From a pastor-friend:

Hi,

I am not sure if it Rowland or Rowley and certainly don’t want to give offence.

On Sunday in our Children’s worship here at _ _ _ _ Baptist Church the leader said to the children let’s pray. She commenced her prayer, “Dear Lord Jesus ….” I thought nothing of this.

This morning she rang to apologise for causing trouble. Some one had come to her after the service and said that the Lord Jesus indicated that when we pray we should pray to Our father not to the Son. I have to admit this is not some thing I have ever thought about. I am sure that I have encouraged people praying a penitents prayer to pray to Jesus. To confess sin and ask for his forgiveness.

The difficulty is I cannot think of a proof text. How about you?

How would you deal with this situation?

Regards,

Terry

~~

My response:

Hi my friend

Quick response:

See http://www.carm.org/questions/pray_to.htm

The broader question has to do with legalism – dotting ‘i’s’ and crossing ‘t’s’ and misunderstanding the nature of God. See eg. http://jmm.org.au/articles/13113.htm

Usually this kind of fusiness emanates from someone getting hold of them when they were impressionable. In counseling I’d go back to formative influences in this person’s life…

All the best…

(BTW my mother prefers ‘Rowland’). Shalom! Rowland Croucher