Bp Solomon: Rediscover Richness of Lord's Prayer

Methodist bishop actively promotes use of the 'mother of all prayers' in modern churches

Friday, Nov. 6, 2009 Posted: 3:19:30AM HKT

Methodist bishop Robert Solomon speaking on prayer in general and the Lord's Prayer in particular at a meeting organised yesterday at ACTS Lifestyle. (Photo: CP)

Methodist bishop Robert Solomon believes that modern churches, many of which do not use the Lord's Prayer, are missing out on a veritable treasure trove of doctrinal, liturgical and devotional inspiration and even mystical union with Christ the intercessor

It is for that reason that he recently published a book, The Prayer of Jesus: The Lord’s Prayer in Daily Life (Armour Publishing, 2009), explaining that which is perhaps the best-known prayer in Christianity. The church head also dedicated a lecture series and an afternoon talk in Malaysia to the subject in the context of his book.

At a public talk held yesterday, Bishop Solomon again explored the topic; extolling once more the value of the Lord’s Prayer but also including an exhortation on the importance and nature of prayer in general.

He was speaking to around a hundred attendants gathered in a hall at ACTS Lifestyle located in China Square Central.

The bishop, also one of the two most prominent leaders in the Protestant National Council of Churches of Singapore, drew on the example of Jesus Christ in encouraging Christians to prioritise prayer regardless of how busy they may be.

Christ, he noted at the beginning of his brief, engaging presentation, was depicted in the Gospels as placing a premium on prayer. Rising “very early in the morning while it was still dark” according to the Evangelist Mark, the Lord showed that it was easier for Him to go without sleep than to go without prayer.

The Methodist leader highlighted the Lord’s warnings against prayers put up for show and making a technique out of prayer.

Rather than 'theatre', “prayer is relationship with God”, the bishop emphasised. “At its heart is love for God.”

The Lord’s Prayer highlights some of the aspects of the believer’s relationship with God, such as a servant before a master, a debtor before a benefactor, a sinner before a saviour, a pilgrim before a guide, a helpless one before a defender.

Citing a study where human beings are said to operate using three different languages of intimacy, information and manipulation and control, Bishop Solomon pointed out that Christians tend to use the latter two to the exclusion of the first in their communion with God.

“What God longs to hear is a language of intimacy,” he said, referring to a mode of communication akin to that between infant and mother.

Judging from the examples he used, this appears to be a constant awareness of God’s presence and love and an outpouring of gratitude from the heart towards Him from the moment of waking.

“You can spend a whole day just saying, ‘Thank You, Lord’,” the bishop expressed.

He concluded his talk shortly after with a dramatisation of a fictional dialogue between a man who prayed the Lord's Prayer as part of his religious routine and heard God reply to his prayer showing that prayed properly, the Lord's Prayer has the power to change the one who prays it.

"If we've really prayed the Lord's Prayer, expect surprises when God talks back, plumbs the depths of our being and transforms us," the bishop said.

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Edmond Chua
edmond@christianpost.com