|
|
|
In the last few years, terms of generally recognized respect have been stripped from the prayers
of some in the church. Some have fancied themselves as "restructuring the church" in this way.
Others say they now follow the "new versions" form of address — "thee" and "thou" in reference to
God, but "you" in reference to Christ. Still others simply hear someone using the terms and begin
to use the same. Are these trends good or bad?
No one can be a student of God's word for long without coming to the conclusion that reverence and respect are always in order and must be characteristic of God's people in their relationship with God and man. The subject of reverence and respect should have a prominent place in our preaching, thinking and living. Warnings abound throughout the Sacred Volume lest we profane or treat lightly things that concern God. Surely, all Christians agree on this point. Reverence is the proper respect and esteem of the divine, recognizing God as God. Irreverence is the opposite. Godliness is reverence and respect for the things of God. Ungodliness is disrespect for the things of God, in whatever form they may appear. Peter says we are to add to our faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness. (2 Pet. 1:5-7). Paul says, "Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well pleasing to God with reverence and awe. (Heb. 12:28). We must revere our God and hold him in awe whenever we come into his presence. Acceptable worship must be offered in this manner. It should be followed in all our words and actions, especially in approaching the throne of the Heavenly Father in prayer. This is not very difficult when we fully see our sinfulness and God's holiness as we should. We must not abuse the privilege of prayer by our irreverence. (John 4:23-24). We now live in an age when standards and respect are at an all-time low. An atmosphere of irreverence is on the increase about us—even for God's word and the dead. We should be careful not to "pick up" actions, words or phrases that do not express our reverence and respect for God Almighty, "in the sight of all men." We should be careful not to lead those in the wrong way who follow our example. Sometime ago, it was reported by a friend that his professor had ceased to use the solemn form of address in prayer. His reason was that, following a prayer, his son had asked, "What does 'thee' mean?" He told him that it meant "you." Therefore, the professor said that he now uses "you" instead of "thee" and "thou" in prayer. It appears to me that the professor missed a fine opportunity to teach a very valuable lesson in reverence and respect. What a wonderful time to teach the son that we should always speak and act toward Deity in the highest manner we know how. To teach his son that the English language affords us some words that may be used to show reverence and respect to God, Christ and the Holy Spirit above our fellow man. What a wonderful opportunity he missed to let his son know that because of the reverence and respect that he desired to express, as well as for an example to the boy and others who heard him pray, he would use the solemn form of address toward Deity. We pray in the English language. Therefore the question of reverence does not result from what might or might not appear in Hebrew, Greek or Latin. It is generally acknowledged in our time that "thee," "thou," "thy" and "thine" are reserved for the "solemn form" of address to Deity. Not only is this acknowledged by grammarians, but it is also impressed upon us by the songs we sing and the scriptures we read. Even the Biblical names ascribed to our God teach us that the highest language is to be used toward God. Some of these are Heavenly Father, Almighty God, Lord of Hosts, Eternal God, Holy One of Israel, Lord of Lords and The Most High God. The Revised Standard Version of the New Testament was published as recently as 1946. Yet, in the introduction, Dean Wiegle, chairman of the translating committee, said, "After two years of debate and experiment it was decided to abandon these forms and to follow modern usage, except in language addressed to God." The translators of the RSV used "thee" and "thou" in address to God in acknowledgement of his Deity. But in reference to Christ, they used "you." By this, they expressed their infidelity, that Christ is not Deity and the RSV stands as a denial of the Deity of the Son of God. True, the "solemn form" was taken from Elizabethan English. So were many of the other terms that have now been incorporated into our language. These terms — "thee," "thou," "thy," and "thine — are in our language for the express purpose of showing reverence and respect. It seems to me that Christians would be pleased to have it so. We must conclude that this is the form of address in our language that expresses the highest reverence and respect in addressing our Heavenly Father. We are not, by these thoughts, "charging" all who use "you" and "your" in prayer with intentional reverence. It is not meant to be implied that the prayer of a righteous man will not be heard if correct English isn't used. No doubt, some use "you" and "your" in their prayers through thoughtlessness rather than contempt and irreverence for God. Some young people use these terms because the "older people are doing it." But the question remains whether we are approaching God with the highest respect and reverence that worship demands and our language expresses. If one knows there is a higher, more sober, and acceptable way of speaking in prayer and doesn't avail himself of it, is his attitude correct? "And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord: they faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him." (Psa. 89:5-7). |