Tragically, yet as clearly told to us in Scripture, all those who may appear outwardly, or say the right things, or profess to be a truly transformed by the Spirit of God, born anew, and saved, thus called a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, a child of God — yet are NOT truly changed of mind, of heart, of spirit by the working of the Holy Spirit, yet NOT believing the Holy Bible — can and are called “Christians.”
The word Christian has become another semantic satiation word. Altered in meaning. Corrupted actually. No longer meaning what it ought due to so much verbal and written transformation.
There are only two groups of people on earth at any given time.
Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, children of God, that have experienced a change of heart and mind, a submitting, a confessing, a coming to a knowledge and understanding of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and all that is contained in the living Word of God, these are born anew — truly regenerated from within by the Supernatural power of the Spirit of God, thus true believers, true Christians.
And anyone and everyone else.
The people in the former group are saved purely by their faith and the free gift of grace from God. Only those folks are rewarded for their faithfulness, their trust, and obedience in God, in the Risen and Living Saviour, Jesus Christ with eternal life in heaven.
The people in the latter group receive only the wrath of God. The judgment of God, And eternal death, eternal damnation.
What does this have to do with an article on hymns of old and their message?
Two quick things.
One, the word “Christian” is bantered about and when heard today even the most ignorant and venial among us have an image form in their mind as to what that person believes, thus translating to how that person lives.
Tragically, again, that image, that understanding of “that person is a Christian,” or “I’m a Christian” has become not blurred or redefined as the world says, but it has become corrupted.
Why? Because if it were true, for example in America, where in repetitive surveys and polls a consistent 60% to 70% claim to be “Christian” America would be a totally different nation and people than it really is. What we exhibit daily. What we say, think, believe, and do.
We’re a nation of liars and pretenders. Too judgmental for you? Why? Have you read what the Word of God says regarding all of this? If not, I urge you, no, I implore you to go to an approved translation of the Word of God and learn WHAT GOD SAYS, not what I or any man or woman may say.
In America, with about 6 out of 10 people claiming to be a Christian yet we have a majority of EVANGELICAL pastors, those declaring and supposed to be the most spot on of the lot that don’t believe what is in the Bible and they preach the world, not the Word!
Secondly, focusing solely on the songs sung, the praise offered up to God, sadly and sinfully in so many churches the time of singing hymns and offering praise to the Lord in voice, as a congregation, is a rock ‘n roll or pop music show. Entertainment. The spotlight is on the worship leader and the band. Let me ask this…if you attend a Christian church on a regular basis, weekly, how many old hymns are sung in the service? What are the LYRICS of what is being sung?
Just as so-called sermons have become so watered down to offer no true spiritual nourishment of anything from the Word of God, so, too, has the singing in churches.
As the sermons grew weaker and watered down and worldly the music grew weaker and worldly, and the sermons have been influenced by the worldly music and culture, and the music by the impotent self-help worldly motivational speaking so-called “sermons” given by many in these times.
Erosion, permitting the world to enter in, thus opening the door to evil coming in — let’s not mince words or shy away or avoid reality. Truth. It’s either God’s righteousness or the world’s evil. It’s either the Light, the Truth, the Way, and the Life or its darkness.
Period.
There is no shading, no little white lie, no “aww, it’s okay, lighten up, everybody else does it”, or whatever is taking place in the hearts and minds and lives of those professing to be disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, a child of God, thus a Christian that in truth are not His because their heart, their spirit, their lives really aren’t an example of being renewed of mind and spirit, born anew, a changed creature making Christ, God and believing and obeying them priority number one.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
John 3:36 — English Standard Version
It’s more, a lot more than merely saying “I’m a Christian.” [Yet so simple!]
If there is no submitting if there is no ongoing removing of self and imitating Christ if there is no obedience — and this is evidenced in every aspect of a person’s life of truly being renewed of mind and spirit — a person cannot make the boast they are the Lord’s. Not really.
Are we perfect? Light shining from us as if we’re a Klieg light? Far from it.
But saying something and living it are totally different matters.
We all say a lot, Too much. Yet we live very little according to our words.
This has to change. And can only change in a true change of heart and mind in turning to the Lord in repentance and committing to the Lord and opening, reading, studying, praying about, and meditating deeply on the Word of God.
Period.
Let us go to the Lord in prayer, in praise, in singing from the heart, from the spirit, from the joy of His love, mercy, grace, and sacrifice, and how unworthy each of us is to receive His gift beyond our feeble comprehension!
Real hymns, from a real heart aflame for the Lord!
Rediscover more than one old hymn. Rediscover, or discover for the first time the vast richness of great words written in honor, praise, and worship of our Lord by hymn writers of the 1600s, 1700s, 1800s, and early 1900s. There are more than most people know and more wonderful hymns than folks can imagine.
Try them, you might even like them. But you’ll have to learn to sing more than the same repetitive six or seven words over and over and over and over and over again that constitute much of what passes for modern-day “hymns” of praise to God.
Then take come of those to your worship leader. Ask them to turn down the volume on the electric guitars and drums, kill the light show, and focus on the words of hymns of praise to the Lord.
Where the spotlight ought to always be directed. So His Light can truly shine in us, and from us.
Ken Pullen
Wednesday, June 8th, 2022
RELATED:
Hymns Archives – A CROOKED PATH
Hymnary.org: a comprehensive index of hymns and hymnals | Hymnary.org
Rediscovering “A Debtor to Mercy Alone”
Don’t forget the hymns that offer profound and stirring messages modern worshipers desperately need to hear.
Monday, June 7, 2022
By JordnChamblee
Reprinted from American Family Association
There are many good, and even some great, Christian songs being written and produced today. It is easy to get so caught up in the latest releases we forget the rich history modern worship music draws from. Below is part of a series looking back at historic hymns that drew much more than just the voice of the worshipper to heaven. It also directed the worshipper’s heart, mind, and soul to the reality of our holy, infinite, righteous Father.
“A Debtor to Mercy Alone” is a beautifully written declaration of man’s insufficiency and Christ’s power to save, a timeless testimony of the grace of God in the lives of His undeserving children. Written by prolific hymnist and priest Augustus Toplady (1740-1778), this elegant song echoes from the past as a comforting reminder of where Christians must place their trust: in the arms of the almighty Savior, Christ Jesus.
A debtor to mercy alone, of covenant mercy I sing;
Nor fear, with Thy righteousness on, my person and offering to bring.
The terrors of law and of God with me can have nothing to do;
My Savior’s obedience and blood hide all my transgressions from view.
Verse one begins the hymn with a declaration of two things: the helplessness of a sinner, and the salvation found in Christ. The Christian is a debtor only to mercy, the recipient in the covenant of grace written in the blood of Christ. Grace is the environment of the believer. There is no more wrath awaiting him or her at the end of life, only the loving embrace and fellowship of Christ and the saints. The “terrors of law and of God,” the sinner’s expectation of certain destruction, have nothing to do with the Christian. As far as the Christian is concerned, God’s wrath is no more. Christ’s blood and righteousness cover the Christian.
The work, which His goodness began, the arm of His strength will complete;
His promise is Yea and Amen, and never was forfeited yet.
Things future, nor things that are now, nor all things below or above,
Can make Him His purpose forgo, or sever my soul from His love.
Verse two turns from the environment of the Christian’s faith to the object of the Christian’s faith: Christ’s trustworthiness. The fact is that once Christ sets His hand to the plow He will never look back or stop. He will see His mission through to the end. How do we know? Two things: First, Christ already faced hell for the Christian. There is no greater test of His trustworthiness than that. Second, the Christian can never point to a time in their life when Christ did not keep His promises. Like Polycarp said, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury…”
My name from the palms of His hands eternity will not erase;
Impressed on His heart it remains, in marks of indelible grace.
Yes, I to the end shall endure, as sure as the earnest is given;
More happy, but not more secure, the glorified spirits in Heaven.
Verse three moves from the object of faith to the effects of faith: the perseverance of the Christian. Because the Christian’s name and the Christian’s security are firmly etched in the sacred wounds of Christ and were written there by the undying love of God, there is absolutely nothing that could place the Christian back under the tyranny of sin. The Christian cannot be lost because God has put His claim on the Christian. It is indelible. There is no erasing this grace, no changing God’s mind, no plucking the Christian out of the heart of God.
Yes, Christian, you will endure all the way to the end. You may not yet see Christ face to face as your brothers and sisters in glory, but you are no less secure in your position than they are. If your salvation were founded on your works, you would fail. If it were founded on your intentions, you would fail. If it were founded on your best, most selfless acts of worship, you would be headed straight for wrath. But it is founded on the person and character of God Himself. He has saved you, He has borne your sins, and He has claimed you as His own. You bear His name. He will not let you fail.
RELATED:
Hymns Archives – A CROOKED PATH
Hymnary.org: a comprehensive index of hymns and hymnals | Hymnary.org
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