I’m almost positive I didn’t steal it. I’m sure I asked permission. When I was pastor of Indian Hills Baptist Church back in the 90’s, I found an old box of Broadman Hymnals (1949) underneath the baptistery. We sang from the old hymnal every Sunday night there that summer. Every church I’ve ever been in has a box of old hymnals stashed somewhere, usually right next to the old study course books. If you remember those, you’re probably old like me and a long time Southern Baptist, like me. When I was growing up, we sang out of the 1956 Baptist Hymnal. But even back then, I remember being fascinated by the Broadman Hymnal. I bet we could recycle some of those grand old songs and people would think we were singing contemporary Christian music. (Some might even complain!)

Okay, so I kept one out of the dusty box. It says on the inside cover, “Silver Heights Baptist Church,” the original name of Indian Hills Baptist. But I know I told someone at the time. I’m positive. Almost.

Perusing the missionary hymns, I was struck by the positive, hopeful outlook on world evangelization. This is a holdover from the attitude of the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. And it is a stunning contrast of the pessimistic spirit of the last half of the 20th and first decade of the 21st centuries. From the 1730s to the 1850s, America experienced wave after wave of Revival and Spiritual Awakening. That affected their attitude toward the success of the Gospel. They actually expected the fulfillment of the Great Commission, as if Jesus were serious about it and the Church capable of it!

That hopeful anticipation began to disintegrate after two world wars, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the moral and spiritual degeneration of the United States and Western Europe. Our theology changed to suit the times. We no longer anticipate even the possibility of better days, much less the “latter day glory of the Church” as the old folks used to call it. Our beliefs became as negative as the reality around us.

But since when has the Word of God and the glorious promises therein been regulated by the world’s conditions? In actuality, in the Scriptures, it is in the worst of times that the fulfillment of the promises breaks forth. When Christians have said, “It’s never been this bad before,” (although that’s simply not true), that’s often the time when the Spirit of God is poured out afresh. Now I have no desire to mess up your eschatology (doctrine of the last days.) But the current thought today is pretty negative. It has not always been that way. For instance:

Jesus shall reign wher-e’er the sun does his successive journeys run;
His kingdom spread from shore to shore, till moons shall wax and wane no more.
From north to south the princes meet to pay their homage at His feet;
While western empires own their Lord and savage tribes attend His Word.
To Him shall endless prayer be made, and endless praises crown His head;
His name like sweet perfume shall rise with every morning sacrifice.
People and realms of every tongue dwell on His love with sweetest song,
And infant voices shall proclaim their earthly blessings on His name.
–Isaac Watts

I choose to be hopeful about God’s mission on Planet Earth. ALL the families of the Earth shall be blessed. We do not believe in Universalism, that everyone will be saved; but we preach a universal Gospel that will successfully be propagated until the knowledge and the glory of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.
(to be continued)

In the love of Christ,
Dan