I suppose if I were to ask most of the folks I will talk to today about the most historically significant event of
1776, I think they would possibly share their knowledge about the signing of
the declaration, independence from Great Britain, and the birthday of America. But I learned last week, from a talk radio host, that 1776 also significantly marks the
publication of Adam Smith's influential Wealth of Nations, widely considered
the first modern work in the field of economics and a work that remains widely
influential today. I downloaded the work
and find it to be an amazing work. Both
Wealth of Nations and The Declaration of Independence are publications that
have inarguably shaped the world in ways beyond even what the original authors might
have imagined.
On the other hand, this morning, as part of my devotional time I learned that a Christian historian, Mark Noll, suggests there is a third publication of 1776 that may have been even more historically influential than both of these momentous options. In the book, Where Shall My Wond'ring Soul Begin?: It was in a lecture at Harvard Divinity School, he argued: "I say with calculated awareness of what else was going on in Philadelphia [the signing of the Declaration of Independence], and in Scotland, where Adam Smith published his Wealth of Nations, that of all world-historical occurrences in that year, the publication of August Montagu Toplady's hymn [Rock of Ages] may have been the most consequential."
To me this is a surprising choice—particularly because I have always been one to associate 1776 with fireworks and parades and its critical role in forming our national identity. But Noll's suggestion asks me look beyond national citizenship, perhaps even beyond my identity as a citizen of the world. Toplady's hymn is one of the two most reprinted hymns in Christian history, but its words remind me of a history far beyond even this:
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure, Cleanse me from its guilt and power.
Not the labours of my hands, Can fulfill Thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears for ever flow,
All for sin could not atone: Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy Cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless, look to Thee for grace; Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Saviour, or I die.
Beyond religious denomination, beyond nation, I am a creature in need of God's redemptive plan, in need of freedom from sin, in need of the liberating sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. Like many confessions throughout the history of the church, Toplady's hymn calls this hearer to identify with a greater citizenship, the cloud of witnesses described by the writer of Hebrews, the one holy catholic and apostolic church I confess in my creed.
History is filled with the ebb and flow of influences and events, but of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, there is no greater, unswerving influence. As James writes, "[God] does not change like the shifting shadows" (1:17). As David praised, and Hannah prayed, and saints will continue to discover, God is the Rock of Ages. Hidden in the Trinity, clinging to the Cross, cleansed by the Son whose blood removes both the guilt and power of sin, I am free indeed.
On the other hand, this morning, as part of my devotional time I learned that a Christian historian, Mark Noll, suggests there is a third publication of 1776 that may have been even more historically influential than both of these momentous options. In the book, Where Shall My Wond'ring Soul Begin?: It was in a lecture at Harvard Divinity School, he argued: "I say with calculated awareness of what else was going on in Philadelphia [the signing of the Declaration of Independence], and in Scotland, where Adam Smith published his Wealth of Nations, that of all world-historical occurrences in that year, the publication of August Montagu Toplady's hymn [Rock of Ages] may have been the most consequential."
To me this is a surprising choice—particularly because I have always been one to associate 1776 with fireworks and parades and its critical role in forming our national identity. But Noll's suggestion asks me look beyond national citizenship, perhaps even beyond my identity as a citizen of the world. Toplady's hymn is one of the two most reprinted hymns in Christian history, but its words remind me of a history far beyond even this:
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure, Cleanse me from its guilt and power.
Not the labours of my hands, Can fulfill Thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears for ever flow,
All for sin could not atone: Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy Cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless, look to Thee for grace; Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Saviour, or I die.
Beyond religious denomination, beyond nation, I am a creature in need of God's redemptive plan, in need of freedom from sin, in need of the liberating sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. Like many confessions throughout the history of the church, Toplady's hymn calls this hearer to identify with a greater citizenship, the cloud of witnesses described by the writer of Hebrews, the one holy catholic and apostolic church I confess in my creed.
History is filled with the ebb and flow of influences and events, but of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, there is no greater, unswerving influence. As James writes, "[God] does not change like the shifting shadows" (1:17). As David praised, and Hannah prayed, and saints will continue to discover, God is the Rock of Ages. Hidden in the Trinity, clinging to the Cross, cleansed by the Son whose blood removes both the guilt and power of sin, I am free indeed.
1 comment:
Excellent article Billy
Have a great weekend!
David
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