The Lord's Prayer and Part 2 of why I like liturgy.
This was actually supposed to be combined with my last post, but being the technological genius that I am, I didn't find the "save" button until it was too late. Thus two consecutive blogs that seem to deal with the same subject.
So...why I have come to personally love liturgy recently. Since becoming a calvinist several months back, I have found it increasingly difficult to pray. I know I'm probably going to get about a hundred Piper sermons and articles about compatabilism sent to me because I said that, but I truly did have problems praying to a God who has predetermined everything. What do you say to Him? It was during my first week back in France that the Spirit clearly answered that question.
Matt 6:9 Pray then in this way...
I love it when that happens. You're questioning something about pursuing God, and then you find a passage in the Bible that basically says, "This is the exact answer to your question."
Even though many people complain that pre-written prayers are not that valubable, because it really doesn't come from your heart, I have really come to treasure and adopt this prayer as my own. Plus, if you say it three times a day, you'll make more money. Oh wait, no, stop. That's the Prayer of Ja... I'll stop there. So the rest of this post is just going to be dedicated to my personal ramblings and thoughts of the Jesus' model prayer.
"Our Father, who is in heaven..."
Ah, Church, Church, Church! Even though Jesus was the only one verbalizing this prayer, he still used the word "our". From the first word, the collective Body of Christ is referenced. The rest of the prayer may not sound incredibly personal and individualistic, because it really is not meant to be. Even though Christ, of all people, could address God as uniquely His Father, He chose not to.
"...Hallowed be Your name..."
Aside from this passage, the Gettysburg Address, and possibly a line from the movie "Hocus Pocus," I don't think I've ever come across the word "hallowed"; it definitely isn't enough a part of my vocabulary that I would claim to have a good grasp of its meaning. Not having packed any English Bible except NASB, I had to turn to la Bible française for help on that one. En français, "que ton nom soit sanctifié." The word "sanctifié" - sanctified, set apart, holy - that I can deal with. This is also consistent with what I've come to know of God and His love for His glory. The first request of the model prayer is that His name would have the recognition of which it is worthy.
"...Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven..."
There's so much in that one line. That the current regime of the earth would pass away and be replaced by that of God. That the vain and fruitless labor of mankind to attain power and riches and temporary pleasures be mortified. That on earth God's will be executed just as it is in heaven. That racism and bigotry end. That hatred cease. That the slaughter of the unborn be forever stopped. That people in every corner of the earth worship their Creator eternally. Big sentence Jesus said here. The word "kingdom" always makes me think of politics and expansion. That the laws of His kingdom be upheld on earth. That Your kingdom be gloriously expanded to every tribe, tongue, and nation.
"...Give us this day our daily bread..."
I love this part, because I have a mental image of health-and-wealth theology being a big person, and I have a picture of Jesus sticking a dagger into the kidney of that person as He says this. Kind of violent, I agree, but this is a pretty violent verse if you're someone who believes that God wants you to have a whole lot of everything, right here and right now. Aside from my personal distaste for said theology, this line leaves so much room for trust. I can't secure my future on earth. It would be vanity even to try. That God would give me enough to survive today, and let tomorrow care for itself.
"...And forgive us our debts..."
Sounds good.
"...as we also forgive our debtors..."
Ouch!!! I really like to skip that part from time to time. It should frighten us to think that God takes into account our willingness to forgive others the miniscule debts that they might owe us, as He considers His forgiveness of an infinitely large debt that we owe Him. Not that God forgiving us is performance-based, but...wow - tough verse!
"...And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil..."
I don't completely understand why Christ would have us pray for God not to do something that the Spirit later promised He would never do, but it's there, so okay, lead us not into temptation. Deliver us from evil - no argument there either, plus I think God loves doing that.
"...For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever..."
I like that the meat of the prayer is sandwiched between praise for God, His name, His power, His glory. I'm trying to puzzle through the preposition "for". I guess it would stand to reason that we can have faith that God will do all that is asked in this prayer, since we just asked for His will to be accomplished in all things, and it will be. Maybe it's a reminder to ourselves that the kingdom is God's, He is the One with the power to deliver, and to Him will be and must go all the glory.
"...Amen."
So...why I have come to personally love liturgy recently. Since becoming a calvinist several months back, I have found it increasingly difficult to pray. I know I'm probably going to get about a hundred Piper sermons and articles about compatabilism sent to me because I said that, but I truly did have problems praying to a God who has predetermined everything. What do you say to Him? It was during my first week back in France that the Spirit clearly answered that question.
Matt 6:9 Pray then in this way...
I love it when that happens. You're questioning something about pursuing God, and then you find a passage in the Bible that basically says, "This is the exact answer to your question."
Even though many people complain that pre-written prayers are not that valubable, because it really doesn't come from your heart, I have really come to treasure and adopt this prayer as my own. Plus, if you say it three times a day, you'll make more money. Oh wait, no, stop. That's the Prayer of Ja... I'll stop there. So the rest of this post is just going to be dedicated to my personal ramblings and thoughts of the Jesus' model prayer.
"Our Father, who is in heaven..."
Ah, Church, Church, Church! Even though Jesus was the only one verbalizing this prayer, he still used the word "our". From the first word, the collective Body of Christ is referenced. The rest of the prayer may not sound incredibly personal and individualistic, because it really is not meant to be. Even though Christ, of all people, could address God as uniquely His Father, He chose not to.
"...Hallowed be Your name..."
Aside from this passage, the Gettysburg Address, and possibly a line from the movie "Hocus Pocus," I don't think I've ever come across the word "hallowed"; it definitely isn't enough a part of my vocabulary that I would claim to have a good grasp of its meaning. Not having packed any English Bible except NASB, I had to turn to la Bible française for help on that one. En français, "que ton nom soit sanctifié." The word "sanctifié" - sanctified, set apart, holy - that I can deal with. This is also consistent with what I've come to know of God and His love for His glory. The first request of the model prayer is that His name would have the recognition of which it is worthy.
"...Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven..."
There's so much in that one line. That the current regime of the earth would pass away and be replaced by that of God. That the vain and fruitless labor of mankind to attain power and riches and temporary pleasures be mortified. That on earth God's will be executed just as it is in heaven. That racism and bigotry end. That hatred cease. That the slaughter of the unborn be forever stopped. That people in every corner of the earth worship their Creator eternally. Big sentence Jesus said here. The word "kingdom" always makes me think of politics and expansion. That the laws of His kingdom be upheld on earth. That Your kingdom be gloriously expanded to every tribe, tongue, and nation.
"...Give us this day our daily bread..."
I love this part, because I have a mental image of health-and-wealth theology being a big person, and I have a picture of Jesus sticking a dagger into the kidney of that person as He says this. Kind of violent, I agree, but this is a pretty violent verse if you're someone who believes that God wants you to have a whole lot of everything, right here and right now. Aside from my personal distaste for said theology, this line leaves so much room for trust. I can't secure my future on earth. It would be vanity even to try. That God would give me enough to survive today, and let tomorrow care for itself.
"...And forgive us our debts..."
Sounds good.
"...as we also forgive our debtors..."
Ouch!!! I really like to skip that part from time to time. It should frighten us to think that God takes into account our willingness to forgive others the miniscule debts that they might owe us, as He considers His forgiveness of an infinitely large debt that we owe Him. Not that God forgiving us is performance-based, but...wow - tough verse!
"...And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil..."
I don't completely understand why Christ would have us pray for God not to do something that the Spirit later promised He would never do, but it's there, so okay, lead us not into temptation. Deliver us from evil - no argument there either, plus I think God loves doing that.
"...For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever..."
I like that the meat of the prayer is sandwiched between praise for God, His name, His power, His glory. I'm trying to puzzle through the preposition "for". I guess it would stand to reason that we can have faith that God will do all that is asked in this prayer, since we just asked for His will to be accomplished in all things, and it will be. Maybe it's a reminder to ourselves that the kingdom is God's, He is the One with the power to deliver, and to Him will be and must go all the glory.
"...Amen."
posted by Andy at 7:27 AM
1 Comments:
Thank you for this post. It very much touched my heart. I've always known the Lord's prayer and recited it when necessary, but I never took it apart to look into the deeper and yet obvious meanings Christ spoke. May your life be blessed with joy in the light of Christ.
--Anonymous Rose
Post a Comment
<< Home