Carrying the Flag

I generally save my sport-watching time for play-offs or championship games.  Why bother with run of the mill regular season games where the stakes are relatively low and players have less motivation?   I want to see athletes playing their hardest, taking the biggest risks, reaping the greatest rewards.  Perhaps, that's why I love the Summer Olympics so much.  Once every four years, the athletes that have sacrificed the most, disciplined themselves the hardest, and dedicated themselves the most fully to their sport get to compete--not against the best athletes in their region or even their  country--but the best athletes in the world.

The Olympics bring vivid life to many of the sports metaphors that the New Testament is replete with (grab your concordance and do a study on "running," "race," "wrestling," or "winning a crown" for example).  This year, as I watched the opening ceremonies, I became aware of another metaphor.  In the Parade of Nations, athletes (or "delegates" as they are referred to in the opening ceremony) stream into the stadium behind the flag of their nation, wearing their national colors, or traditional cultural clothing.  Some of the delegates are stoic and somber.  Some are dumbstruck with awe, as it sinks in, for the first time, how many people are watching them.  Some cannot contain their joy and sense of national pride and weep even while they laugh. 

I watched with pride as the U.S. team strolled down the track, a massive crowd of more than 500 athletes dressed in matching suits and berets.  But what really stuck with me was the number of countries where only a handful of delegates--occasionally only one delegate represented his or her nation.  I remember one lone man, from some tiny island nation that has escaped my memory beaming proudly as he bore the flag of his country before the world.  He was all alone.  No one knew his name.  He won't return with a medal (or probably even qualify to compete for a medal) but he knew that he alone was representing his nation to a watching world, and he took that responsibility seriously.

How often do I stop to think that Christ has chosen me as a delegate to the world.  I represent the kingdom of God to the entire world that is watching as I carry the flag of Christ.  Do I take that responsibility with the humility, seriousness, and joy that it demands?  I praise the Lord that I am not the only delegate of that far country, but what if I was?  What would people think of the kingdom I represent, and the King I love.  I think of countless passages that encourage and challenge us with the role of being a flag bearer of Christ's kingdom:

-"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors . . ." 2 Corinthians 5:20

-"Thanks be to God who leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him."  2 Corinthians 2:14

-"[Be] children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life."  Philippians 2:14-15

-"Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."  Matthew 5:16

May you bear the flag with joy and honor!

Hymns

". . . addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart . . ." Ephesians 5:19

I must confess that for the majority of my life, I associated hymns with a musty and dying (if not dead) breed of Christianity.  The outdated words ("Thee and Thou") seemed pretentious, and the melodies laboriously complex.  I was proud to be a part of a generation that was finally casting off the baggage and constraints of "traditional Christianity" in favor of a fresher and more culturally relevant expression of faith.

I've come to see over the past few years, however, that a particular genre or form of music is not the problem.  It is just as possible for a cold dead form of Christianity to pipe out pop or rock flavored worship music as it is for it to pipe out hymns-- and it is just as possible for me to mumble mindless and distracted through a Chris Tomlin chorus as it is for me to fake my way through a Martin Luther hymn. 

Paul's description of a life filled with the Holy Spirit (in the above verse) actually paints a picture of a heart filled with all kinds of songs of praise (psalms, hymns, spiritual songs), sung corporately (to "one another") and privately ("with your heart").  A heart under the influence of the Holy Spirit is a heart ready to grab onto any available melody and make it a passionate expression of love, awe, and honor to the Lord.

I've been trained to do this with contemporary Christian worship music, but I find myself increasingly drawn to worship in traditional hymns as well.  The "wordiness" of many hymns allows for the exposition of deep theological truths which I seldom take the time to sit down and meditate on.  As I am taught and reminded of these truths (things like the Incarnation, and substitutionary atonement) I am drawn to worship God in response.

This morning, I was listening to a hymn written by Phillip Paul Bliss in the 1800s (pictured above).  It is a simple prayer which gives voice to the longings within me, and builds a structure for me to hang the desires of my heart on.  It is titled, simply:  "My Prayer."

More holiness give me, more strivings within.
More patience in suffering, more sorrow for sin.
More faith in my Savior, more sense of His care.
More joy in His service, more purpose in prayer.

More gratitude give me, more trust in the Lord.
More zeal for His glory, more hope in His Word.
More tears for His sorrows, more pain at His grief.
More meekness in trial, more praise for relief.

More purity give me, more strength to o’ercome,
More freedom from earth-stains, more longings for home.
More fit for the kingdom, more useful I’d be,
More blessèd and holy, more, Savior, like Thee.

If you'd like to get a good sampling of hymns which I have found to be helpful in personal worship, consider downloading "Eclectic Hymns" by Jacey Davison.  It's not a big budget recording from a well-known artist, but it remains true to the ancient lyrics and melodies of it's hymns while adding fresh instrumentation, and some of the most earnest and sincere vocals I've heard.  Best of all, its free.  You can get it at:  http://noisetrade.com/eclectichymns

May you find joy in worshipping your Maker and Redeemer this week (no matter what kind of music is playing)!