The Church’s One Foundation

This is a guest post from my husband, Brian. Brian works casual call as a nurse and does the majority of the work involved in taking care of our land and animals. In his free time, Brian enjoys planting trees, building things (like this incredible chicken coop), and singing hymns. We’ve been married for 14 years, and I’m happy to call him my husband.

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Though with a scornful wonder men see her sore oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed,
Yet saints their watch are keeping, their cry goes up, “How long?”
And soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song.

One of the things I really appreciate about hymns is the way they frequently focus on one specific topic. There are hymns that pull together multiple biblical truths about Jesus’ atoning death, or hymns that highlight his birth, God’s saving grace, or his faithfulness. Many are actually little poetic systematic theologies that can help us see a fuller picture of how God has revealed himself over the whole Bible. This hymn paints the wonderful picture of the Church of God, across time and across every nation, saved and kept by Jesus.

There are lots of encouraging truths spread throughout the six verses of this hymn, like Jesus purchasing the church for himself, his keeping of the church, and the church’s final victory and final rest. But I’ve chosen to focus on the 3rd verse, which talks about heresy and schisms and a lament that echoes Psalm 13: “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?” Maybe I just like metaphors about things like night and day, evening and morning, and light and darkness. But, maybe they resonate in me because they’re true. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

I really don’t like winter. I’d much rather be outside planting and working in the soil. But there’s one thing that the awful short days and frozen ground is good for. It makes the warmth and renewal of spring that much sweeter. This hymn gives a similar consideration to the trials the church has gone through here on earth. There really are those who hate her, and desire to see her oppressed and opposed at every opportunity. But God is faithful, and he will sustain his people through all their troubles. We can stand firm in the truth of the scriptures, and one day we will see that blessed morning. 

Christ really does love his church. He gave his life for her. Despite all the trials and tribulations the church may have here on earth, in the end Jesus will make sure that his church stands before himself radiant, holy, spotless, and without blemish. This hymn walks us through many of these truths, and we can be refreshed and comforted by meditating on these things. And we can seek the good of the church, and we should even pray for the church. I know this is likely to be a recurring theme in these mediations, but I love to sing my prayers. So I’ll close with another hymn that offers a prayer for the church:

May she holy triumphs win,
overthrow the hosts of sin,
gather all the nations in:
we beseech thee, hear us.

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God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
He utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of Hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 46:5-7