Maybe you are thinking that because we have gotten to the end of the prayer the pressure is finally off. Honestly, I did too. I was ready to rattle off the last bit of this prayer as I do when I am praying it. But I got stuck! I just wanted to get to the forever and ever Amen. Alas however, I tripped over a word – "Thine". Thine is the power, Thine is the kingdom, Thine is the Glory.
Here we find ourselves confronted by our own Copernicus moment. One day Copernicus was doing what he usually did, staring out into space, (the telescope was not invented for another hundred years) and slowly he began to see things that shook his concept of reality, but even more than this - the very teachings of the religious structures of that time. Here is the thought that almost got him killed: "we are not the centre of the universe". Consider: without even thinking about it, we learned right from kindergarten that the earth revolves around the sun. However, in the 14th Century the belief was that the sun revolved around the earth! So, his was truly avant-garde thinking.
As believer our thinking is even more avant-garde– which is even more revolutionary than Copernicus' discovery - is connected with the last phrase of this prayer. It is this: the Son does not revolve around us, but we are to revolve around the Son. Personally, I think that this is a far more dangerous and universe shattering revelation. Largely I still believe that I am the centre of my (and maybe your) universe. However, this belief is as foolish as believing that the earth was flat. We've got to consider something here: that perspective is everything. In the sciences, in which I include Theology, this is called a presumption. A presumption is 1. The acting of presuming or accepting as true or 2. acceptance or belief based on reasonable evidence; assumption or supposition. You see, theology operates in accordance with a presumption – Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God…" There is no way for us to get behind this point, we have to either accept it or reject it. Everything we know, how we interpret, how our knowledge is guided is based on this reality. We build our life and science accordingly. Modern Science has three criteria for reaching a presumption 1. Observation, 2. Measurement, 3. Repeatability. If it anything lies outside of these limits it is not in the realm of 'science' and therefore does not possess the methodology required to be accepted as a presumption – and therefore excludes a presumption that starts with 'In the beginning God'. This if fine as long as the foundation you are standing on and using as your hypothesis is in fact, the right one. Early Roman belief was that a headache was created by trapped vapours or a demon wanting to get out and the only method was to drill a hole. The very intelligent people of Columbus' time maintained the belief that the earth was flat. We would laugh and say how foolish. Yet, based on their perception, they reached a logical presumption. Were they wrong? – Absolutely. Our presumptions inform and powerfully direct our lives. We live our presumptions – even unconsciously. If I look at my life here's what I discover about my presumptions. I believe it is about my power, my kingdom and for my glory. I have a terrible admission to make. I am a glory hound. I want you to recognize me, re-enforce my existence, and stroke my ego. Even when I step to the sidelines, to push someone else into view, I want you to see my humility, my self- sacrifice…. 'oh he's such a great guy'. However, if you look at me through the power of a spiritual telescope – your discovery (and mine) is that the world revolves around me. I am trying to get the sun/Son to revolve around me. To pick up on a point from the last blog, Lucifer's purpose is to get our lives to revolve around him. Either way, he wins.
I have to leave you to figure out what your rotation patterns are. But before you become too judgmental of me or state "well it's about time he saw what we do", do your own spiritual telescope check on yourself – I think you might discover I'm not so alone. What is your presumption?
This line of the prayer is devastating to my universe – and yours. It can create as much anger, fear and irrational outrage responses as when Copernicus postulated his theories to the Church. You can imagine their responses: "Who are you to tell us"! "How dare you!", "Who do you think you are?" and it goes on.
Thine power, not mine. Thine kingdom, not mine. Thine Glory, not mine – not mine, not mine. It is so hard to get out of the centre. I'm comfortable here and I like it here. It hurts and is too hard to give that up. The gravitational pull that keeps me in place is massive. Yet, with you I know that the presumption of Scripture is right: "In the beginning God…". Therefore, my conclusion must be "…for Thine is the power, Thine is the Kingdom, Thine…the Glory forever and ever A-men."
Anyway, I was just thinking
Neil
(this post ends the Lord's Prayer blog posts)
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