Prayer and Praise Addressed to the Son

Prayer and Praise Addressed to the Son.

Is it unscriptural to address the Lord Jesus in prayer and praise? Many of my beloved "brethren" believe that to be the truth as presented in the N.T. Scriptures.





For a half century or so, I have always addressed the Father in prayer and praise, both privately and in public. I need to qualify that statement a little, because I have sung a myriad praises addressed to the Son! I expect that is true of a considerable number of those who hold this "view."

For some years I have been much exercised as to this question. Although I had not been "fully persuaded" in my own mind, I found myself severed from a dear servant of God over this perplexing dilemma. For quite a few years we had engaged in open-air preaching and distributing tracts very Lords' Day throughout those years. We felt exercised as to commencing an Assembly testimony in our district, where there was no "gathering to His Name alone," and incidentally none still to this day. We "fell out" over the choice of hymnbook to be used; there was no animosity, only heart-break as we could find no "middle ground." To many this may appear to be trivial, but take a moment to reflect upon the amount of time saints spend in "singing." Furthermore I would have had to surrender hymns that had so helped me to give expression to my hearts' worship over so many years.

I have read the different arguments put forward regarding this somewhat perplexing question, and have formulated my own "view", forgive this term please, you understand what I am saying, my own thought based upon the Word of God and concluded that the Son MUST be afforded EQUAL honour with the Father.

Now I address both my God and Father and His lovely Son and my Saviour in prayer privately as well as in praise publicly. Just to clarify that statement; I still am not able to address the Son in the meetings, no doubt fear of man, and the "unspoken law" among many "brethren," for decades: "Prayer and praise is to be addressed to the Father only, through the Son, by the Holy Spirit." The different prepositions "through" an d "by" may well be transposed or even replaced with others, but that is the general "idea" of the "unspoken law."

As ever it is NOT my intention to give offence, far be the thought; just an "airing" of my experience regarding this matter that has weighed upon my heart for so long. Finally I must say what a joy it has been to speak directly to my Saviour, it has thrilled my soul!