Col 3:17 Teaches We Must Have Authority For Everything We Do

Colossians 3:17a reads “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Some Pentecostal types think the phrase “do something in the name of Jesus” means that we must we say the name Jesus when we do that something, but this verse shows that conclusion is absurd.Thayer defines the meaning of the phrase as “to do a thing ... by one's command and authority, acting on his behalf, promoting his cause” (p.447). So Col 3:17 is saying that we must have authority from Christ for everything we do.Many churches ignore this charge. They conduct their practices without regard for what Jesus teaches. For example they worship God according to their own whims, what they think is best, or what they think will draw the biggest crowd - instead of consulting the Bible to find out how God desires to be worshipped.Some believers make fun of this truth that we must have authority for everything we do, but that doesn’t change what Col 3:17 says. Ask yourself before you go to bed tonight - am I (and the congregation I worship with) careful to only do what Jesus has instructed / authorized?