This morning I was singing The Church’s One Foundation, contemplating how I really liked the words.
Though with a scornful wonder Men see her sore oppressed, By schisms rent asunder, By heresies distressed: I’d just gotten that far when I heard the sounds of some loud disagreement emanating from downstairs. I didn’t want to deal with it. I was thinking about the problems in the church. Theological problems, practical problems, attitude problems, problems that I don’t think I can fix. Sometimes the children’s disagreements are way too complicated for me to untangle; there’s not much I can do about bigger problems. So I was waiting for the next line– Yet saints their watch are keeping, Their cry goes up, “How long?” How long? How long before someone does fix the problem? How long can it go on like this before it gets even worse? Does it have to get worse before it gets better? Second question: How long before the argument downstairs exploded irreparably? I called the children upstairs, and gave them the spiel I give a dozen times a day. You may not shout at each other. You may not whine. Ask forgiveness if you need to, then talk to each other and solve the problem without being selfish or unkind. They solved their problem. There’s usually some kind of solution in the end, but I was surprised. It wasn’t the most rational, or even the calmest discussion I’ve ever heard, but it was quick, and in the end they agreed. I’ve heard a lot of possible root causes for the problems in the church. I don’t know which one is the worst, or closest to the root. But I know that the root is sin. If these children grow up learning how to deal with sin and the disagreements that arise out of it, that will be a big step toward solving the problem. I’m actually doing something about the problem. I should have known that already, but sometimes I need a reminder. Yet saints their watch are keeping, Their cry goes up, “How long?â€? And soon the night of weeping Shall be the morn of song!
I like this hymn too. It is funny that you mention this because I remember wandering around the Hackenburgs’ basement humming it to myself the morning you were born.
I discovered that there are apparently several versions of that hymn. One of them has ten verses. Remind me to show you the next time that you’re over.