Pastor T.C. Arnold
17th Sunday after Trinity (LWML)
Ephesians 4:1-6
October 4th, 2009
Back in 1772, John Fawcett was pastor in a tiny, destitute town called Wainsgate, Yorkshire in the U.K. That year Fawcett received a Divine Call to serve at a congregation in the bustling city of London. He had preached his farewell sermon, and the family’s belongings had been loaded onto carts, when the time came for the final goodbyes to the congregation. So much emotion was felt and exhibited that Fawcett’s wife finally exclaimed, “Oh, John, John, I cannot bear this! I know not how to go!” Her husband replied, “Nor I either – nor will we go. Unload the wagons!” A letter was immediately dispatched to London, and the family stayed among their beloved friends and parishioners in that town.
The result of this experience for Pastor Fawcett, his family and the congregation in Wainsgate was a hymn. He published this hymn ten years later. It reflects the relationship that Pastor Fawcett had with the parishioners at the congregation he served and especially his Lord. It’s a relationship “bound” by Christian love. You probably know this hymn quite well. It’s called “Blest Be the Tie That Binds.” This hymn captures the unity in Christ’s love that Pastor Fawcett and the congregation in Wainsgate experienced.
If you would, please turn to hymn 649 in your hymnal. We will sing verses 1 and 2 of Blest Be the Tie That Binds. Listen to what “Binds” God’s people together. Especially listen to verse two of the hymn. Let’s sing verses one and two of hymn 649…
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
Before our Father’s throne we pour our ardent prayers; our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares.
“Before our Father’s throne we pour our ardent prayers; our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares.” If we do such things together, we do them based on a faith, one faith, we confess together. We indeed approach our Father’s throne in “one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all in and in all.” Paul would use these words to tell the Church in Ephesus where we stand. In the bond of peace, Paul would say, we stand together, unified. For Paul and for those in Ephesus this is THE model for the church. For Christ Lutheran, this is the model of the church. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bold of peace.” And that UNITY has to be grounded in something. That’s where the “One Lord, One faith, One Baptism…” comes in. It comes in for our ministries here like the LWML and others that take the Word of God to the nations with their efforts and proclamation. How could we be united without believing and trusting in the ONE thing that gives us life? How can we go before our Father’s throne with our ardent prayers – with our fears and our hopes and our aims (as verse two would say) together without Christ as the firm foundation who squashes our fears and builds up our hopes and forms our aims in Him?
You see our fears are the same – much like Paul would say is the foundation of our faith and the church (one Lord, faith, baptism…). We all have fears – both great and small. They may differ but really they are all the same. The root is sin. Our fears expose our lack of trust that God will take care – no matter what. And as Christians we share together in those fears. Take a look at verse three of our hymn (649). Remember, Pastor Fawcett wrote this hymn while being reminded of how God has kept a unifying spirit among a pastor and His people. A unifying spirit would come in good times and in bad. Let’s sing the third verse…
We share our mutual woes, our mutual burdens bear, and often for each other flows the sympathizing tear.
Among Christians we have mutual woes and mutual burdens that we bear. Sometimes this comes in the form of sorrow we experience because we are united in faith like a family. And when a family hurts, we all hurt together. This is where the “sympathizing tear” in the hymn comes in.
On the other hand we understand woes and burdens in another way as well. We know how easy it is to abandon God’s law and fall into the drudges of sin because it “feels” good or because I’m tired of exercising self control. Restraint, doing the right thing, might bring us to the understanding of what a “woe” and a “burden that we bear” together happens to be. It’s hard at times but together we can stand. “One Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all…” Together we stand in faith. Together in our woes and burdens do we promote the bond and unity of peace. Together we stand – unified and building each other up. The bond of peace and unity that Paul emphasizes here is carried by all of us. Grounded in Christ we approach His throne. Grounded in the woes and burdens that come so frequently with life’s mishaps, we seek God’s precious peace – together. Christians were never meant to be lone rangers. Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto.
And even though Pastor John Fawcett never left Wainsgate for London, he still looked forward to a time when he and the people he served would part ways. Perhaps he would take a call to another congregation. Perhaps the people that he served would move. Perhaps death would part them. Let’s sing verses four and five of hymn 649. Pastor Fawcett indeed looks forward to this time when we will part. But there is much better things ahead in the midst of the toil and sorrow that comes from separation. The reason: in Christ we are always one in eternity. Let’s sing verses four and five…
When here our pathways part, we suffer bitter pain; yet, one in Christ and one in heart, we hope to meet again.
From sorrow, toil and pain, and sin we shall be free and perfect love and friendship reign through all eternity.
Years ago, while I was in High School I met a man who attended the college I ended up attending (Concordia University, River Forest) at a visitation weekend. He was a senior and would not be in school the next year when I entered as a freshman. He knew that, and I knew that. So, when we parted ways he said to me, “I will see you later…even if that later means in heaven.”
Our pathways part – in life – and in death. But only for a short while. Pastor Fawcett wrote, “We suffer bitter pain” when this occurs. But there is more our hymn writer gives us. He says, “Yet, one in Christ and one in heart, we hope to meet again.” And in Christ we will meet again. We will meet again in heaven. We morn the loss of our loved ones who have entered into eternity ahead of us. We sometimes morn the loss of our loved ones that move far away. But they are not gone for long. We will see them again. We have that hope in “The Tie That Binds.” The tie that binds us together is Christ. “One Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all…”
The unity in the body of Christ kept a pastor and his people he loved and served together. Sometimes, the unity of the body of Christ sees our pastors or loved ones going to other places. But we are still united as one. So no matter where we go or end up – we are God’s people who proclaim one truth to the world – people who are “in” the world but not “of” the world – together. United we stand – in Christ today and everyday. Blest Be the Tie That Binds. That tie is Jesus. His blood runs from the cross into our lives – no matter where we happen to be.
Amen
The peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.