I'm sure we all have one or two Christmas carols that we'd like to throw out of the Christmas carol canon. My picks are "O Holy Night," "Angels We Have Heard On High," and "The Little Drummer Boy." I'm sure we also have a couple of Christmas carols we'd like to sing more often during December. I propose that we add Charles Wesley's Let Earth and Heaven Combine to the list.
I've always loved the line "veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail the incarnate Deity" in Wesley's Hark the Herald Angels Sing, so I was very excited to discover that Wesley wrote an entire hymn about the incarnation. The melody needs some work, but the lyrics are stellar.
So, enjoy this great hymn and let me know what other carols you think should be thrown out or added to the canon.
Let earth and Heaven combine,
Angels and men agree,
To praise in songs divine
The incarnate Deity,
Our God contracted to a span,
Incomprehensibly made Man.
He laid His glory by,
He wrapped Him in our clay;
Unmarked by human eye,
The latent Godhead lay;
Infant of days He here became,
And bore the mild Immanuel’s Name.
See in that Infant’s face
The depths of deity,
And labor while ye gaze
To sound the mystery
In vain; ye angels gaze no more,
But fall, and silently adore.
Unsearchable the love
That hath the Savior brought;
The grace is far above
Of men or angels’ thought:
Suffice for us that God, we know,
Our God, is manifest below.
He deigns in flesh t’appear,
Widest extremes to join;
To bring our vileness near,
And make us all divine:
And we the life of God shall know,
For God is manifest below.
Made perfect first in love,
And sanctified by grace,
We shall from earth remove,
And see His glorious face:
His love shall then be fully showed,
And man shall all be lost in God.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Merry Christmas, Cows of Bashan!
Thanksgiving is over and we've officially entered the season of peace, love, and excess! Now, don't get me wrong. I absolutely love Christmas shopping. I love going into the city on a cold, crisp night and sipping my hot chocolate as I decide which store to visit next. I love finding a gift that a friend would never buy for herself, but will end up using everyday. I love hearing the Nordstrom pianist play Christmas carols (granted, this is the ONLY store where I like to hear Christmas music.) I love bringing all my gifts home and choosing the perfect wrapping paper for each one. But each year I happily spend money on my family and friends without giving the slightest thought to the poor in my community.
So I started thinking about the prophet Amos and what he might say about how I celebrate Christmas. The book of Amos is decidedly un-Christmasy, but I think it has some helpful ideas to chew on while I'm battling the crowds at the Gap.
Amos was written to the Northern Kingdom of Israel between 790 and 753 BC during the reign of Jereboam II. This was Israel's "Silver Age," a time of great peace and prosperity. The major world power of Assyria was experiencing a temporary decline and didn't present a great threat, the Arameans were fighting a civil war, and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah were actually getting along. Israel's territory expanded, trade and commerce increased and a small and affluent upper class thrived.
Sadly, this prosperity was accompanied by great sins against the poor. Amos 4:1 speaks to the wealthy women of Israel and says, "Hear this word, you cows of Bashan who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy." 5:11 states that the wealthy “impose heavy rent on the poor” and 5:12 says, "they turn aside the poor in the gate." 8:5 –6 describes how dealers cheated the poor and sold “the refuse of the wheat” and thus “trample the needy.” 2:8 states that "on garments taken as pledges they stretch out beside every altar." God's law said that if you lent widows money, you could not take their coats as a pledge. (Deuteronomy 24:17) This protected the poor, who would only have one coat and needed it to keep them warm at night.
Amos goes on to explain that this gross neglect and oppression of the poor (as well as pagan religious practices and overall lack of respect for God's law) will result in judgement for Israel. And in about 722 BC, Israel was conquered by the Assyrians.
Amos reveals how deeply God cares for the poor and wants us to show compassion to those who are in need. While I'm not stealing people's coats or imposing unfair rent, I'm a bit disturbed at the amount of time and energy I spend helping the poor at Christmas time compared to the time and energy I spend looking for rainbow knee socks (which would actually be really cool . . .)
I don't think I need to give up buying gifts for family and friends, but I do think I need to be a bit more balanced and look for ways I can help those in need as well.
Here are a couple of nifty ideas I found:
1. Samaritan's Purse has a Christmas gift catalogue chock full of things you can give to people all over the world. For $4 you can give a baby milk for a week. You can also give a family a water filter so they can have clean water to drink, give blankets to little kids, provide temporary shelter for victims of natural disasters and more. Check out the Samaritan's Purse website at www.samaritanspurse.com.
2. Compassion International is an awesome organization that helps people sponsor kids in need all over the world. You can also make one time donations to provide Christmas gifts, help unsponsored children, aid victims of disasters and more. Make donations at https://www.compassion.com/contribution/default.htm.
3. Talk with your local Salvation Army or homeless shelter and see if you can buy gifts for any of the kids staying there.
So I started thinking about the prophet Amos and what he might say about how I celebrate Christmas. The book of Amos is decidedly un-Christmasy, but I think it has some helpful ideas to chew on while I'm battling the crowds at the Gap.
Amos was written to the Northern Kingdom of Israel between 790 and 753 BC during the reign of Jereboam II. This was Israel's "Silver Age," a time of great peace and prosperity. The major world power of Assyria was experiencing a temporary decline and didn't present a great threat, the Arameans were fighting a civil war, and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah were actually getting along. Israel's territory expanded, trade and commerce increased and a small and affluent upper class thrived.
Sadly, this prosperity was accompanied by great sins against the poor. Amos 4:1 speaks to the wealthy women of Israel and says, "Hear this word, you cows of Bashan who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy." 5:11 states that the wealthy “impose heavy rent on the poor” and 5:12 says, "they turn aside the poor in the gate." 8:5 –6 describes how dealers cheated the poor and sold “the refuse of the wheat” and thus “trample the needy.” 2:8 states that "on garments taken as pledges they stretch out beside every altar." God's law said that if you lent widows money, you could not take their coats as a pledge. (Deuteronomy 24:17) This protected the poor, who would only have one coat and needed it to keep them warm at night.
Amos goes on to explain that this gross neglect and oppression of the poor (as well as pagan religious practices and overall lack of respect for God's law) will result in judgement for Israel. And in about 722 BC, Israel was conquered by the Assyrians.
Amos reveals how deeply God cares for the poor and wants us to show compassion to those who are in need. While I'm not stealing people's coats or imposing unfair rent, I'm a bit disturbed at the amount of time and energy I spend helping the poor at Christmas time compared to the time and energy I spend looking for rainbow knee socks (which would actually be really cool . . .)
I don't think I need to give up buying gifts for family and friends, but I do think I need to be a bit more balanced and look for ways I can help those in need as well.
Here are a couple of nifty ideas I found:
1. Samaritan's Purse has a Christmas gift catalogue chock full of things you can give to people all over the world. For $4 you can give a baby milk for a week. You can also give a family a water filter so they can have clean water to drink, give blankets to little kids, provide temporary shelter for victims of natural disasters and more. Check out the Samaritan's Purse website at www.samaritanspurse.com.
2. Compassion International is an awesome organization that helps people sponsor kids in need all over the world. You can also make one time donations to provide Christmas gifts, help unsponsored children, aid victims of disasters and more. Make donations at https://www.compassion.com/contribution/default.htm.
3. Talk with your local Salvation Army or homeless shelter and see if you can buy gifts for any of the kids staying there.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Another Wesley Wednesday
It's Wednesday again and time for another great Wesley hymn. Since the first Sunday of Advent is merely a week and a half away, I think it's time to break out the Christmas carols! (Of course, I'm ready to break out the Christmas carols in June.) Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus is not only a very appropriate song for the season of Advent, it's also one of my favorite carols of all time.
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Welcome to Wesley Wednesdays!
Given my love of alliteration and Charles Wesley, I've decided to post the lyrics to a different Wesley hymn each Wednesday. This week it's the incredible Arise, My Soul, Arise.
Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears:
Before the throne my surety stands,
Before the throne my surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.
He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead:
His blood atoned for all our race,
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.
Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”
The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away, the presence of His Son;
His Spirit answers to the blood,
His Spirit answers to the blood,
And tells me I am born of God.
My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.
Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears:
Before the throne my surety stands,
Before the throne my surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.
He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead:
His blood atoned for all our race,
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.
Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”
The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away, the presence of His Son;
His Spirit answers to the blood,
His Spirit answers to the blood,
And tells me I am born of God.
My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Was Karl Marx Right? or Say No to Drugs and Yes to Reading Your Bible
So in the midst of pondering the "are women more easily deceived" question (which I'll continue to address in future posts), I started thinking about Karl Marx and his claim that religion is the opiate of the masses. What Marx actually said in his Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right is:
"Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is required for their real happiness. The demand to give up the illusion about its condition is the demand to give up a condition which needs illusions."
It seems that Marx was arguing that the world's economic situation was so painful that people needed the drug of religion to provide both relief and a hope of happiness in the next life. If the root economic causes of people's pain and suffering were dealt with, people would no longer need religion.
While I heartily disagree that Christianity is designed to keep people numb to the realities of the world, I wonder if Christians hold some beliefs that serve as an opiate. These are beliefs that lack a biblical foundation but are commonly considered to be "Christian." We cling to these ideas not because they are true and scriptural, but rather because they make us feel good about ourselves and our choices.
One opiate that I think is currently popular among Christians is the idea that Christians have no power over sin. We love Romans 7:22-24 where Paul says, "For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?"
We read this and think, "Paul has completely captured the Christian experience! Even though I want to follow God, I continually fall into sin. I guess this is just something I'll have to deal with until I get to heaven." This makes us feel so much better about ourselves! I mean, if the apostle Paul didn't really have power over sin, there's no way we non-apostles can have any hope of conquering it. There's no need to worry about diligently addressing areas of sin in our lives, because we'll never really defeat sin this side of heaven.
Although this line of thinking may make us feel better about sinning, it's tough to reconcile it with Scripture. Romans 6:5-7 is pretty clear, "For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin." The New Testament is chock full of admonitions to follow Christ and conquer sin through the power of the Holy Spirit. And when read in context with chapters 6-8, I think Romans 7 actually supports the idea that Christians have power over sin.
This is just one opiate that I thought about, but I know there are many more and I'd like to get your thoughts. What do you think are some common opiates that are plaguing Christianity? And how do you think the church can become drug free? I'd love to read what you have to say.
In the meantime, I'm off to overthrow the bourgeoisie. Just kidding.
"Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is required for their real happiness. The demand to give up the illusion about its condition is the demand to give up a condition which needs illusions."
It seems that Marx was arguing that the world's economic situation was so painful that people needed the drug of religion to provide both relief and a hope of happiness in the next life. If the root economic causes of people's pain and suffering were dealt with, people would no longer need religion.
While I heartily disagree that Christianity is designed to keep people numb to the realities of the world, I wonder if Christians hold some beliefs that serve as an opiate. These are beliefs that lack a biblical foundation but are commonly considered to be "Christian." We cling to these ideas not because they are true and scriptural, but rather because they make us feel good about ourselves and our choices.
One opiate that I think is currently popular among Christians is the idea that Christians have no power over sin. We love Romans 7:22-24 where Paul says, "For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?"
We read this and think, "Paul has completely captured the Christian experience! Even though I want to follow God, I continually fall into sin. I guess this is just something I'll have to deal with until I get to heaven." This makes us feel so much better about ourselves! I mean, if the apostle Paul didn't really have power over sin, there's no way we non-apostles can have any hope of conquering it. There's no need to worry about diligently addressing areas of sin in our lives, because we'll never really defeat sin this side of heaven.
Although this line of thinking may make us feel better about sinning, it's tough to reconcile it with Scripture. Romans 6:5-7 is pretty clear, "For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin." The New Testament is chock full of admonitions to follow Christ and conquer sin through the power of the Holy Spirit. And when read in context with chapters 6-8, I think Romans 7 actually supports the idea that Christians have power over sin.
This is just one opiate that I thought about, but I know there are many more and I'd like to get your thoughts. What do you think are some common opiates that are plaguing Christianity? And how do you think the church can become drug free? I'd love to read what you have to say.
In the meantime, I'm off to overthrow the bourgeoisie. Just kidding.
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