Answer # 8

To almighty God a name has a great deal of meaning.

God's name is so important that one of the Ten Commandments warns, "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain" (Ex. 20:7).

Jesus Christ's name identifies Him as our Savior. It conveys to our minds His reputation and responsibilities. Yes, a name is important in God's sight! But just what does the phrase "in Jesus' name" signify?

God's ministers, when performing the duties of their offices, close their letters with this phrase. Pastor General Herbert W. Armstrong closes his letters to co-workers and members of God's Church this way.

The phrase "in Jesus' name" is just another way of saying "by Jesus Christ's authority" or "as the direct representative of Jesus Christ."

When closing a letter, God's ministers use this phrase to signify that they are acting as representatives of Jesus Christ, doing the work of Christ and His true Church as His called and chosen ministers. It also shows that Jesus Christ, the living Head of God's Church, backs up what they have written in the body of the letter.

Since, when you are writing a personal letter to someone else in God's Church, you are not acting as Christ's representative, it would be wrong to sign your letter "in Jesus Christ's name." Doing so could actually be taking Christ's name in vain, for the phrase "in vain" (Ex. 20:7) means "to no useful purpose."

However, it would not be wrong to close a letter to a friend with a phrase such as "in Christian fellowship" or "in Christian love." Using this type of closing to a personal letter is perfectly acceptable in God's sight. It conveys that close, truly deep relationship we have together in and through Jesus Christ, as members of His Church.