All this week we’ve been celebrating the 500^th anniversary of the Reformation by exploring the five “solas” of that period. So far we’ve examined Sola Scriptura, Sola Fidea and Sola Gracia, or Scripture alone, faith alone and grace alone. We’ve seen the importance of these first three in today’s culture, and now we turn to Soli Deo Gloria, or “Glory belongs to God alone”. Before we begin, however, a special shout out to my friend Janice who toured the Reformation landmarks in Germany earlier this year and brought me back the commemorative cookie that is the graphic for today’s article.

“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10.31

We live in a culture that assigns value to people and relationships based on what that person does for me rather than on the person’s own merit. While no one is perfect and we shouldn’t expect them to be, we ought to befriend those we find who dedicate themselves to being a good and decent person instead of how they might benefit our careers or personal lives. We do the same thing with God, wanting the Almighty on our side and rarely considering why we ought to be on his.

As he approached the road leading down from the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” But some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the very stones will cry out!” – Luke 19.37-40

Even if God never did anything for humankind he would still be worthy of praise for the simple fact that he is God. Elohim is so remarkable, so different, so holy that his very existence makes him worthy of our glory and praise. The fact that there is no other beings like God cuts to the chase of this principle, glory belongs to God alone. When we understand this correctly we realize that rather than God being a means to an end, God is both the means and the end. Of everything, to be sure, but certainly of salvation. Without God’s grace, without the faith he provides us, without the sacrifice he made for us, and without the righteousness he imputes to us we would be eternally lost. God is the means of salvation, and he promises to bring our sanctification to completion, making him the end as well.

Soli deo Gloria means more than God is worthy of our praise, however. It describes a way of life. It means that everything we do – even our school work or day job – we do for God's glory. Yes, to God’s glory and to the exclusion of our own glory and pride. As Martin Luther pointed out in one of his discourses, this is wonderfully freeing. This means that even the most menial of duties – even changing diapers – can be a form of worship and glorifying God. It’s life-changing theology.

The five solas are the quintessential statements representing the reformation period. Next week we’ll end this short series with Sola Christos – Christ alone! Until then, take some time this weekend to consider how your life can glorify God. For inspiration, you might want to listen to how these two men decided to live out this important truth.

Johann Sebastian Bach

George Frideric Handel