Reflections on All Saint's Day
Yesterday was the day that the Church celebrates All Saint's Day which (to most modern evangelicals who don't have a clue what this day is) is the day that we celebrate what God has done through the saints of the ages. Contrary to common thought of the church of our day (particularly in America) the church does not just consist of believers that are living now. It is incredibly more than that. The church comprises of every believer that has ever walked this earth, Old and New Testament but it has been put into two categories: The Church Triumphant and the Church Militant. What a wonderful way to look at the church. Those of us here on earth are the church militant and the those who are with Christ are the church triumphant.
However the church of our day does not think this way. The church has purged any type of history from its doors and have basically said, “away with you, you don't know how to live godly.” Don't believe me? Look at our architecture. Churches of the days of old had a cemetery outside their doors. Some you would literally have to walk through the cemetery to get to the church. Why? Because it acts as a reminder (or it should) to those members of that church that this earth is not their home. Those lifeless stones bear the witness of gates of eternity and the second coming Christ. What does the church build now and surround their building with? Billboards and activities and auditorium seating and churches that look more like a mall and on the inside look more like theatre then a church. “We can't have a cemetery near our church, it's too grim, too future. It sure won't help our church growth.” Things like this are the thought processes that dominate American Christianity and sadly it is spreading to the world.
Still don't believe me? How about our speech and I suspect this will hit home a little more than architecture. Have you ever heard, “this is a 1st century church” or “this is a church of the Bible” or other similar saying that have become cliché in too many churches? The fact of the matter is that these statements shows the ignorance and the naivety of the speaker who speaks them. Have I stepped on any toes yet? These statements seem so fresh and enlightening to the congregations of our day however they are quite dangerous. How so? You might ask. Lets start with the first phrase I mentioned, when this statement is uttered, it shows the ignorance of the speaker in that he is dead wrong. The only denomination that comes close to the 1st century church is the Greek orthodox(I am not Greek orthodox, by the way, I am making a point). The rest of the churches that are scattered abroad resemble very little of the 1st century church particularly in the structure of the service. “Wait!” you say. “That person was probably talking about doctrine not the church service.” (A great deal could be said about the church service, but that is for another time.) Then I say he is foolish in thinking that no other part of the church history affirms that which was affirmed in the 1st century. On top of that, once that statement is cited it has just caused a void between the 1st century and the 21st century and in the midst making void all that has taken place in that time period.
How about the second phrase? To which I respond, “As opposed to what? The church of the koran?” I can almost here the words (not spoken but implied), “We're not a church of tradition, nor a church of post-modernism, but we are a church of the Bible!” ...Any particular passage of scripture that comes to mind? 1 Chor. 1:12 comes to mind just with different words. Does this make sense? Can you see the redundant arrogance is these statements. The thing that about these phrases that really irritates me is that they are empty of history. Indeed they encourage a “church” that started in 1950 not a church 2000+ years old. The church did not start in 1950 or 1988 when I was born. The church is a massive structure of history. And indeed we proclaim history, don't we? Is not Christ's death and resurrection historical? (implied yes answer).
So why am I so harsh? I know I stepped on toes in the past paragraphs. The church, now, looks at all the bad things in history (crusades etc.) and says, "they got it wrong, we can do better" and the create a new "church." Foolishness! They are cutting the chord that has given them life. And interestingly enough these churches that do that are doing similar things to what the Roman Catholic Church did a 1000 years ago. We need to acknowledge all of the church. Is God not sovereign? Was not all of church history according to His will? Its amazing how we look at the bad that has happened in the church and we try to disown it. However, we forget how much good that has been brought down through the ages by the church. I think of creeds, catechisms, and the reformation. Does the church realize where it would be if it weren't for the Nicene Creed? Or how about the Creed of Chalcedon? The answer is...we would be indeed be pagan! For these Creeds holds up the essentials to the Gospel! We need to careful how we use our speech. It effects how we think. By voiding any part of church history, you have taken on the responsibility of the church of that time. You are basically questioning God's sovereignty over the church and saying that He made a mistake. Be careful! Instead of disowning, let us learn from history.
“Aren't you focusing a lot on the church? Shouldn't you be focused on Christ more?” Some might abject. I concerned with the church because of the value of the church. Too many modern theologies have have made the church a cheap little oops that God made 2000 years. “Israel is the true people that God values.” Not so! The Church, which is of every tongue and tribe and nation, is God's most valued “possession” here on this earth. Why? Because of the message that which the church is a stewardship of is incalculably valuable. The Church is the bride of Christ. This something that you shouldn't get a big head about. Instead, your heart should overflow with gratitude that God would include you in this glorious thing through the ages called “The Church.” May the Church proclaim the wondrous message the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
For All the Saints:
For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
For the Apostles’ glorious company,
Who bearing forth the Cross o’er land and sea,
Shook all the mighty world, we sing to Thee:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
For the Evangelists, by whose blest word,
Like fourfold streams, the garden of the Lord,
Is fair and fruitful, be Thy Name adored.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
For Martyrs, who with rapture kindled eye,
Saw the bright crown descending from the sky,
And seeing, grasped it, Thee we glorify.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
All are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
And singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
