Squeeze That Hymnal

I’m actually a pretty emotional guy…inside. Outward expression…not so much. Maybe that’s why I have never been a big fan of what some might call 7-11 praise and worship songs in church. You know, those songs that have about seven words that are sung repeatedly about eleven times. They have always seemed to me to be, at least partly, a method to build up an emotional response. I’m more of an traditional hymn type of guy. You know…four verses of meaningful thoughtful expression punctuated by a catchy chorus. 

 

Neither am I one to throw my hands up high during a song to indicate that I can sense the Holy Spirit. I’m much more subtle. It used to be that I would squeeze my hymnal; a really tight squeeze, as my muted outward expression. But, in the post hymnal age, when lyrics are now only up on a huge video screen, that option is not available.  (I also miss having the written music notes that I could try…most often unsuccessfully…to match with my limited vocal range.)  With no hymnals available, I rather unconsciously have resorted to an almost natural clasping of my hands in front of me during those most moving moments.

 

My experience with emotional responses to the gospel during my early teen years did not fill the void in my life. And I probably reacted negatively to that. It was only in my late twenties, when I made a more thoughtful and well-reasoned, well-grounded commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, that my faith took the lead in my life.

 

Don’t get me wrong…I am in no way criticizing the current trends in praise and worship music, or those fine people who feel led to express their worship experience through more extreme vocal and physical gestures. They probably have it more right than I do. I’m still working out how to present myself as a living sacrifice as my true worship…as I am told in Romans 12.

 

I do believe that many people have experiences during a worship service where this promise is fulfilled for them…” The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are children of God.” Romans 8:16 ESV

 

And I have grown to sense some satisfaction with my expressions of faith through singing many of the current praise songs. In fact, one in particular, has really helped me to recognize the witness of the Holy Spirit as expressed in Roman 8:16.

 

IN CHRIST ALONE written by Keith Getty includes this phrase…” No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me.”

So True. Christ has taken on our guilt…we bear it no more. Christ has conquered death, and we no longer need to fear it because we have eternal life with Him. This is the power of joining our lives with Christ. 

 

I have experienced this! I can testify that, although I have done plenty that once caused me great guilt, I have been released from the guilt that overshadowed my heart and mind.  And as I face my late seventies, much nearer to death that I care to acknowledge, I am not fearful. I don’t want to die…but I am not fearful of dying. I have a confident assurance that I will spend eternity in a much better existence. This is a mighty power…all because Christ is in me.

 

I have full confidence that The Holy Spirit is assuring me, beyond any doubt, that I am a child of God…as promised in Romans 8…by erasing my guilt, even any feelings of guilt, and by removing all fear of what is the certain death that I will face.

 

Have you experienced this as a witness of the Holy Spirit in your life?

 

“No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me.”

“and by this the Holy Spirit bears witness to our spirit that we are children of God. “ Romans 8:16 ESV

Thank you for those words, Keith Getty; thank you for the promise in your inspired letter to the Roman church, Paul. Thank you, Jesus, for your redeeming work and your power!

 

I really wish I had a hymnal that I could squeeze right now.