THIS duty is absolutely commanded, and much insisted on, in the Word of God.
Where have we any command in the Bible laid down in stronger terms, and in a more peremptory urgent manner, than the command of giving to the poor?
- in his message on Deuteronomy 15:7-11, Christian Charity (or The Duty of Charity to the Poor, Explained and Enforced).
Photo cred: Photobucket
From the Washington Post:
On a blue-covered table in a Capitol Hill hearing room, an ordinary hymnal was raised to the status of a historical object with the simple signature of its owner, Harriet Tubman Davis.
The book of gospel hymns was among an extraordinary trove of Tubman artifacts given Wednesday to the National Museum of African American History and Culture…
Lonnie G. Bunch, the founding director of the museum, described the November meeting in Philadelphia when Blockson, who lives there, first showed the staff the 39 objects he is donating.
“Each object in this collection humbled us, excited us and moved us to tears. And then, Dr. Blockson uncovered Harriet Tubman’s personal hymnal, and I think many of us lost it,” Bunch said.
Harriet Tubman, of course, was the 19-century leader in the Underground Railroad and an emancipation leader, leading hundreds of slaves to freedom.
The hymnal, titled “Gospel Hymns No. 2,” was by Philip Bliss (“It Is Well With My Soul”) and Ira Sankey (“The Ninety and Nine” and D.L. Moody’s songleader) can be seen here, including Tubman’s autograph.
Interesting to note the ceremony concluded with everyone singing “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.”
The truth sets you free indeed…
Scholar R.C. Sproul has a short explanation on why using “X” for “Christ” in Christmas is acceptable:
The idea of X as an abbreviation for the name of Christ came into use in our culture with no intent to show any disrespect for Jesus.
The church has used the symbol of the fish historically because it is an acronym. Fish in Greek (ichthus) involved the use of the first letters for the Greek phrase “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.”
So the early Christians would take the first letter of those words and put those letters together to spell the Greek word for fish. That’s how the symbol of the fish became the universal symbol of Christendom.
There’s a long and sacred history of the use of X to symbolize the name of Christ, and from its origin, it has meant no disrespect.
HT: Justin Taylor
While women weep, as they do now, I’ll fight.
While little children go hungry, as they do now, I’ll fight.
While men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight.
While there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight.
I’ll fight to the very end!
- General William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army
From BOOTH THE BELOVED, by J Evan Smith (Oxford University Press, 1949), pages 123-124
Quote & photo cred: Salvation Army International Heritage Centre
American roots music provides an untapped resource for church musicians who are looking for something different yet familiar.
Well-known are the spirituals (Ain’t that Good News, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, etc.), but early rural American blues & gospel music contains profoundly spiritual elements.
Here is an example: Save The Children – Essie Mae Brooks (mp3 download)
Who is Essie Mae Brooks?
Essie Mae Brooks
From the Music Maker Relief Foundation website:
Essie Mae Brooks was born in Houston County, Georgia in 1930. Her father was a great drummer in the nearly forgotten African-American tradition called “Drumbeat.” He would play the drum every weekend and people would gather and dance all night long. Her grandfather was a harmonica player and Essie started singing to accompany him. She began singing and writing gospel songs as a girl and has never stopped.
Here’s a video of Essie Mae performing a snippet of a song.
For more like this, click here.
(Audio & photo credit: Music Maker Relief Foundation)
The poor have the gospel preached unto them (Matthew 11:5, KJV)
…it is one delightful mark of Christ’s dispensation, that he aims first at the poor. It was wise in him to do so.
If we would fire a building, it is best to light it at the basement; so our Saviour, when he would save a world, and convert men of all classes, and all ranks, begins at the lowest rank, that the fire may burn upwards, knowing right well that what was received by the poor, will ultimately by his grace be received by the rich also.
Nevertheless, he chose this to be given to his disciples, and to be the mark of his gospel—”The poor have the gospel preached to them.”
Authentic Christian unity is effective witness.
We know this because of Christ’s prayer in John 17:20-23:
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
This is the purpose behind World Communion Sunday, the first Sunday in October each year.
Originating in the Presbyterian church in 1936, this observation has spread beyond denominational borders and now includes Baptist and Methodist churches.
If you’re interested, here are several resources to consider (they may be dated but are still useful for planning):
Can you think of a better way to display unity than helping the church overseas care for the poor ?
You can simply demonstrate in song how God is working to care for the needs of the poor overseas through His people.
Contact me if you’d like free music charts and other resources to help you commemorate World Communion Sunday (October 4th this year).
(Artwork: Psalm 85 by John August Swanson; HT: PCUSA.org)
Consider J.S. Bach, who:
…was charged with overseeing the music in four Leipzig churches.
J.S. Bach - one busy man
He was married twice, a widow once and had 20 children.
He taught music lessons and Latin classes.
He rehearsed and performed his own organ works and directed the local boys choirs.
Yet the Bach-Gesellschaft company has published 65 volumes of music, even though experts believe at least half of Bach’s works are missing.
This apparently did not deter Bach from a prayer life:
Many scholars have asked: When did Bach find time to compose? But (Patrick) Kavanaugh is fascinated by another question: When did Bach find time to pray? Both questions may have the same answer.
“Perhaps all of these symbolic numbers and patterns were something Bach did as a kind of meditation,” said Kavanaugh. “This may have been his own personal way of worshipping God. … And in the end, it didn’t matter if anyone else figured it all out. He was writing his music for a different audience. This was between him and the Lord.”
This interview with Patrick Kavanaugh by Terry Mattingly posted here.
(HT: colleague Bob Stein with CICO)
John Calvin, social justice advocate
Since this year marks the 500th anniversary of John Calvin’s birth (which is a big deal in many circles), I pirated this comment from our Field Blog:
While living in the city of Geneva (now in Switzerland), Calvin made sure the poor didn’t starve or get turned away from hospitals.
He promoted job growth and interest-free charitable loans, and taught the wealthy to lead humble lifestyles and avoid expensive jewelry, so they could use their money to give generously to poor refugees fleeing religious persecution.
Calvin’s system worked so well that there were no beggars on the streets, and in 1554 one observer called Geneva “the most perfect school of Christ that ever was in the earth since the days of the apostles.’
Nice thumbnail on Calvin from CT here.
HT: Cross Field Blog
William Romaine
Here’s an excerpt from William Romaine, a colleague of Watts, concerning the ‘new’ songs that were being written for the church in the 1700s:
Why in such a case would any man in the world take it into his head to sit down to write Hymns for the use of the church?
It is just the same as if he was to write a new Bible, not only better than the old, but so much better, that the old may be thrown aside.
What a blasphemous attempt! And yet our Hymn-mongers, inadvertently I hope, have come very near to this blasphemy: for they shut out the Psalms, introduce their own verses into the church, sing them with great delight, and as they fancy with great profit; although the whole practice be in direct opposition to the command of God, and therefore cannot possibly be accompanied with the blessing of God.
Watts wrote, of course, Joy to the World and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.
Romaine eases up a bit from here, but it’s interesting to note that church music controversies have quite a history.
Romaine’s Essay on Psalmody posted here.
(HT: Travis Ham, On Worship and Witness; photo cred – Wikipedia)
