Why I Still Love the Hymns

I am of the generation that bears the greatest culpability for the Church moving away from hymns.  This isn’t all bad.  There are many wonderful contemporary songs that speak truth to our souls and lift our eyes to Christ.  Songs like “Blessed Be Your Name,” or one of our new ones, “Your Great Renown,” keep us in our place of humility before an Almighty, Benevolent, Praiseworthy God.  It doesn’t get more worshipful than that.  I love contemporary music, but not to the exclusion of the great hymns of the past.  One of the things I love about Grace Fellowship is the variety we enjoy in the music portion of our services.  As I like to say, “If you don’t like the music come back next week because it will be entirely different.”  When the schedule puts Juli on the piano or Dennis at the podium I know we are going to be singing hymns, and I rejoice for many reasons.  I’ll share just a few of them with you now:

1. Hymns are a great source of sound theology.  Your theology is what you believe to be true about God.  We are all theologians.  It is in our best interest to be good at it.  Hymns help. 

           

Martin Luther’s, “A Mighty Fortress,” is in my estimation the best teaching on demonology to be found outside the pages of your Bible.  “The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him – his rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure: One little word shall fell him.”  Contrasted with, “Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, were not the right man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing.  Dost ask who that may be?  Christ Jesus, it is He – Lord Sabaoth His name.”  Lord Sabaoth is an Old Testament reference meaning, Lord of Hosts, or Lord of Armies.  James borrows this Hebrew phrase to comfort persecuted Christians, reassuring them that “Lord Sabaoth” has heard their prayers.  No song encourages me more in spiritual battle than the theological precision of “A Mighty Fortress.”

            

“I Know Whom I Have Believed” is another powerful hymn that condenses theology into poetry.  “I know not how the Spirit moves, convincing men of sin, nor how believing in His Word wrought peace within my heart.”  And then, right out of 2 Timothy 1:12, “But I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.”  There are mysteries beyond the scope of our intellect.  Good theology is honest about that while grasping firmly to what we know – to what Scripture reveals.  This hymn anchors us to the biblical truth of Christ.

2. Hymns are communal.  Sunday evening a handful of folks came out for our hymn-sing.  The attendees ranged in age from Lucas to Chet Firnekas.  The Grace Fellowship tenure ranged from Joan Crowe to Les Hunt.  Every person present knew every one of the songs.  That would not be possible during a Praise and Worship jam-fest (as fun as that would be!).  Across generational and geographical lines hymns draw us together in a way that is truly unique.

            

Hymns speak the language of the Church.  Joel helped me lead during the hymn-sing and it was obvious that in his 9 years of life he’s picked up at least a cursory knowledge of many hymns.  He can walk into any church and know the hymns.  He can go with me to Amie Holt and sing along with 90-year-old saints who can only mouth the words.  When he is 90 and residing in an assisted living facility he’ll be singing “In the Garden” while his great-grandkids groan under the weight of an ancient hymn, “Grandpa, that song is so old!”  But, it still speaks the language of the church.  Always has, always will.  “Blessed be the tie that binds.”  Few things do that more than music; no music does that more than the hymns.

3. Hymns have stood the test of time.  And Can it Be, Come Thou Fount, It is Well.  Isaac Watts, John and Charles Wesley, Fanny Crosby.  These names will be with the Church for eternity – most likely quite literally.  This is not to say that “In Christ Alone” won’t stick around for generations to come.  It is to say that a true classic, a true great hymn of the faith, will make its way into the annals of hymnody and your great-great-grandchildren will find themselves humming it around the house.

            

Many contemporary songs that were popular 5 years ago have faded away.  We’ll be singing a thousand variations of “Amazing Grace” for another thousand years.  I tend to think that “Blessed be Your Name” is here to stay, while “Jesus, You’re My Super Hero” has just about ran its course.

            

The reason why #2 is true is because #1 is true, which is also why #3 is true.  A song with powerful lyrics will find itself sung by the faithful who will pass it on to grateful generations to come.  “Be Thou My Vision” will never be trumped.  These timeless words, transcending generational and cultural categories, speak to Christians of every age.  “Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou mine inheritance, now and always: Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.” 

What are your favorite hymns and why?  What would you add to this list of reasons why you love the hymns?  

Hell?

I read "Love Wins," by Rob Bell.  Everyone who reads that book has a response.  They either love it or hate it, but no one I've talked to shrugs and says, "ah, it was OK."  Everyone has an emotional response.

I, too, have a response.  I don't want to take the time write, nor do I ask you to read, a lengthy review on the book.  A web search will yield better results than I could piece together.  Rather, this is simply my response.

There are two basic lenses through which people read the Bible.  Everyone interprets Scripture with Scripture, and everyone interprets Scripture with life.  Everyone admits to the first statement; most deny the second, but without doubt everyone interprets Scripture through those two lenses.

There are two basic groups of people reading the Bible.  Those who accept it as supremely authoritative  over all things, and those who view it as a good book of stories about God and morals.  People from both camps exist in and out of "the Church."  People from both camps preach, teach, and write books about the Bible.  Most of the time they don't identify themselves as belonging to either camp.

The first group (for lack of a better term we'll call them "Bible-centered") begins with the clarity of Scripture.  The clear passages ("by grace are you saved through faith") are used to interpret the fuzzy passages ("sell all you have, give the money to the poor, then you'll inherit eternal life") and troubling circumstances of life (like when kind, old grandma died who never confessed Christ).  We leave the possibility open that she confessed Christ in those final moments.  There is always room for one more criminal on a cross.  But, ultimately, Scripture is allowed to speak more loudly than our wants and longings.  It begins with Scripture and seeks to align man with God's revealed will.

The second group (for lack of better term we'll call them "philanthropic") emphasizes the ambiguity of Scripture.  The fuzzy passages ("sell all you have, give the money to the poor, then you'll inherit eternal life") are used to create pause before the clear passages ("by grace are you saved through faith"), providing space for comfort in the troubling circumstances of life (like when kind, old grandma died who never confessed Christ).  One may say, "Grandma didn't know Jesus by name, but there never was a more Christ-like person to grace this earth.  We'll see Grandma again in Heaven one day."  The meaning of the Bible is interpreted through the lenses of life and Scripture from the basis of our wants and longings.  It is philanthropic, it is man-centered, and reads the Bible accordingly.  The Bible is a helpful source, but what settles the hard issues is what we think mankind needs.

In "Love Wins" Rob Bell, if nothing else, demonstrates that he reads Scripture through his lenses sitting behind a philanthropic desk.  The question dominating the book is, "what kind of God do you want to believe in?"  The difficult circumstances of life and fuzzy portions of Scripture repeatedly create pause in front of the clear warnings from even Christ Himself, like, "fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell.  Yes, I tell you fear Him!"  God never asks us what kind of God we want to believe in - what kind of God we think He should be.  Rather, He lovingly reveals Himself to be a God of love and wrath, power and mercy, forgiveness and punishment - a God to be feared and worshipped, loved and obeyed.  He is the Lion and the Lamb.

The final response to "Love Wins" I leave to the individual reader.  But, I caution you, interpret God on His terms.

The Perfect Christmas Gift

My mother-in-law made Christmas stockings for our family.  As you can see we can almost use them for sleeping bags.  This summer I gave Rebekah a bicycle for her birthday.  If I had waited 'till Christmas, it could have been a stocking stuffer.  These are great stockings.

I'm not going to border on corny here.  I'm going to leap well across that line and just ask - if Jesus had a stocking, what would you put in it?  We talk about Christmas as Jesus' birthday, and say "Remember the reason for the season," and get angry when people replace "Christ" with an X on their tacky yard decorations (even though X is an ancient symbol for Christ).  But, seriously, how can we practically do these things we speak of?  How can we keep Him first and make Christmas about Christ?  Like the Little Drummer Boy, what gift would you bring?


Fortunately, Scripture is never silent in response to any question we may ask.  The Bible is very clear on what we can and should bring to the feet of Jesus.  He is not interested in half-hearted or begrudging gifts.  But, nothing He asks of us can be given in that way.  It takes a whole heart, a gift given out of love and gratitude, to be a gift fit for the King.  Here are three perfect Christmas gifts to consider.


Obedience.  John 15:14 says so plainly, "You are my friends if you do what I command you."  A fitting gift this Christmas could be a careful study of the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7) or any other selection from His Word and make thoughtful application to your thoughts and actions.  When we claim that we keep Christ first at Christmas while living a life contrary to His commandments, He is not impressed and we are deceiving only ourselves.


Service.  Paul consistently refers to himself as a slave to Christ.  And, how does he serve his Master?  By serving and growing the Body of Christ.  Jesus makes this very personal in Matthew 25:34-40 where he teaches that what we do for the most helpless we do for Jesus himself - "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me."  Serve the Church.  Serve the needy.  This is a gift Christ will receive.


Worship.  God says to a wayward Israel, "For I desire faithfulness and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings" (Hosea 6:6).  One of the problems with our Evangelical subculture is that we've confused music and worship (see, Worship).  Worship covers a broad gamut of things like obedience and service.  Hosea 6:6 reveals that faithfulness and even accurate knowledge are prerequisites to the more ceremonial or liturgical forms of worship.  In short, if the lifestyle is not worshipful Jesus is not pleased with even the most emotional performance of, "O Come, Let Us Adore Him."  Clean your hands in inward worship and then lift them in outward worship.  This will honor Christ this Christmas.


One closing thought: We must not permit ourselves to be puffed up in giving these gifts.  When/if we do, we are no longer giving to Him - we are giving to ourselves.  "So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty'" (Luke 17:10).  The worthiness of our Master makes the service joyful.  Give Him obedience, service, and worship this Christmas from a joyful heart yielded fully to Him.  Then you will have a very merry Christmas. 

If you were in his sandals...

If you were Luke, who would you interview, and why?  Imagine what it would have been like to read the original manuscripts and speak to the eye-witnesses.  Imagine what it would be like to not read Mary's "Magnificat," but hear the passion as she recites it to you with a quiver in her aged voice.  Imagine hearing Thomas' version of the occasion when Jesus showed the disciples his nail scars.  Imagine stooping down to look Zacchaeus in the eye as the wee little man tells about his tree climbing days.  Men formerly blind, formerly demon possessed; women formerly prostitutes, formerly a step lower on the social ladder now members of the Church...  cool, huh?

Did Luke interview these people?  We have no idea.  We know from chapter 1 verse 2 that he interviewed some of the eye-witnesses to Jesus' ministry, so, why not?  If you were in his sandals, who would you interview, and why?

restore the joy

Ah, the first day of a new school year.  It happened just this morning for us in Buffalo.  Moms crying, kids laughing, families lined up in front of the school sign for pictures.  Inside, the Principal was greeting kids in their freshly ironed polo shirts and summer dresses, and the aroma of freshly sharpened #2 pencils filled the air.  There was joy and energy in abundance on every little summer-tanned face.

It won't be long before a nameless, bathrobe clad mom pulls up to the curb with rollers in her hair, throws the car in park before it fully stops, and screams "Get out of the car!  I'm late for work!"  Little Timmy will stumble onto the sidewalk with syrup smeared across his face and dribbled down his wrinkled Sponge Bob t-shirt.  By then the halls will be lined with the Kindergartener's latest craft project and the guidance counselor will be on meds for ulcers, while the first year teachers are hiding in the teacher's lounge, secretly scanning the classifieds for a job opening at the uranium mine.

What happened to Mom's teary eyes and the freshly ironed summer dresses?  What happened to the smiles of anticipation?  What happened to the joy?  In a word that risks sounding cynical, what happened was reality.  The daily grind, the mundane.  School is still good, knowledge is still imparted, the kids are still spending time with friends, but it has so quickly become so common place and is no longer appreciated.

So it is with the joy of our salvation.  If it were not so David would not have written Psalm 51:12, "restore to me the joy of your salvation."  David had sinned greatly and the hard truth of life had set in - sin, or even just the pace of life will rob us of the joy of our salvation.  Do you remember those high points in your Christian walk when the forgiveness of sins and the friendship of Christ painted the world in bright colors?  I'm sure you do.  Do you remember when it went away?  Probably not, but you can sure see the difference when it is gone.  David pleads, "restore the joy."  We don't have to limp along until the next big event.  The joy can be restored now.

How?  Joy is restored in the same way it came.  Psalm 51:17 says, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."  Are you broken by your sin?  Does the damaged relationship with God cause a contrite heart?  Bring your repentance to God, refresh yourself in the wonders of His salvation, and the joy will return.  Next thing you know you'll be opening the Word of God and finding it a lot like the first day of a brand new school year.  Enjoy.

Warrior Shepherd

Today my morning prayers focused on a variety of people.  Some sick, some hurting, some mourning loss.  Others facing big decisions, some making poor decisions, some just confused, whose confusion spilled over into my prayers.  I wrestled with how to pray, which in turn naturally called into question my proficiency as shepherd of this flock.  My thoughts then went to my co-laborers on the elder board - how should we, Grace Fellowship's shepherds, pastor these people in our care?  Sometimes the hows, whos, and whys get a little messy.

God graciously allowed my mind to wonder to a passage I read the other day.  Micah 5:1-5 tells us about the One who would come from Bethlehem, the shepherd who will "stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God."  I usually picture ancient shepherds more like Little Boy Blue than a fierce warrior standing in the strength of Yahweh, reflecting His majesty.  But that is our Shepherd.  A Warrior Shepherd.  I'm just a hireling, an under-shepherd.  I don't need all the answers.  Our elders aren't expected to be Christ.  Our leadership falls short of the glory of God.  Our calling is to faithfully point Christ's flock to their true Shepherd.  He alone can lead us to the green pastures our souls crave.

To those of the flock who read this, I urge you to look to Him.  I pray that you find us, your fellow sheep, simply pointing Christ-ward.  To the under-shepherds who read this I encourage you to look to the Shepherd for your source of motivation in the task entrusted to us.  And, never forget, that not unlike one of Israel's shepherds, King David, the Lord is our Shepherd too.  We lack nothing.  There are green pastures and still waters to be found for all of us, overflowing, and free, and only in the person of Jesus Christ.

Count your many blessings

I got up early and ran 3 miles.  Not because someone was chasing me or trying to kill me, but because my part time job not only expects, but pays me to be healthy.  I then spent much of the day listening to and trying to help people with their personal problems.  I got to open my Bible and reorient God’s children to His perfect plan for their life.  My government pays me (quite well) to minister in the deepest way possible to those of, or open to, my faith.  As I listened I reflected on the blessings in my personal life – wonderful, happy marriage that recently crossed over the 10-year mark, 3 healthy children, fulfilling full-time job.  At that job I have an office that sits in the shadow of one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world.  The people I am privileged to minister to as their pastor love my family, love God’s Word, love our Savior, Jesus Christ.  They see my Chaplaincy as an outreach of their mission, which meshes my two worlds together into one service for our King.  When I visit members of my congregation I drive passed signs that say “Open Range.”  Who gets to do that?  During my down time on base I'll sit by a lake reading and watch B2 Stealth Bombers take off.  Who gets to do that?  At the end of my tour I'll be reunited with my beautiful, happy, godly, brilliant wife and healthy, smart, funny kids.  Who gets to do that?  I am blessed.  And this is just the short list.  What are some of your blessings?