© 2008 Buck Wardle - Contact

Pastor Yanked Over 'Jesus' Prayer

A North Carolina pastor was relieved of his duties as an honorary chaplain of the state house of representatives after he closed a prayer by invoking the name of Jesus. Story here.

Jesus. It’s a little name. A small word.
Say this little name in public, however, in a way other than an obscenity, and stand back and watch the fireworks.
This little name is like a tiny detonator that triggers a nuclear warhead.
You can say "God," and you won’t get a squeak.
You can say "Our Father/Mother in Heaven," and few will flinch.
You can say "Great Spirit," and people will nod in approval.
You can say "Allah" and you will be deemed tolerant.
But say "Jesus" and just wait for the sonic boom.
Articles will appear in the paper. Reprimands will be posted from the home office. Suits will be threatened by the civil liberties block.

So don’t say Jesus.
Jesus is divisive, and now is a time for unity.
Jesus is an extremist, and that must mean right wing.
Jesus is exclusive, so His name amounts to hate speech.
Keep His name to yourself. Cloister it in your church. Lock it in your prayer closet. Close it between the covers of your Bible. But for God’s sake, don’t voice it in the public square!
It’s immodest. It’s immoral. It’s unloving.

Only one problem. Jesus is God.
Only one problem. Jesus alone brings salvation.
Only one problem. All other gods are nothing.

So speak His name aloud.
Shout it from the mountain.
Whisper it in the dark.
Write it in the sky.

That’s not hate, it’s hope.
- Author Unknown

“It is by the NAME of JESUS Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed... Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other NAME under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10, 12

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the NAME of JESUS. But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:18-20

They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the NAME of JESUS, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the NAME. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that JESUS is the Christ. Acts 5:40-42

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6