The Relevance of the Lord's Prayer to Modern America - Research Paper Example

? The Relevance of the Lord’s Prayer to Modern America: An Historical Perspective Introduction The Lord’s Prayer has long been considered one of the cornerstones of modern Christianity. It is used in almost every church, and in many situations inside and outside of the home. It is used to give thanks, to pray and to allow the user to communicate directly with his/her God. However, there are criticisms and suggestions of the Lord’s Prayer, with many implicating that it is removed from modern society and has no place in the lives of modern believers. In a time and age where ‘daily bread’ must be taken merely metaphorically, it seems as though alterations may need to be made to the Lord’s Prayer to make it more relevant to modern lifestyles. The purpose of this research is to uncover the place that the Lord’s Prayer has in 21st century modern culture with a particular focus on the United States of America, the most Christian country in the Western world1. It will also place an emphasis on focusing on the words of St. Gregory of Nyssa, a fourth century bishop, and his words on the Lord’s Prayer. It is important that such a commonly used and revered prayer is analysed to assess it’s relevance in the culture that it is used in, particularly in such a dynamic and fluid culture as that of the United States. The Lord’s Prayer The Lord’s Prayer is incredibly central to Christianity. It appears not once, but twice within the New Testament, in the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke2, with only minor differences between the two versions. Each line represents a significant concept in Christianity. The first line, “hallowed be thy name”, refers to the importance of revering God and appreciating the need to use care when speaking His name, for example3. "And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us" is again referring to a central concept in Christianity, and indeed in all modern religions. In the Gospel of Matthew variation, the more commonly known “trespasses” is replaced with the word “debt”, but the central message is the same; one of forgiveness and the appropriateness of this action in life. The Lord’s Prayer also has non-theological uses, such as in the comparison of language4, which adds to the importance of the prayer in a variety of contexts. There is strong evidence that the Lord’s Prayer is strongly related to similar concepts found in the Jewish Talmud, with some even suggesting that there may be word-for-word similarities between the Sermon on the Mount and traditional Jewish teachings5. Jesus himself is believed to have been a member of the Essenes6, a Hebrew sect who had many similar teachings to those found in the Sermon on the Mount, strengthening the link. From here, additions (such as the doxology “thy kingdom come”) and slight alterations (perhaps the differences we see today between the gospel of Luke and that of Matthew were made7. From the early days of Christianity, the Lord’s Prayer was of evident importance, particularly within certain parts of the Roman Empire, particularly during practices of Mass. Saint Jerome, a 4th century Roman priest, documented the use of “Our Father” in these early Roman Masses8, reaffirming the thought that the Lord’s Prayer in one incarnation or another has been used consistently since at least the 4th century9. Saint Ambrose, another 4th century religious figure, also began early analysis of the Lord’s Prayer in an attempt to confirm the meaning of the “daily bread”, one of the most ambiguous phrases from the Lord’s Prayer10. Saint Augustine and Saint Gregory of Nyssa also described the Lord’s Prayer as a vital element of Christian servitude11, with Augustine lamenting that it represented a holy bond between the Lord and those who spoke it12. The modern usage of the Lord’s Prayer has developed through from the original Aramaic with some Hebrew influence, through to Ancient Greek, to Latin for scholars and Latin for the general audience, through to Old English and the version we read in Modern English today, evidently leading to some issues in translation and some areas which will be examined in the analysis below. The core meaning of the Lord’s Prayer as used in modern Christianity in the West is similar to that sanctioned by the English King Henry VIII upon the splitting of the church13. King Henry VIII himself expressed a wish that all servants of the Lord would be able to speak the same version of the Lord’s Prayer and noted the variety of different versions14, again promoting the Lord’s Prayer to a major position of influence in Christianity. Gregory of Nyssa Gregory of Nyssa, venerated as a saint in many denominations of Christianity, is one of the most well-noted and important scholars of the Lord’s Prayer. Despite working and interpreting from the position of a fourth century bishop, there has been an increased interest in the interpretative work of Gregory of Nyssa, particularly with reference to the Lord’s Prayer, as many of the statements regarding prayer in general hold true to the 21st century. Gregory of Nyssa, for example, states that ‘the tradesmen rises early to attend his shop, anxious to display his wares sooner than his competitors so as to get in before them, to be the first to attend his customer and sell his stock’15. This, as concerns Gregory, allows the shopkeeper (and a number of other characters) to delay churchgoing and prayer, perhaps forcing the theological parts of life to the background in favor of a Capitalist foreground. It is this type of on-point, relevant interpretation of how people may need encouragement on the necessity of prayer that places Gregory of Nyssa at the forefront of this analysis of the Lord’s Prayer. Furthermore, Gregory of Nyssa emphasizes the importance of each of the lines of the Lord’s Prayer and their relevance, as will the below analysis. This is perhaps one of the most valuable ways of approaching the Lord’s Prayer, as it is these lines that remain almost constant between denominations, versions and translations16. Additionally, there is the strong possibility that lines may gain relevance to modern situations as time goes on, as there are different events Christians must tackle. This is not to say that Lord’s Prayer becomes less important as a whole, but more stresses the flexibility of prayer and the almost fantastic ability of Christianity to be dynamic, diverse and ultimately perhaps one of the most important reasons for the global and enduring nature of Christianity across countries and denominations. Critical Analysis of the Lord’s Prayer It is perhaps most useful to examine the origins of the Lord’s Prayer as part of further analysis of its relevance to modern society. Prayer itself has long been one of the most important aspects of Christianity for traditional and non-traditional followers alike. Saint Augustine, another 4th century bishop and one of the most influential theological scholars of all time17, is famously quoted as stating "Pray as if everything depends on God, and work as if everything depends on you”. This statement alone highlights the importance of prayer, and suggests that prayer and work should be held in high regard and perhaps an early reflection of the famous Protestant work ethic18. Saint Augustine also uses the lexis of fervency, indicating that prayer is something to be taken extremely seriously and with no abandon. “Our Father…” One aspect of the Lord’s Prayer that makes it so important in Christian tradition is that it asks the speaker to address a relationship with God, and to understand their humility in God’s presence19. “Our Father, who art in heaven”, signifies at once the holiness of God and the fact that He is part of something of greater significance (“heaven”), whilst reinforcing the special relationship that God has to Christian people (“Our Father”). “Hallowed be Thy name”, the following pronouncement, emphasizes the need to worship God in an appropriate manner, and to emphasize the holy aspects of God’s nature that are to be worshipped20. The Lord’s Prayer’s significance in Christianity is perhaps due to its simplicity in this way, and the fact that it emphasizes the very fabric of Christianity right from the get-go. Additionally, this part of the prayer may have continuing relevance in modern American society, in which intercessory prayer is at times emphasized21 but is not considered to be central to the Christian tradition. This type of prayer is important because it allows Christians to understand the importance of prayer within the tradition, away from intercessory prayer. “Your Kingdom Come…” The next line, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven” emphasizes the similarities between Heaven and Earth and the need to pray for this planet and those who walk upon it. It is a way of stating that the ways of God are as present on Earth as they are in Heaven, and could be interpreted as suggesting that God’s rules should be obeyed and venerated in all contexts22. This line perhaps begins to call into question the relevance of the Lord’s Prayer in modern American society. For example, there are many ways in which God’s will may not be done on Earth as it is in Heaven, and many of the rules in the Bible which are expressed as being part of God’s will are obsolete in modern society. These rules and regulations have been topic of much debate in recent years, particularly those regarding homosexuality and women’s status in society23. There are also many rules which are apparently reflective of God’s will, but seem outdated or even strange to those living in modern America, such as "Neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woolen come upon thee”, from Leviticus 19:1924. Not mixing fibers in this way is stated as God’s will that should be represented on Earth, but many Christians in modern America disobey this rule, either out of ignorance or explicit choice25. To continue the debate along this line, does the need to do God’s will on Earth as stated in the Bible (the Word of God) lead to the overall irrelevance of the Lord’s Prayer and many other forms of prayer for Christians? There are those who would argue that being unable to comply with each and every tenet of Christianity shows that the religion is outdated and irrelevant26. However, for a practicing Christian, this line of the Lord’s Prayer could be interpreted as suggesting that God’s will should be done in the best way that the person speaking the prayer knows how. If looked at with this interpretation, all those who follow the Word of God with their own interpretation in their own division of Christianity can use the Lord’s Prayer as part of their prayer ritual and not be seen as hypocritical. In this way, the Lord’s Prayer can be spoken and used in the original manner whilst maintaining relevance to the modern world. “Our Daily Bread…” The next line of the Lord’s Prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread”, is also of questionable relevance to modern American lifestyles. In this land of plenty, there may be no need to pray for ‘daily bread’ in the same way as there was in Biblical times. Yet this too depends on interpretation to maintain relevance. Many Christians believe that the Lord’s Prayer can be used to give thanks for the ‘daily bread’, and therefore the fact that food is rarely scarce in the West is due to God’s continuing work to look after His children27. “Give us this day our daily bread” also has an additional, less-evident, meaning. Looking at the semantics of this line of prayer, it is immediately noticeable that it relies on the use of the words “us” and “our” in context. A major part of Christian theology emphasizes the need for togetherness and the condition of God’s children as a community28. It could be theorized, therefore, that the need for ‘daily bread’, or the asking for such basic commodities, is irrelevant to 21st century America, but the sentiment of asking for that which everyone needs and deserves is not. In this case, ‘daily bread’ could be used both metaphorically and literally, as it would apply to the human race as a whole, rather than specifically focusing on one family. The power of interpretation is extremely evident in this case, but provides insight into the many different diversions that different sects of Christianity take when explaining how the Lord’s Prayer remains relevant. It is also interesting to take the ‘us’ and the ‘our’ from the Lord’s Prayer completely out of the prayer and look at how useful they are to a 21st century American. In this culture, more and more people are spending time alone, and more and more people are choosing to communicate using faceless media, such as the internet29. In this case, it could seem that America in this century is a lonely place to be, and it could be suggested that the West has lost compassion in others through this lack of personal interaction. An obsession with material culture has also been suggested as being a major part of 21st century America30, and this too could lead some to become less concerned with other people and more concerned with making gains in their own life. This suggests that the power of the ‘us’ in the Lord’s Prayer remains relevant because it encourages praying Christians to think about others in the world, and how some may be struggling with life. It is at once a completely personal and completely unifying prayer, because the sentiment and the format remains almost exactly the same, but is used in a personal context. This suggests that the major relevance of the prayer is to act as a reminder for Christian’s of the need for brotherhood and unity31. “Forgive us…” Another interesting aspect of the Lord’s Prayer is that it mentions forgiveness, and this forgiveness is encouraged from both directions. In Matthew, the line is commonly interpreted as involving forgiveness of debts, whereas the version in Luke calls for forgiveness of sins32. There are alternative translations which ask for the forgiveness of ‘trespasses’. Setting aside the use of sins, debts or trespasses, it is interesting to consider forgiveness as part of the Lord’s Prayer. Firstly, it calls to God to forgive the individual who is praying, and states the importance of forgiving others. Forgiveness is a central theme in Christianity33, as it is in many other religions, and as such this line of the Lord’s Prayer could be seen as the most relevant and important statement to make in any era. Evidently, the notion of forgiveness is applicable and understandable to people of any age in a number of different cultures, which again goes to reinforce the idea that this is an important sentiment. The reference to forgiveness within the Lord’s Prayer may have roots in traditional prayers of Judaism. Looking at the line “forgive your neighbour the wrong he has done, and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray" (Sirach 28:2), it is evident that there are some similarities, both in sentiment and in lexis34. This suggests that this part of the Lord’s Prayer is, like much of the rest of it, is an evolution from a previous tradition or an incorporation of several different ideas and cultures. Taking this into account, it becomes more interesting trying to ascertain the relevancy of the Lord’s Prayer to modern day life, which is in itself an assimilation of a multitude of different cultures, particularly given America’s famously immigration-heavy history. Historically, it is interesting to consider that the book of Sirach, from which the above quote was obtained, was not included into the original Hebrew Bible, although it is now an important part of Jewish liturgical tradition35. Because of this, the original Hebrew work has been lost and thus cannot be directly translated. Despite this, there are scholars who believe that the New Testament makes several references to the content of the book of Sirach, apart from the Lord’s Prayer36. Additionally, Chadwick also made the statement that Jesus was directly quoting the Sirach when dictating the Lord’s Prayer37, again highlighting the important link between these two traditions and how the Lord’s Prayer has evolved. This strong link with the Jewish tradition may prove to be one of the most relevant elements of the Lord’s Prayer as it illustrates the commonality between the Abrahamic religions, suggesting a common need for forgiveness to be emphasized in many traditions. As previously mentioned, many have begun to believe that 21st century America is lacking in forgiveness, so having this strong foundation for prayer in Christianity and Judaism should be emphasized. “Lead Us Not Into Temptation…” Perhaps one of the most interesting parts about the closing sections of the Lord’s Prayer when compared with previous sections is that parts of this section have no direct comparison to parts of the Hebrew Bible38. One of the main teachings of Judaism is of God as a righteous being, which means “lead us not into temptation” (or words to a similar effect) would have no meaning for people of the Jewish faith39. This part of the prayer is, therefore, wholly Christian and quite unlike many of the previous lines. It could be argued, however, that this line is also one of the more relevant to 21st century life, as there are an increasing amount of temptations for the Christian people, particularly with the advent of television and the internet. These technologies allow access to more information which may push a traditional Christian to directly subvert their own beliefs, such as television programmes about adultery or the need to buy excessive material goods. In this sense, the line could be relevant to almost anyone living in 21st century America, and thus the Lord’s Prayer retains a huge amount of meaning for the vast majority of Christians today. In contrast to this, the line “and deliver us from evil”, as seen in Matthew 6:13, has again a direct counterpart from the Jewish faith, according to some scholars; “let no iniquity get dominion over me” (Psalm 119:113)40. Again, tracing the history of the possible origins of the sentiments of the Lord’s Prayer allows us some insight into the meaning that it has for many Christians. In this sense, the prayer is asking from protection from God, and to understand that this sentiment has been carried throughout the evolution of the prayer suggests that this could perhaps be the primary reason for the prayer41. Gregory of Nyssa suggested that many people may need to learn how to pray correctly42, and it seems that praying for protection may be one of the most worthwhile elements of the Lord’s Prayer. Again, protection is relevant to almost all people of all cultures, so it does not need to be re-stated how relevant this line is to people of 21st century America, as it was for the early Christians and those of Jewish faith before them. The Lord’s Prayer in Modern Christianity Having traced the origins of the Lord’s Prayer and investigated some of the more specific interpretations and histories of these most famous lines, it is perhaps relevant to understand how the Lord’s Prayer is used in modern American Christianity. As previously mentioned, the Lord’s Prayer is one of the most important aspects of Christianity, a sentiment that can be confirmed when noticing that almost all denominations continue to promote and use the prayer to this day. Evidently, there are many different ways to pray as a Christian, but professor of theology Clayton Schmit suggested that there is a sense of comfort and brotherhood that comes from knowing that other people of similar faith are using the same Lord’s Prayer, albeit in many different languages43. This continuing importance of the Lord’s Prayer in Christians worldwide suggests that, beyond academic analysis, the prayer does continue to be relevant simply because it feels relevant to those who are using it, and that is still one of the most well-used and well-known expressions of faith in the world today. This alone suggests that the Lord’s Prayer will be of continuing relevance throughout the 21st century. Conclusion Evidently, there are many elements of the Lord’s Prayer to consider when analysing how relevant it is to modern American lifestyles. Firstly, the history of the Lord’s Prayer is extremely varied and has roots in several different languages, meaning that there are an entire kaleidoscope of interpretations and considerations to make. This is perhaps what makes it most relevant to modern life, which can often be unpredictable; there is an interpretation or historical perspective that allows the Lord’s Prayer to remain relevant. There are also more detailed analyses to be made which cover the lexis of the Lord’s Prayer and the true intent of each line. From this perspective, many elements of the Lord’s Prayer may seem outdated and irrelevant, such as the request for ‘daily bread’. However, we must again return to the varied interpretations of this prayer and perhaps also incorporate the thoughts of Gregory of Nyssa, who encouraged the use of the Lord’s Prayer as a means to learn how to pray. In this sense, the prayer could be seen as a starting point for further developments into more relevant prayer, or a traditional way of expressing modern issues. Either way, it seems that the Lord’s Prayer will continue to be relevant into the 21st century because of its fluency and adaptability, as evidenced by the fact that it is continuing to be used throughout churches across the globe. Bibliography Anderson, Sir Robert. The Lord’s Prayer: a Manual of Religious Knowledge. J. Burns, 1841. Ayo, Nicholas. The Lord’s Prayer: A Survey Theological and Literary. Rowman & Littlefield, 2003. Bounds, Edward McKendree, and Harold J. Chadwick, E. M. Bounds. E M Bounds: The Classic Collection on Prayer. ReadHowYouWant.com, 2002. Crossan, John Dominic. The Greatest Prayer: Rediscovering the Revolutionary Message of the Lord’s Prayer. HarperCollins, 2010. Fox, Emmet. The Lord’s Prayer: An Interpretation. Harper & Brothers, 1938. Fox, Sir Cyril, and Bruce Dickins. The Early Cultures of North-West Europe: (H. M. Chadwick Memorial Studies). CUP Archive, 1950. Halle, Judith Von. The Lord’s Prayer: The Living Word of God. Temple Lodge Publishing, 2007. Hammerling, Roy. A History of Prayer: The First to the Fifteenth Century. BRILL, 2008. Nyssa), Saint Gregory (of. The Lord’s Prayer: The Beatitudes. Paulist Press, 1954. Stevenson, Kenneth W. The Lord’s Prayer: Text in Tradition. Alban Books Limited, 2004. Stewart-Sykes, Alistair. Tertullian, Cyprian, And Origen On The Lord’s Prayer. St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2004. Timms, David. Living the Lord’s Prayer. Bethany House, 2010.  Read More