Affirmation of the Future, John C. DeBoer, March 1988
Accompanied a Service of Worship, World Day of Prayer, sponsored by Church Women United. Numerous churches from Bloomfield, Caldwell, Montclair and Verona participated.
An OCR text version:
AFFIRMATION OF THE' FUTURE
In a few moments we will all experience Handel's immortal Hallelujah Chorus. Handel wrote the music. But tonight I want you to remember that he did not write the words.
The word were written some 1700 years before Handel wrote the music, but Handel CHOSE the words of the Revelation to John, the last book of the Bible, because those words expressed an unshakable faith in the future under God's providence.
Tonight in this service we have been expressing faith in the
future—the second century of World Day of Prayer—despite all
that is wrong with the world today.
Let me tell you about the world in which John received the Revelation whose words are to be sung by these massed choirs. These words were written at a time when thousands of Christians in the Roman Province of AgTia were being persecuted and killed by the Roman armies because they refused to worship the Roman emperor. Many wondered whether the Christian Church could even survived
In the midst of those DARK times John the Elder wrote the words of Revelation, inspired by his faith that the Lord God Omnipotent does INDEED reign, and would reign forever and ever—despite whatever the Romans might do. And the Church DID survive. Indeed, the blood of the martyrs was the seed of a growing church!
My friends, look at what threatens US in OUR time. There are more homeless Americans than at any time in our history. The fearful AIDS epidemic threatens the lives of millions over the next decade—with no cure in sight. God's children are killing' each other in Ireland and Israel and Iran and Iraq and Central America and elsewhere—with no peaceful solutions in sight. Around the world the poor seem to get poorer, and racism demeans and denigrates and destroys millions of God's children.
How CAN we have faith in the future at a time like this?
I'll tell you how: By recapturing the vision for the future of the Revelation to John whose words are sung tonight. The kingdom of this world SHALL become the kingdom of our God, who will reign forever and ever!
Let us — by informed prayer and prayerful action — allow God to use US to bring to pass the future which we envision. Let us praise the God who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, forever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
—John C. DeBoer, March 4, 1988
An OCR text version:
AFFIRMATION OF THE' FUTURE
In a few moments we will all experience Handel's immortal Hallelujah Chorus. Handel wrote the music. But tonight I want you to remember that he did not write the words.
The word were written some 1700 years before Handel wrote the music, but Handel CHOSE the words of the Revelation to John, the last book of the Bible, because those words expressed an unshakable faith in the future under God's providence.
Tonight in this service we have been expressing faith in the
future—the second century of World Day of Prayer—despite all
that is wrong with the world today.
Let me tell you about the world in which John received the Revelation whose words are to be sung by these massed choirs. These words were written at a time when thousands of Christians in the Roman Province of AgTia were being persecuted and killed by the Roman armies because they refused to worship the Roman emperor. Many wondered whether the Christian Church could even survived
In the midst of those DARK times John the Elder wrote the words of Revelation, inspired by his faith that the Lord God Omnipotent does INDEED reign, and would reign forever and ever—despite whatever the Romans might do. And the Church DID survive. Indeed, the blood of the martyrs was the seed of a growing church!
My friends, look at what threatens US in OUR time. There are more homeless Americans than at any time in our history. The fearful AIDS epidemic threatens the lives of millions over the next decade—with no cure in sight. God's children are killing' each other in Ireland and Israel and Iran and Iraq and Central America and elsewhere—with no peaceful solutions in sight. Around the world the poor seem to get poorer, and racism demeans and denigrates and destroys millions of God's children.
How CAN we have faith in the future at a time like this?
I'll tell you how: By recapturing the vision for the future of the Revelation to John whose words are sung tonight. The kingdom of this world SHALL become the kingdom of our God, who will reign forever and ever!
Let us — by informed prayer and prayerful action — allow God to use US to bring to pass the future which we envision. Let us praise the God who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, forever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
—John C. DeBoer, March 4, 1988
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