Nearly four hundred years ago, a movement within the
Christian community engineered the future of the church by stressing field
preaching, aiming to draw in young people, the writing of innovative hymns,
taking those hymns outside the church, and meeting together in small groups.
The fields have become streets, and street preachers are not typically well
received. But the overall plan suggests a modern approach.
Of course, nobody wants to hear how European pietism of the
1600s shaped modern evangelism. Not right now. Too many oddities have swept
over Christianity in the new world and this is not the time to delve into
church history. What we need now is the safe comfort of an American Bible-belt
sanctuary filled to the last pew with clean-cut, straight-laced, but not too
politically correct believers. We want the familiar, the good old-time
religion. We don’t want the wrong crowd, the radical music, the broad political
agenda, or the apprehension of too much evangelism in a hostile environment. We
just want a place to call our own where the outsiders won’t bother us. Maybe
that’s a good definition of church for some, but it doesn’t carry the Gospel
into the broken world.
1600s shaped modern evangelism. Not right now. Too many oddities have swept
over Christianity in the new world and this is not the time to delve into
church history. What we need now is the safe comfort of an American Bible-belt
sanctuary filled to the last pew with clean-cut, straight-laced, but not too
politically correct believers. We want the familiar, the good old-time
religion. We don’t want the wrong crowd, the radical music, the broad political
agenda, or the apprehension of too much evangelism in a hostile environment. We
just want a place to call our own where the outsiders won’t bother us. Maybe
that’s a good definition of church for some, but it doesn’t carry the Gospel
into the broken world.
While the movement of those long-ago believers progressed,
their culture endured political and religious wars. In the thinking of most of
the population, the evil of slavery was socially acceptable. Witchcraft and
paganism were common. This was no Bible belt. If the average family had access
to scripture, it wasn’t in the form of several faux-leather copies piled unread
in the den. This was a harsh existence for most. The voice of the Gospel,
however, rose above the obstacles as it always must.
their culture endured political and religious wars. In the thinking of most of
the population, the evil of slavery was socially acceptable. Witchcraft and
paganism were common. This was no Bible belt. If the average family had access
to scripture, it wasn’t in the form of several faux-leather copies piled unread
in the den. This was a harsh existence for most. The voice of the Gospel,
however, rose above the obstacles as it always must.
Living the Christian life has never been easy. Looking back,
it may seem a more pleasant and peaceful saneness blessed a generation or two
at various points in history. But peace not found in Christ is an
illusion. Sometimes, it’s a very good illusion that demands to be kept. Then a
generation comes to its senses by revelation or oppression, and the Gospel
moves. It reaches into a stained society to free those wrenched in unbelief. It
calls to the ones deemed unclean. It meets the threat of perversion. It
counters the claim of irrelevance. It is a far reach the Gospel sustains into the
uncomfortable places we thought we could avoid.
it may seem a more pleasant and peaceful saneness blessed a generation or two
at various points in history. But peace not found in Christ is an
illusion. Sometimes, it’s a very good illusion that demands to be kept. Then a
generation comes to its senses by revelation or oppression, and the Gospel
moves. It reaches into a stained society to free those wrenched in unbelief. It
calls to the ones deemed unclean. It meets the threat of perversion. It
counters the claim of irrelevance. It is a far reach the Gospel sustains into the
uncomfortable places we thought we could avoid.
It is the joy of the church to tell the old story anew intimes of trouble. It is not the privilege of the church to remain forever content in its surroundings. Our security is not of this world, nor our hope in this world. Our guarantee is not
to remain citizens of a Christian nation. Nor should we think our national
leaders are anything but appointed by God for some purpose. If their objective
proves detrimental for us, then God will be sufficient. And by His will the message
of the Gospel will become a louder cry.
A very old hymn that was once new:
Christ, the Life of All
the Living
the Living
Christ, the life of all the
living;
Christ, the death of death our foe;
Christ, for us yourself once giving
to the darkest depths of woe:
through your suffering, death, and merit,
life eternal we inherit;
thousand, thousand thanks are due,
dearest Jesus, unto you.
living;
Christ, the death of death our foe;
Christ, for us yourself once giving
to the darkest depths of woe:
through your suffering, death, and merit,
life eternal we inherit;
thousand, thousand thanks are due,
dearest Jesus, unto you.
You have suffered great affliction
and have borne it patiently,
even death by crucifixion:
our atonement full and free.
Lord, you chose to be tormented,
that our doom should be prevented;
thousand, thousand thanks are due,
dearest Jesus, unto you.
and have borne it patiently,
even death by crucifixion:
our atonement full and free.
Lord, you chose to be tormented,
that our doom should be prevented;
thousand, thousand thanks are due,
dearest Jesus, unto you.
Lord, for all that bought our
pardon,
for the sorrows deep and sore,
for the anguish in the garden,
we will thank you evermore.
For the victory of your dying –
sinful nature mortifying –
thousand, thousand thanks are due,
dearest Jesus, unto you.
pardon,
for the sorrows deep and sore,
for the anguish in the garden,
we will thank you evermore.
For the victory of your dying –
sinful nature mortifying –
thousand, thousand thanks are due,
dearest Jesus, unto you.
