Blest Be The Tie That Binds
This week's song is the hymn "Blest Be The Tie That Binds" by John Fawcett (1782). The tune is "DENNIS" by Hans Georg Nageli. This song is in the public domain.
This hymn, originally a poem titled "Brother Love", was written in response to John Fawcett and his wife leaving the congregation where John was the minister for a new post in London. As they were leaving, the congregation gathered around their wagon to say their goodbyes. Mrs. Fawcett reportedly broke down and said, "John, I cannot bear to leave. I know not how to go!" "Nor can I either, ” replied John. So unpacked went the wagon. Soon after, John wrote and shared the poem with his congregation which he preached at for over 50 additional years.*
What is it that binds us together? What holds us together? What groups us? It is country? Politics? Ideology? Family? Religion? Perhaps yes to some of that and a strong no to other bits.
As I have gotten older, I have read more and more of the Bible. Instead of finding more and more holes in the Bible, as some have suggested, I have only found more and more threads, until the entirety of the Bible can be described in one simple concept. The Bible, both old testament and new, is a love letter from God describing his desire to reconcile with a fallen world.
In light of that, I posit that the thing that can bind us together more than anything else is a good genuine faith in God. All other things fall by the wayside. Politics easily divides, but Christianity brings people together regardless of political view. I love my country, but at the same time I have friends from all over the world because we share the same faith. Simply put, nothing else matters in light of eternity. The things we face on this earth are temporary.
I am a native Texan, and I am aware that I have grown up in the Bible belt. I have truly been blessed throughout my life. We are shaped by what we see and experience. I am oh so thankful for my experiences and the family, extended family, and friends I have had in my lifetime.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
~ Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)
A handful of years ago I started tracing my ancestry. During that time of researching and thinking about my family I found something interesting. Faith was the foundation of just about every branch of my family tree. Turns out, that extends to my wife's family too.
I have family that teaches Sunday school or are involved in youth groups. Some that are on the mission field in Africa. Several of my grandparents have been involved in the church from playing piano, to building churches, to teaching, or holding positions such as deacon or preacher. The list is far and wide.
Through each generation, faith has been passed down. I know my great grandparents had faith, and they passed it down to my grandparents. My grandparents to my parents. My parents to myself. And now, I have seen my own children become faithful. It ties us together.
I never met most of my great grandparents, but I know of their faith. From my great grandparents down to my children there is a thread which binds us together through time, and holds truths beyond time.
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.
We share our mutual woes,
our mutual burdens bear,
and often for each other flows
the sympathizing tear.
When we asunder part,
it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still be joined in heart,
and hope to meet again.
This glorious hope revives
our courage by the way;
while each in expectation lives
and waits to see the day.
From sorrow, toil, and pain,
and sin, we shall be free;
and perfect love and friendship reign
through all eternity.
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