Dear bro Rushmore, God bless the work you are doing. I have some questions. Is it right to sing hymns that have the words, Tell it to Jesus; Jesus heard and answered prayers (Hand in Hand with Jesus); Blessed Jesus, Hear thy children when they pray (Saviour Like A Shepherd)? Does Jesus hear and answer our prayers? Thank you Jimmy Lau
Regarding intentional prayers to Jesus instead of to the Father, I penned a response at the following URL.
However, this inquiry adds consideration of songs that appear to be addressing Jesus Christ directly, especially songs that seem to be essentially prayers.
Some brethren go to various lengths to identify songs in their hymnals of this sort and exclude them from use in the worship. Other brethren seem comfortable with the realization that hymns are a form of poetic expression and that some degree of license with prose is to be expected and of no great consequence. Few brethren irrespective of their viewpoint often clamor loudly when they happen upon a worship service in which songs of this sort are sung.
While we certainly need to ensure that we convey no false doctrine from our pulpits, deportment or even from our singing, there is not any universally understood and accepted practice respecting these songs even among brethren who otherwise agree on biblical doctrine. We need to extend as much latitude to fellow Christians as we can in all good conscience, careful to neither require (make laws) what God has not, or on the other hand deviate from undeniable truth. At some point, we must be careful to come to spiritual blows only over salvation issues (and certainly not over opinions). We may have to rely on one another’s good judgment and forbearance.
