An Encouraging Hymn for the Lord’s Day
UPDATE Sept 2021: I have come to believe that Jeff Crippen does not practise what he preaches. He vilely persecuted an abuse victim and spiritually abused many other people in the Tillamook congregation. Go here to read the evidence. Jeff has not gone to the people that he spiritually and emotionally abused. He has not apologised to them, let alone asked for their forgiveness.
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I especially like the fourth verse of this hymn (Though with a scornful wonder….). All of us need to remember the truth that it states. Even though we are all right in the middle of exposing so much evil in the “church,” we have this great confidence. How long?
Not long….Not long at all.
The Church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.
From heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her
And for her life He died.
She is from every 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 every grace endued.
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.
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!
’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.
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.
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!
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- Posted in: Christianity
- Tagged: Christian maturity, false teachers, hope, justice, songs
I sang this in my mind as I read it. I love this:
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!
Notice that the words say, “men see her (the Church) sore oppressed.” This is very different, than what is happening among the victims of abuse. The “c”hurch is oppressing the very people it is called to help. But in turn, it leaves the true Church rent by schisms and the heresies that false shepherds are bringing the true Church under.
The true Church itself, will never leave anyone oppressed, if it is the true Church working and not just arrogant men, disguising themselves in that clothing, as Ps. Crippen says, “a wolf in wool”. As the true Saints keep watch, but remain helpless in so many ways, because there are so many walls that have been built in and around the Church that need to be brought down, I find that reminding myself that God wins, no matter what, to be a comfort. I am also looking forward to the battle to reclaim the true Church of God, and to watching those walls of “Oppression” come tumbling down. It will be quite a day, when women can walk in and be heard and believed and helped, and in the name of God, released from shame and abuse, God’s way.
I love this song and this is my favorite verse of them all.
What does the ‘pale’ mean in this verse? The best explanation I could find online here [Internet Archive link] says:
So the pale is the area that is enclosed and safe. But as the hymn-writer says, there are false sons in the church’s pale, which means it is not a completely safe area. False sons in the pale, wolves in sheep’s clothing, false shepherds, false teachers:
Anonymous commented “……..As the true Saints keep watch, but remain helpless in so many ways, because there are so many walls that have been built in and around the Church that need to be brought down, I find that reminding myself that God wins, no matter what, to be a comfort. I am also looking forward to the battle to reclaim the true Church of God, and to watching those walls of “Oppression” come tumbling down. It will be quite a day, when women can walk in and be heard and believed and helped, and in the name of God, released from shame and abuse, God’s way.”
and
Barb quoted (Jude 1:4-23, ESV)
Revelation 3:7-13 New Matthew Bible (NMB)
7 And write to the tidings-bringer of the congregation of Philadelphia: This says he that is holy and true, who has the key of David – who opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens. 8 I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it. For you have a little strength, and have kept my sayings, and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I make those of the congregation of Satan – who call themselves Jews, and are not, but do lie – behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I love you.
10 Because you have kept the words of my patience, therefore I will keep you from the hour of adversity that will come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come shortly. Hold that which you have, so that no one may take away your crown. 12 Him who overcomes, I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out no more. And I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God. And I will write upon him my new name. 13 Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit says to the congregations.
^That.