Why the weak church?

The drift away from the Bible has weakened the church. Many people are ready to believe but have been intimidated into thinking that no educated person with any pretense to cultural sophistication could actually take the testimony of the Bible seriously. The one antidote to this is a robust exposition of the apostolic gospel.—Fleming Rutledge, The Crucifixion, 30

O the Depth of Love Divine

332 O the Depth of Love Divine

1. O the depth of love divine, th’unfathomable grace!
   Who shall say how bread and wine God into us conveys!
   How the bread His flesh imparts, how the wine transmits His blood,
   Fills His faithful people’s hearts with all the life of God!

2. Let the wisest mortals show how we the grace receive;
   Feeble elements bestow a power not theirs to give.
   Who explains the wondrous way, how through these the virtue came?
   These the virtue did convey, yet still remain the same.

3. How can spirits heavenward rise, by earthly matter fed,
   Drink herewith divine supplies and eat immortal bread?
   Ask the Father’s wisdom how: Christ who did the means ordain;
   Angels round our altars bow to search it out, in vain.

4. Sure and real is the grace, the manner be unknown;
   Only meet us in thy ways and perfect us in one.
   Let us taste the heavenly powers, Lord, we ask for nothing more.
   Thine to bless, ’tis only ours to wonder and adore.
                         Charles Wesley
                         Methodist Hymnal, 1964 edition

<idle musing>
Not exactly one of Wesley's better known hymns—it only occurs in six hymnals and they are all Methodist ones as far as I could tell.

It's also obvious that Charles wasn't a Zwinglian! For him, and for John, Christ was present in some special and unique way during communion. As far as I've been able to discover, they never tried to explain it; they were content to allow it to remain a mystery.

That's pretty much where I come down, too. But, I've only ever felt that special presence when sharing communion in groups smaller than fifteen—and not always or even frequently then. A lot of it depends on the group and their openness to the ways of the Spirit. And I don't mean they have to lean Charismatic/Pentecostal! Some of the most meaningful experiences of the presence of God in communion happened in a Plymouth Brethren body—and they were very strong cessationists!
</idle musing>

What's left?

If God were to strip the churches from all that man is doing and leave only what He has done or is doing, we would trim the average Church back down to a nubbin. There would not be enough left to have a decent service.—A.W. Tozer, Reclaiming Christianity, 184

Tozer for Tuesday

It is my opinion—I believe it is more than an opinion, it is insight—that evangelical Christianity as we know it is almost as far from God as liberalism. Its nominal creed is biblical, but its orientation is worldly. The modern evangelicals, the Holiness people, the Pentecostal people, the Bible loving people—we who claim to be evangelical and traditional in our Christian faith— have an orientation toward the big businessman. You know, Jesus never got along with any of the businessmen in His day. But we use them as our model.—A.W. Tozer, Reclaiming Christianity, 154

Weeping for the church (Tozer for Tuesday)

I cannot stop people from doing what they are doing, but at least I can grieve because they will not stop; and I am going to do that. I am going to let my tears water the footsteps of those who go astray. And when the churches will not come back to New Testament standards and worship the Lord our God in the beauty of holiness, if I cannot make them do it or persuade them to do it in this awful hour of crisis, at least I can weep because they will not come. And I can sigh if I cannot weep.—A.W. Tozer, Reclaiming Christianity, 143

The Tranquilized Church

The first offer from the Lord is not tranquility at all. The Lord at first offers us deliverance, forgiveness, renewal and making things right; and following that comes tranquility. But we are marketing tranquility now, selling it like soap, and asking our people in the name of John 3:16 to come and get tranquilized. And so we have a tranquilized Church that is enjoying herself immensely at banquets and times of fun and coffee-klatches and fellowships. Then she is singing about the Lord, “Thy Word is like a garden, Lord.”—A.W. Tozer, Reclaiming Christianity, 138

Tozer for Tuesday

Normally, we draw a conclusion based on evidence rather than go along with feelings. Carnal Christians tend to live by their feelings. First, they must have what they call a good atmosphere in the church and then they have had a good time. If there is not a good atmosphere, they do not have a good time. If this continues, they will look for a place more conducive to having a good time. They are more or less victims and fools of their environment.—A.W. Tozer, Reclaiming Christianity, 121–22

The four types of church-goers

The church of Christ includes at least four classes. There is the average church person who comes all the time but never is converted. They come and seem to enjoy it and have friends among the Christian people, but they themselves have never passed from death unto life. That is one class.

There is another class, those who are trained to be Christians but are not. They appear as Christians because they have learned the language and are able to perform certain things, giving every- body the impression that they are in fact Christians. Usually, you find them in charge of all of the activities of the local church.

Then there are true Christians, but they are carnal. They have never developed into a mature, functioning Christian. They are where they were when they were saved. Thankfully, there are also those who are true Christians and are spiritual. Unfortunately, this seems to be the minority in most churches.—A.W. Tozer, Reclaiming Christianity, 120

There's plenty of room!

What does it mean to be catholic? Jesus gave the best definition of the term when he said: “In my Father’s house there are many rooms.” This is not a description of a certain geography in heaven but a revelation of the breadth of God’s heart. The bosom of God is not a ghetto. God has a catholic heart—in that catholic means universal, wide, all-encompassing. The opposite of a catholic is a fundamentalist, a person who has a heart with one room.—The Holy Longing, 130

We're not there yet

Whenever I meet the presence of God within Community I will not meet it in its pure form. All communities of faith mediate the grace of God in a very mixed way. Sin, pettiness, and betrayal are always found alongside grace, sanctity, and fidelity.—The Holy Longing, 127

Look around—then look at Jesus

Outside of a focus on his person [Jesus] and what we are drawn to spontaneously live when we sense his presence, we have angry fireworks and constant dissipation, as the state of our families, communities, nations, and world gives ample testimony to. Nothing else, ultimately, holds us together.

Hence the basis for Christian ecclesial community, church, is a gathering around the person of Jesus Christ and a living in his Spirit. And that Spirit too is not some vague bird or abstract tonality. The spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, is defined in scripture as charity, joy, peace, patience, goodness, long—suffering, fidelity, mildness, and chastity.—The Holy Longing, 120

<idle musing>
Oh my. He has us pegged here, doesn't he? Nothing outside of the power of the Holy Spirit can hold us together (see today's Tozer for Tuesday).
</idle musing>

Glorious things of thee are spoken

382 Austrian Hymn. 8. 7. 8. 7. D.

1 Glorious things of thee are spoken,
   Zion, city of our God;
   He, whose word cannot be broken,
   Formed thee for His own abode.
   On the Rock of Ages founded,
   What can shake thy sure repose?
   With salvation's wall surrounded,
   Thou mayst smile at all thy foes.

2 See, the streams of living waters,
   Springing from eternal love,
   Well supply thy sons and daughters,
   And all fear of want remove.
   Who can faint while such a river
   Ever will their thirst assuage?
   Grace which, like the Lord, the giver,
   Never fails from age to age.

3 Round each habitation hovering,
   See the cloud and fire appear
   For a glory and a covering,
   Showing that the Lord is near!
   Glorious things of thee are spoken,
   Zion, city of our God;
   He, whose word cannot be broken,
   Formed thee for His own abode.
                         John Newton
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
While I don't recall consciously that I sang this, as I read the words, a tune came into my head, so I must have! This is a fairly popular hymn, occurring in almost 1300 hymnals. Cyberhymnal, as usual, has more verses. Verse 3 has a different second half, and verses 4 and 5 are added:

3. Round each habitation hovering,
   See the cloud and fire appear!
   For a glory and a covering
   Showing that the Lord is near.
   Thus deriving from our banner
   Light by night and shade by day;
   Safe they feed upon the manna
   Which He gives them when they pray.

4. Blest inhabitants of Zion,
   Washed in the Redeemer’s blood!
   Jesus, whom their souls rely on,
   Makes them kings and priests to God.
   ’Tis His love His people raises,
   Over self to reign as kings,
   And as priests, His solemn praises
   Each for a thank offering brings.

5. Savior, if of Zion’s city,
   I through grace a member am,
   Let the world deride or pity,
   I will glory in Thy name.
   Fading is the worldling’s pleasure,
   All his boasted pomp and show;
   Solid joys and lasting treasure
   None but Zion’s children know.

</idle musing>

The Church's one foundation

381 Aurelia. 7. 6. 7. 6. D.

1 The Church's one foundation
   Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
   She is His new creation
   By water and the word;
   From heav'n He came and sought her
   To be His holy bride;
   With His own blood He bought her,
   And for her life He died.

2 Elect from ev'ry nation,
   Yet one o'er all the earth,
   Her charter of salvation,
   One Lord, one faith, one birth;
   One holy name she blesses,
   Partakes one holy food,
   And to one hope she presses,
   With ev'ry grace endued.

3 'Mid toil and tribulation,
   And tumult of her war,
   She waits the consummation
   Of peace forevermore;
   Till with the vision glorious,
   Her longing eyes are blest,
   And the great Church victorious
   Shall be the Church at rest.

4 Yet she on earth hath union
   With God, the Three in One,
   And mystic sweet communion
   With those whose rest is won;
   O happy ones and holy!
   Lord, give us grace that we
   Like them, the meek and lowly,
   On high may dwell with Thee.
                         Samuel J. Stone
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
This was one of my favorite hymns growing up. I was surprised to discover that it isn't more popular, occurring in only 847 hymnals. As per usual, cyberhymnal has an abundance of extra verses:

3. The Church shall never perish!
   Her dear Lord to defend,
   To guide, sustain, and cherish,
   Is with her to the end:
   Though there be those who hate her,
   And false sons in her pale,
   Against both foe or traitor
   She ever shall prevail.

4. Though with a scornful wonder
   Men see her sore oppressed,
   By schisms rent asunder,
   By heresies distressed:
   Yet saints their watch are keeping,
   Their cry goes up, How long?
   And soon the night of weeping
   Shall be the morn of song!

And mixes parts of two other verses to create two different ones:

6. Yet she on earth hath union
   With God the Three in One,
   And mystic sweet communion
   With those whose rest is won,
   With all her sons and daughters
   Who, by the Master’s hand
   Led through the deathly waters,
   Repose in Eden land.

7. O happy ones and holy!
   Lord, give us grace that we
   Like them, the meek and lowly,
   On high may dwell with Thee:
   There, past the border mountains,
   Where in sweet vales the Bride
   With Thee by living fountains
   Forever shall abide!

</idle musing>

Jesus, with Thy Church abide

380 Litany (Hervey). 7. 7. 7. 6.

1. Jesus, with Thy Church abide,
   Be her Savior, Lord, and Guide,
   While on earth her faith is tried:
   We beseech Thee, hear us.

2. May her voice be ever clear,
   Warning of a judgment near,
   Telling of a Savior dear:
   We beseech Thee, hear us.

3. May she guide the poor and blind,
   Seek the lost until she find,
   And the broken hearted bind:
   We beseech Thee, hear us.

4. May her lamp of truth be bright,
   Bid her bear aloft its light
   Through the realms of heathen night:
   We beseech Thee, hear us.

5. Judge her not for work undone,
   Judge her not for fields unwon,
   Bless her works in Thee begun:
   We beseech Thee, hear us.

6. May she holy triumphs win,
   Overthrow the hosts of sin,
   Gather all the nations in,
   We beseech Thee, hear us.
                         Thomas B. Pollock
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
I don't recall ever singing this, but it certainly does make a good prayer for the state of the church. It's not very common, only occurring in about 100 hymnals, but for an uncommon hymn, it suffers from a variety of versions. As usual, cyberhymnal has the fullest version. Here are the extra verses

3. Keep her life and doctrine pure,
   Help her, patient, to endure,
   Trusting in Thy promise sure:
   We beseech Thee, hear us. 4. All her fettered powers release
   Bid our strife and envy cease,
   Grant the heav’nly gift of peace:
   We beseech Thee, hear us. 5. May she one in doctrine be,
   One in truth and charity,
   Winning all to faith in Thee:
   We beseech Thee, hear us.

7. May her priests Thy people feed,
   Shepherds of the flock indeed,
   Ready, where Thou call’st, to lead:
   We beseech Thee, hear us.

9. All that she has lost, restore,
   May her strength and zeal be more
   Than in brightest days of yore:
   We beseech Thee, hear us.

10. Raise her to her calling high,
   Let the nations far and nigh
   Hear Thy heralds’ warning cry:
   We beseech Thee, hear us.

13. May she thus all glorious be,
   Spotless and from wrinkle free,
   Pure and bright, and worthy Thee:
   We beseech Thee, hear us.

</idle musing>

Tozer for Tuesday

I grieve that we have so little manifestation of the Shepherd’s presence in our churches. We talk about His being here, but we do not sense that He is here. We do not have the feeling that He is here. Do not talk down feeling, for it’s part of our human constitution; and when He walks into the presence of His people. consciously, they cannot help but feel it.

I think that the most wonderful thing would be to each become so Christ-conscious and so Church-loving that we would clean up our lives and purify our hearts and wash our hands and forgive our enemies and love them too. Then we would focus on Him and learn to live and pray and preach and give and worship in the very conscious presence of the Son of God’s love. I think this would be the most beautiful thing in the whole wide world.—A.W. Tozer, Reclaiming Christianity, 75

I love Thy kingdom, Lord

379 St. Thomas. S. M.

1 I love Thy kingdom, Lord,
   The house of Thine abode,
   The Church our blest Redeemer saved
   With His own precious blood.

2 I love Thy Church, O God!
   Her walls before Thee stand
   Dear as the apple of Thine eye,
   And graven on Thy hand.

3 For her my tears shall fall,
   For her my prayers ascend;
   To her my cares and toils be given,
   Till toils and cares shall end.

4 Beyond my highest joy
   I prize her heavenly ways,
   Her sweet communion, solemn vows,
   Her hymns of love and praise.

5 Sure as Thy truths shall last,
   To Zion shall be given
   The brightest glories earth can yield,
   And brighter bliss of heaven.
                         Timothy Dwight
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
Written by one of the early presidents of Yale, this hymn is quite popular, occurring in a little over 1300 hymnals. Cyberhymnal adds three verses, two after verse 2 and the third one just before the final verse:

3. If e’er to bless Thy sons
   My voice or hands deny,
   These hands let useful skills forsake,
   This voice in silence die.

4. Should I with scoffers join
   Her altars to abuse?
   No! Better far my tongue were dumb,
   My hand its skill should lose.

7. Jesus, Thou friend divine,
   Our Savior and our King,
   Thy hand from every snare and foe
   Shall great deliverance bring.

</idle musing>

God in the midst? (Tozer for Tuesday)

We have bushels of religious gatherings but only once in a great while is God in the midst. I would walk through mud up to my knees to get to a group where nobody was showing off, where only God was present. The Early Church prayed—talked to God. When they sang, they talked to God and sang about God. Today we have programming, that awful, hateful word “programming”; but God is absent.

The Early Church were worshipers; and when an unbeliever came in among them they said, “God is among them, of a truth.” It was not the personality of the speaker; they might not have even had one. It was the presence of the Lord that made them fall down and worship. I will join anything, any group, when I can go in to and spend 10 minutes and come away relaxed and say, “I’ve been where God was.” They were like that in apostolic times.—A.W. Tozer, Reclaiming Christianity, 59–60

Tozer for Tuesday

Modern evangelicalism has surrendered to the world, excused it, explained it, adopted it and imitated it. More young preachers imitate men in the world with a good deal more energy than they imitate the holy saints of God. They are not interested in the saints and in imitating the saints of God, but rather they are interested in imitating the world and taking it in.—A.W. Tozer, Reclaiming Christianity, 58

Tozer for Tuesday

So the Holy Spirit gets into the benediction and verse three of hymn number nine. Further than that, the Holy Spirit is not necessary to the church; we have arranged it so that He is not required. He has been displaced by what we call programming and by social activity.—A.W. Tozer, Reclaiming Christianity, 55

Whence authority? (Tozer for Tuesday)

Then there is another kind of authority with prophets and apostles and popes and bishops and religious sages. If they are good, they have borrowed their authority; and if they are bad, they have usurped it. They have authority all right; nobody can doubt it.

Bishops have authority. They can say, “Don’t you do so- and-so,” and the little preacher does not dare do it. Then there are popes and apostles and prophets. Now I say again that if they were good men, they borrowed their authority from God; and if they were bad men, they usurped it from God. So either way they got it from God. But they all had to surrender their authority and die.—A.W. Tozer, Reclaiming Christianity, 32