The Lord's Prayer Part 2-We (are Family)

The first installment was exceptionally long. This one exceptionally short. Actually, together they comprised the first Sunday teaching in this series. So now you know. The second word in The Lord’s Prayer is the word “our” (occurring first in the English. Duh.) Familiarity clouds so much meaning, and it has definitely clouded much from our eyes in this prayer. The fact that this prayer is first person plural is very unusual and maybe a bit awkward. Wouldn’t you think He would pray, “My Father”, or just “Father?” When I address my Dad I don’t call him, “My Dad” and certainly not “Our Dad.” My earthly siblings have to fend for themselves when it comes to Dad. But as personal as Abba is, we cannot get away with having Him all to ourselves. Modern Christianity has emphasized our personal relationship with Jesus. How many times have we heard evangelical Christians (of which I am one) talk about having a personal relationship with God? We hear it all the time. And on one level it is as it should be. Our relationship with God doesn’t have to be filtered through the priesthood or a sacrificial system. We can go straight to Him. Its personal. But as true and valid as this is, it is sadly incomplete and lopsided. When are adopted into God’s family there is more to it than just ‘God and me.’ Having a father means we also have siblings. Jesus use of the word ‘Our’ in this prayer doesn’t let us escape our family relations. Sometimes we may prefer that it were not so. Our being a part of this family means we belong “to a new kind of people who have left the land of “me.” (Claiborne) We are community. Father not only defines our relationship with God in a new way; it also changes our relationships with neighbors. It is a betrayal of the “Our Father” to pray “My Father,“ for the prayer is not only a declaration of a heavenly parent, but it is a commitment to a new vision of family rooted in the providence and authority of our heavenly parent. We cannot have God as Father if we deny the sisterhood and brotherhood we share with the rest of God’s children. -Shane Claiborne Family is the metaphor here for the church. Families don’t gather together in theaters or auditoriums, but in homes. They gather for meals and get together for parties. They celebrate and mourn together. They plan activities and do things spontaneously. They help and care for one another, pick up each other’s kids from school, help with the dishes, or bail one another out of a mess. They also set each other straight when necessary. Being a part of a family means security on so many levels. This is how the church should function. And this is why home groups are so important. We cannot function as a family should if we only meet auditorium style on Sundays and Wednesday nights. I’m the father of four beautiful girls. There is no title that I like better than ‘Daddy.’ And there is not much that frustrates me more than seeing our children leave each other out of games or activities, as if they were only children. And there are not many things that bring me more joy than seeing them be kind to one another, give and sacrifice because they care for one another. So it is with our Abba. He is OUR Father. Our Dad. Our Papa. And we are connected with one another.