Wednesday, March 16
“For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power and the Glory forever.”
Another clause in the Lord’s Prayer which requires me to break it down into ordinary speech if I’m to have any chance of grasping its meaning. “The kingdom, power and glory are yours for ever, [God].”
It does make it a bit easier to digest without the flowery King James wording. Still, as I sit here, I’m a bit confused as to what to write next. I’ve written a reflection for each of the prayer sections thus far, and for most, I’ve had some idea in advance. But, for this, I have thought of nothing.
Perhaps it’s because it is so difficult for us to hand over power and glory. I work so hard to maintain control and self-direction in my life that the realization that none of it is really in my control scares me a bit.
I never would aspire to control of a kingdom, so eternally living in one ruled by God sits pretty nicely with me. If not Christ the King, then who else would I want governing me in heaven?
There’s a phrase that has been used for centuries since the Protestant Reformation: Soli Deo gloria, which translates “to God be the glory alone”. A number of composers, most notably J.S. Bach, used it as a postscript to their compositions, “SDG”, indicating that praise of the piece is meant to be redirected from the musician to the divine composer.
Oddly enough, I feel like the phrase seems genuine coming from a master who, centuries later, has established the reputation of direct connection to God anyway, but I feel like it can’t help but sound disingenuous nowadays. I recently attended a choral conference, and one of the presenters slipped it into his prepared remarks in such a way as to make me think his intention was really to say “I make music that you might want to compare to God’s good works, but let him have his credit.” I exaggerate a bit, but not too much.
My favorite choral conductor, John Eliot Gardiner, has recently begun recording on a Soli Deo Gloria label, and returning profits from sales back into future recording projects which will ensure the longevity of Bach’s musical legacy. A noble effort to say the least, and one which you could understandably find deserving of the label’s name. Yet, his own website describes this project with room in three short paragraphs to use words and phrases such as “established”, “leading”, “praised”, “exceptional”, “elegance of packaging”, “outstanding projects”, and so on.
How difficult it is in today’s world to shrug off praise. We travel the world feeling neglected, abused, and sad. Any admiration for our works should be ours to keep! Yet, we’re encouraged to deflect it toward God, a collaborator who doesn’t need profits, page views, likes, and re-tweets. And how risky (read, career-ending) it would be to operate in a space where only God gets praised. I’m taking this to an extreme, of course, but how could one promote one’s message, and get any traction without taking a bit of the praise on?
I say this all not to disparage the Monteverdi Choir’s fine work (it remains my favorite go-to performing ensemble) but rather to illustrate a paradox in today’s world. Television pastors, Christian rock artists, Southern Gospel “reunion” shows all pack arenas and stadiums. And each of us in our own ways aspire to serve God on such a level. We know that our viability is based on numbers, whether it be human count or dollar value. Even if our goal is right-minded, to serve God and proclaim his message to the greatest number of followers, it is our works that are the vehicle. Thus, we get trapped into a longing to be the church known for its excellent preaching, the best choir, the most care packages, largest number of refugees supported. The list could, and does, go on.
What would it look like to be the congregation that glorifies God the most?
God, our secular world teaches us to strive for personal achievement, self-promotion, and glory to anyone but you. Help us to balance the expectations of our earthly world with yours in heaven. Amen.
–Rick Seaholm