WARNING
PREACHY
In 1994 I
attended a Promise Keepers’ event in Keswick, New Jersey. The Promise Keepers was a men’s event calling
on men to live with integrity in their Christian lives. I had been a Christian just a few months and
the Promise Keepers were in their infancy of formation. While the Promise Keepers’ events would
eventually reach the size of hosting tens of thousands of men this particular
event in Keswick hosted just 1100 men.
The event began with singing the first song O For a Thousand Tongues to
Sing. I remember it being a surreal
feeling to be among 1000 men who all considered Jesus Lord as they sang with
great voices in His honor.
To them God has
chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you [Greek
Plural – you-all], the hope of glory.
(Colossians 1:27)
During
this time of my life I was discovering a world that was previously unreal to me,
a spiritual reality that connected this familiar physical world and connected
it to a mystical one that was not previously visible to me without the baptized
eyes of faith. And to hear the voices of
1000 like-minded men in praise for this Jesus was exhilarating to me. Their voices confirmed to me that I was not
alone in my faith and gave me encouragement to continue on with my new life’s spiritual-discovery.
In O For a
Thousand Tongues to Sing is the line “His blood availed for me.”
Up to this
point my focus had been on myself and how when Jesus died on the cross he did so
specifically for ME but in singing this song with 1000 other tongues I
recognized that Jesus died not for me specifically but for WE specifically. For this song helped me to realize the
community of believers, the Church, and the great mystery is that Jesus’ blood availed
for WE. Sure, human bickering, politics,
power plays, and egos exist in the church but that’s because the church is comprised
of us humans. However, the fact is the
blood that Jesus poured out on the cross defeated sin for the world and I was simply
and graciously invited into the community of those who worship this Jesus.
I think
this is why I appreciate the a‘Capella worship of the Churches of Christ over
the modern idea of worship with today’s praise bands; The one allows me to hear
and feel the force of the WE while the other seems to drown out all but the ME.
Either way,
though, a thousand voices giving honor to the man who sacrificed himself for us
all is a mighty powerful thing. If you
haven’t you should take some time and consider Him today.
---
O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!
My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread through all the earth abroad
the honors of thy name.
Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease;
'tis music in the sinner's ears,
'tis life, and health, and peace.
He breaks the power of canceled sin,
he sets the prisoner free;
his blood can make the foulest clean;
his blood availed for me.
He speaks, and listening to his voice,
new life the dead receive;
the mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
the humble poor believe.
Hear him, ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb,
your loosened tongues employ;
ye blind, behold your savior come,
and leap, ye lame, for joy.
In Christ, your head, you then shall know,
shall feel your sins forgiven;
anticipate your heaven below,
and own that love is heaven.
