yielding of one’s will is probably more of a process than a one time commitment for most people. This is because we are faced with multiple challenges and decisions every day. Additionally, if we are not committed to the Word of God, we will have a difficult time discerning the essence of the Lord’s heart with regard to anything. Being dedicated to knowing and doing the will of God means there is nothing in my life that I won’t allow the Lord to speak into and give direction on. This thought alone can scare a lot of Christians. Most have their personal “sacred cows” which are not eligible for input from extraneous sources.
Secondly, it is essential to understand and always follow the purpose of the Lord. If, regarding any matter, our direction and intention differ from where Jesus is headed, we are not “in Jesus’ name” regardless of what words we use in our prayers. Following the purpose of God often means giving up our preconceived notions and altering previously laid plans. Jesus’ purposes will always be consistent with the Lord’s ultimate intention. The better we comprehend what the Lord is doing in his creation and particularly in our lives, the easier and smoother will be our choosing to honor his purpose.
Embracing the third point of our trilogy may be the most essential and significant of all. Although frankly, devaluing any of the three would gravely harm the entire argument. To do something in someone’s name is to patently represent that person, like standing in their place. This could virtually be almost anything such as a product, a company, a team, a political party, or even a cause. Whatever it is that you are representing, you are doing it in the name of that person or entity. Simply saying the words, “…in the name of…” without the appropriate representation would be meaningless.
However, when considering Jesus, this whole process takes on a deeply spiritual dimension. To do anything in the name of Jesus, such as praying, entails pursuing and taking on the very nature and character of Christ. This is what Jesus was conveying in Luke 9:23 when he said, “…If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” In another place Jesus said, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.” It is obvious that as followers of Jesus we are meant to become as he is. Paul, in his letter to the churches in Galatia, wrote this: “Oh my dear children! I feel as if I am going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.”
When we are following Christ, when we are fully committed to the death of self and to having his life completely formed in us, we are on our way to speaking and doing “…in Jesus’ name.” It is not a one-size-fits-all magical phrase. It is the life of discipleship, a life of self denial and dedicated followership. It is a life that one must not take up without first considering the cost. Even Jesus warned, “But don’t begin until you count the cost.” In Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s classic book, “The Cost of Discipleship”, he said, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”
These are certainly thoughts to consider. There is no sin in saying the words “…in Jesus’ name”, only in refusing to pursue the kind of life it represents.
