Interesting Questions-86

Saying our Amens

Letter to the Editor:
PASUGO, June 2000, p.2

I ATTENDED ONE of your worship services recently and noticed that your members answered "Yes, Father" and ''Amen" during prayers and not only at the conclusion of the prayer.  Is there a biblical basis for this?

Chou Kiu-Kiang
Hong Kong, China

 

Editor's reply:

We are glad to know that you have spared time to attend our worship services. Your observation is correct. We answer “Yes, Father” and “Amen” during and at the conclusion of the prayers. Yes, there is a biblical basis for doing this. The Bible teaches:.

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel . From everlasting to everlasting!
And all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord.

The Practice of saying “Amen” was observed even by the early Christians as proven by this statement of Apostle Paul:

 “Suppose some strangers are in your worship service, when you are praising God with your spirit. If they don’t understand you, how will they know to say, ‘Amen’?”
(I Cor. 14:16, Contemporary English Version)

The word “Amen” is defined this way:

“Amen, literally ‘true; and, used as in Isa. 65:16; a word used in strong asseverations, fixing as it were, the stamp of truth upon the assertion which it accompanied, and making it binding as an oath.” (Smith’s Bible Dictionary, p. 35)

So, when we say “Amen” during the course of our prayers, we express our agreement with what is being asserted or said in the prayer. We also express our conviction that the Lord has accepted our prayers. Hence, we become active participants in our prayers:

“For if you praise God only you in the spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying?” (I Cor. 14:16, New Living Translation)

By actively participating in prayers, our minds are focused on every word that is said and not wandering. This is in line with what Apostle Paul said:

”…I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also”
(I Cor. 14:15, Revised Standard Version).

When it comes to prayer or anything done in the service of the Lord, it is important that we follow the guiding principle taught by the apostles that:

 “…everything is done properly and in order” (I Cor. 14:26, 40, NLT).

We hope that these truths have served you well.    

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Bible Study Suggestion: If you have further questions, please feel free to visit the Iglesia ni Cristo congregation nearest you. A minister or an evangelical worker would be happy to answer any biblical question you have in mind. For the latest Worship Service Directory of Iglesia ni Cristo Locales and Congregations outside the Philippines, please visit www.iglesianicristoworshipservice.com or just click link at home page.