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Tolkien on the "Glory of God"
retirement, he received a letter from his publisher’s daughter asking, "What is the purpose of life?" Today’s WORSHIP QUOTE is a short portion of his rather lengthy reply. TOLKIEN ON THE "GLORY OF GOD" . . . Those who believe in a personal God, Creator, do not think the Universe is itself worshipful, though devoted study of it may be one of the ways of honouring Him. And while as living creatures we are (in part) within it and part of it, our ideas of God and ways of expressing them will be largely derived from contemplating the world about us. (Though there is also revelation both addressed to all men and to particular persons.) So it may be said that the chief purpose of life, for any one of us, is to increase according to our capacity our knowledge of God by all the means we have, and to be moved by it to praise and thanks. And to do as we say in the GLORIA IN EXCELSIS: Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te, gratias agimus tibi propter magnumgloriam tuam. We praise you, we call you holy, we worship you, we proclaim your glory, we thank you for the greatness of your spendour. And in moments of exaltation we may call on all created things to join in our chorus, speaking on their behalf, as is done in Psalm 148, and The Song of the Three Children in Daniel II. PRAISE THE LORD . . . all mountains and hills, all orchards and forests, all things that creep and birds on the wing. This is much too long, and also much too short — on such a question. With best wishes J.R.R. Tolkien —J.R.R. Tolkien, as quoted in TOLKIEN: MAN AND MYTH by Joseph Pearce. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1998, p. 211-212. ISBN 0-89870-711-0 (HB) [Read the books. Enjoy the movie.] Have a great week, Chip Stam Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Music and Worship Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky www.carlstam.org www.sbts.edu |