AN HOUR CHOOSING HYMNS
A well-known preacher recently wrote that he had spent nearly an hour looking for hymns to fit the theme of the next Sunday's sermon. He said his task was made more difficult because the hymnal was "modern fifty years ago." Apparently he had a cultivated taste for hymns, for he disliked "solemn ditties" about religion, or about our tasks, or the state of the world. Then he added that if a hymn was not an address to his Redeemer, a prayer to God, or praise to his Creator, and Lord, he felt it better to be silent.
These are high standards, and if we could all develop higher standards in our choice of hymns and of sacred music in general, we would soon have better hymns than appear in some books. Our own Church Hymnal offers a varied selection, though everybody's favorites may not be there. If we would choose carefully, so that congregational singing tied into the sermon theme, how much more effective our ministerial objectives for each service would be.
It is not good enough to choose any kind of hymn, so long as it is a hymn. It is not the best practice to leave the hymn selection to others, and it is somewhat dilatory to rush into the vestry to choose hymns a few minutes before the service begins.
What telling effect is produced, after a sermon on saving grace through the blessed name of Jesus, to have the congregation sing anew the sermon theme in Charles Wesley's immortal words:
"O for a thousand tongues, to sing
My great Redeemer's praise!
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace."
H. W. L.
SOUL-WINNING LAYMEN
How thankful we ought to be that God is impressing many laymen to put their time, their money, and their skills into the winning of souls. Their projects may be imperfectly organized; they may have flaws. Laymen may say the wrong thing at times. But the steady tread of souls walking toward the kingdom as a result of the work of these faithful members is a clear indication that the Spirit of God is leading.
When we are really in earnest about finishing the work of God we will become less exclusive in our thinking. We will be less concerned whether a project is a part of our particular department or carried on according to the particular plan we may have outlined, but we shall rejoice that the work is being done.
The day is past when we can hope to finish the work through any one channel, and our hearts are warmed when we see the grace of God flowing unhindered through the laymen.
There will be mistakes. There may be extremes here and there. But let us work happily together, praying that we, with them, may become tactful and loving winners of men and women for God.
"The workers will be surprised by the simple means that He will use to bring about and perfect His work of righteousness. Those who are accounted good workers will need to draw nigh to God, they will need the divine touch. They will need to drink more deeply and continuously at the fountain of living water, in order that they may discern God's work at every point. Workers may make mistakes, but you should give them a chance to correct their errors, give them an opportunity to learn caution, by leaving the work in their hands."—Testimonies to Ministers, p. 300.
W. S.
"NARCISSISTIC PREOCCUPATION"
This big word, narcissistic, occurred in The Christian Century, September 13, 1961, in a sad paragraph headed "Missions on the Wane."
Narcissus was the mythological youth who fell so much in love with his own reflection in a pool of water that he was changed into a flower—the narcissus.
The author of the paragraph says that Protestants in the United States and Canada gave a pittance of $2.75 per member to overseas missions, and, if we subtract the contributions of Seventh-day Adventists, who average S28.00 per member, and the Evangelical Free Church with an average per member of $14.40, then "the general average of the major Protestant denominations sinks far below $2.75 per member."
He then avers that "for the first time in its history Christianity is a waning religious movement, still growing, but far outdistanced by the rapid growth in the world's population."
Then comes his crushingly true conclusion: "It can be safely if dolefully predicted that this trend will not be reversed by a church which in its narcissistic preoccupation with itself has forgotten the Great Commission."
It would save us from pettifogging puerilities and from loving our own likenesses if we could all be consumed with the divine urge to live and to give the message of redeeming love to the increasing millions of the unsaved.
H. W. L.