On October =
31st, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door at =
Wittenberg cathedral protesting the excesses of the Catholic church of =
his day. One of the most important (and often overlooked) results =
of the impetus of the Protestant Reformation started that day was the =
reemergence of congregational hymn singing.
For over 1000 =
years, the common people were prohibited from singing in church. Only =
the clergy and professional singers could do this. The music was always =
sung in Latin; never in the vernacular language that the common people =
could understand. The contributions of Martin Luther and his followers =
in producing new hymn tunes and texts cannot be overstated. The German =
chorale hymns revolutionized classical music and gave rise to later =
composers such as J.S. Bach.
But Martin =
Luther and his 1534 famous hymn “A Mighty Fortress is our =
God” was not the first congregational hymn. That distinction =
belongs to the Moravians of Central Europe. These followers of the =
martyred reformer John Hus pre-dated the budding Reformation by 70 =
years! They were founded in 1457, with their first hymnal produced in =
1501.
In our =
retirement after 50+ years of pastoral ministry, we now live in a =
Moravian Village in Wisconsin designed to facilitate and meet needs of =
the older population. Our home is on the corner of Hus Drive, on the =
block with Johan Comenius Court and a block from Zinzendorf Hall. =
(We remain reformed Baptists and balk at calling myself or Teresa =
“elderly”, but are thankful for the social vision of the =
Moravian). A way to show Christian love is to help those in need . =
. . and that surely is us right now!!
Today we =
maintain the links in the chain to the great heritage of the Reformation =
era in the songs of great men. They kept the fires of the Reformation =
burning (and doctrinal clarification continuing) for 200 years as =
changes swept the Old and New Worlds in the era of AD =
1500-1700.
“All =
People That on Earth Do Dwell” by William Kethe =
(1540)
All people =
that on earth do dwell,
sing to the LORD with cheerful =
voice.
Serve Him with joy, His praises tell,
come now before Him =
and rejoice!
Know that the =
LORD is God indeed;
He formed us all without our aid.
We are the =
flock He surely feeds,
the sheep who by His hand were =
made.
O enter then =
His gates with joy,
within His courts His praise proclaim!
Let =
thankful songs your tongues employ.
O bless and magnify His =
name!
Because the =
LORD our God is good,
His mercy is forever sure.
His faithfulness =
at all times stood
and shall from age to age =
endure.
“Hymn =
for the Lord’s Day” by John Calvin =
(1545)
I greet Thee, =
who my sure Redeemer art,
My only trust and Savior of my =
heart;
Who pain didst undergo for my poor sake;
I pray Thee =
from our hearts all cares to take.
Thou art the =
King of mercy and of grace,
Reigning omnipotent in every =
place;
So come, O King, and our whole being sway;
Shine on =
us with the light of Thy pure day.
Thou art the =
life, by which alone we live,
And all our substance and our strength =
receive;
Sustain us by Thy faith and by Thy power,
And give us =
strength in every trying hour.
Thou hast the =
true and perfect gentleness,
No harshness hast Thou and no =
bitterness;
O grant to us the grace we find in Thee,
That we may =
dwell in perfect unity.
Our hope is in =
no other save in Thee;
Our faith is built upon Thy promise =
free;
Lord, give us peace, and make us calm and sure,
That in Thy =
strength we evermore endure.
~~
Dr Bob Griffin =
[email protected] =
www.grif.net
"Jesus =
Knows Me, This I Love!"