Pastorerik, I think I know where you are coming from. You seem to be part of the same christian tradition that I am. Saying this I still do want to challenge your view a bit more, because I think there is still a few things to consider. You know this discussion reminds me of me holding a prayer meeting as a cancidate of a large german mission organization. As an introduction of where I was getting to (prayers for our christian brothers and sisters) I wanted to stress how important this was for Paul by saying there was no example of a prayer in the NT when someone actually prayed for the conversion of unbelievers. My sidenote saying that this didn’t mean we shouldn’t do it got lost in something that followed comparing more to an earthquake than a devotion time of this rather conservative mission organization. Even though there actually was not such an example I was told it is implied everywhere anyways. NOt hard to imagine that I left this organization shortly after with a mutual consensus.
I was reading rather carefully the texts you referred to again and I couldn’t find the ‘tremendous focus Paul had on his relationship with the resurrected’. I actually red now all the beginnings of all the Epistles of Paul (or at least what is said to be from him) because I think those show quite intensely how Paul feels. They show, and here I agree with you, his deep apreciation for Christ in his salvation and resurrection. Unfortunately I do not have words to sum it up; but I just read the beginnings and doxologies of 13 epistles and tried to feel his prayers. And I invite you to do the same. He does show deep gratitude to Christ as the one that means everything to him. But in all of his prayers or his praises to God with actually no exception it is embedded in praying to God the Father, not to Christ, and giving him glory and thanksgiving for Christ. It doesn’t seem to contradict Paul’s gratitude to Christ not to give this praise and apreciation to him directly, nor does it feel like Paul’s christianity somehow feels not successfull or unhappy doing so.
If it is important for your christianity to pray to Jesus directly, then I would not say it is wrong and I do believe God listens to your prayers.
However, Christ has prayed to God the Father and not only we should imitate him as ‘chistians’ but also he taught us to do so. And Paul did it and the Apostles did it and I see no reason why we should teach people to do it any other way.
But yes: God is good, gracious and more concerned with our honest stumblings rather correct addresses and any honest prayer to Jesus will be heard, I believe.
I must admit I love celtic liturgy and I do pray to Jesus in it as well. it is so beautiful and I can’t resist.
Chist as a light, illumine and guide me.
Chist as a shield, overshadow me.
Christ under me, Christ beside me. On my left and my right.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meak, yet all powerful…