Justin Martyr’s account of early Christian worship

Greek Apologist Justin Martyr is important for a number of reasons, not the least of which is his account of early Christian worship in his First Apology (c. 150). There are several things to notice about this passage, which is the earliest account (I believe) of Christians gathering for worship. The Christians are described here [...]

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Ira Sankey’s Gospel Songs, part 7

[Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6]
The Music of Gospel Songs
Distinct characteristics not only surrounded the text of these Gospel Songs, but its music had a certain meaning as well. Critics in England noticed the similarity of these tunes with “music hall songs.”1 The Nation said that “while written to religious words, [the [...]

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Immoderate hash

A collection of loose odds and ends . . .
Well, my fellow-Baptists and others in the Anabaptist tradition, the Lutherans have finally apologized for persecuting those who held some of our beliefs (particularly Mennonites) in the 16th century. I myself have been waiting nearly 30 years! Finally! (HT: Jim West)
Public Radio had a short little [...]

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Antiphon (1)

by George Herbert
Cho. Let all the world in ev’ry corner sing
My God and King.
The [...]

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Ira Sankey’s Gospel Songs, part 6

[Parts 1, 2, 3,  4, and 5]
THE NATURE OF GOSPEL SONGS
Having seen the intense popularity of these songs, what was their nature? What made them different than their predecessors in the Christian musical tradition? Why did Moody and Sankey see in these forms that made them implement them so successfully?
“The revivalist hymn and tune was [...]

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To Thee, O Lord, Our Hearts We Raise

William Dix wrote this hymn in 1864. It’s very nice to HARVEST HYMN in the Lutheran Hymnal 1941 (No. 573).
To Thee, O Lord, our hearts we raise in hymns of adoration,
To Thee bring sacrifice of praise with shouts of exultation.
Bright robes of gold the fields adorn, the hills with joy are ringing,
The valleys stand so [...]

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And a Happy Thanksgiving to all

Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

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Conscience is like taste

Augustus Hopkins Strong made an analogy between conscience and faith in his Systematic Theology:
As already intimated, conscience is not a separate faculty, like intellect, sensibility, and will, but rather a mode in which these faculties act. Like consciousness, conscience is an accompanying knowledge. Conscience is a knowing of self (including our acts and states) in [...]

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CCW Podcast 10: Machen’s Christianity & Liberalism, ch 2.3

This podcast completes chapter 2 of J. Gresham Machen’s Christianity & Liberalism. As usual, I have more notes over at the podcast site.

You may also download it here.

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Ira Sankey’s Gospel Songs, part 5

[Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4]
Sankey’s Gospel Hymns
In step with the success of the revival meetings, came the success of Sankey’s new songbook. Other than being a singer, Sankey was also a compiler. He collected the songs of P. P. Bliss, Philip Phillips, G. C. Stebbins, James McGranahan, and Fanny Crosby, many of whom became [...]

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God Calling Yet

Mrs. Eric Findlater translated this poem “Gott rufet noch” by Gerhard Tersteegen (1697-1769).
God calling yet! and shall I never hearken,
But still earth’s witcheries my spirit darken?
This passing life, these passing joys all flying,
And still my soul in dreamy slumbers lying!
God calling yet! and I not yet arising;
So long his loving, faithful voice despising;
So falsely his [...]

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Ira Sankey’s Gospel Songs, part 4

This post is a continuation of a series (part 1, part 2, part 3).
But what made Moody and Sankey so popular? Before his YMCA and revival work, Moody was a shoe-salesman, and his revival meetings were closely tied to the changes wrought by secularism and the industrial age. Moore observes,
Close himself to popular taste, [Moody] [...]

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Irreverent slang

An Immoderate reader sent me this quote and I thought it was well worth passing on.
Presbyterian theologian and church historian* Robert Dabney (1820-98) was concerned with the revivalism of his day and where it would lead. In fact, he saw it as more dangerous than Rome herself. How much does American evangelicalism today mirror what [...]

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Ira Sankey’s Gospel Songs, part 3

This is part three in a series (part 1 and part 2).
Shortly after Ira Sankey agreed to join Moody in his travels, they made their famous trip to the British Isles. Along with Sankey on this trip was his “musical scrap-book,” a small collection popular songs he had made for the revival meetings. In England, [...]

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