CW 901 O Christians, Haste
Why do churches exist? Some might say that it is to improve the lives of people in some way. Others may say churches exist to help provide people with necessities like food or clothes. Some might even think it is the job of churches to bring social reform.
That’s why the hymn before us is so refreshing. It hits the bullseye as to God’s purpose for Christian churches and Christian people. “O Christians, Haste” not only proclaims our purpose – or mission – but it urges us to carry that mission out.
Stanza 1: O Christians, haste, your mission high fulfilling, to tell to all the world that God is light, that he who made all nations is not willing one soul should perish, lost in shades of night.
God’s mission to Christians is to bring light to a world covered in darkness of unbelief. There is a whole world out there that simply does not have the light of Christ in their lives. That may be something that we Christians take for granted at times. We hear about Jesus at church. Our kids hear about him at Wisconsin Lutheran School and Shoreland. The light of Christ is in our lives.
But we don’t have to look far to see that many others don’t have the light of Christ illuminating their path in this world. They wander around aimlessly as if they’re lost in the woods at night. It is God’s will that every person sees the light of Christ. God does not want “anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance.” (1 Peter 3:9b) With that in mind, the hymnwriter urgently encourages us to carry out our mission.
After each stanza, the hymnwriter ends with this beautiful refrain: Refrain: Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace, tidings of Jesus, redemption and release.
When you think of the word publish, we may especially think of putting something in writing. It certainly can and does mean that, but here it is simply telling us to get the good news about Jesus out any way that we can, taking every opportunity that is presented to us.
The refrain reminds us of the angels announcing the good news of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds. What did the shepherds do after seeing the baby Jesus? They published glad tidings by telling others what they had been told about Jesus.
Stanza 2: Behold how many thousands still are lying bound in the dreary prison-house of sin with none to tell them of the Savior’s dying or of the life he died for them to win. (Refrain)
The mission of the church will not be completely accomplished until Christ returns. Until he does, we have work to do. And there is no shortage of work to be done. There are countless people that need to be reached.
Why do they need to be reached? Because they are imprisoned by their own guilt and shame. They don’t know the key to their release from these debilitating things. You have the key and you can give them the key. The key is the Savior Jesus who lived perfectly in their place and died by crucifixion for their sins, so that they can live eternally.
Stanza 3: Proclaim to ev’ry people, tongue, and nation that God, in whom they live and move, is love; tell how he stooped to save his lost creation and died on earth that they might live above. (Refrain)
In fulfilling our mission, we need to know who we are going to. Who needs to hear about God’s love in Christ Jesus? Simply put: everyone. People of every social status. People who speak English, Spanish, or Chinese. People from every culture and nation.
They all need to hear that God is not as distant as they might think. In his love, God became one of us in order to rescue all people. They need to hear that heaven is their true home. And it is our awesome privilege to proclaim it.
Stanza 4: Send heralds forth to bear the message glorious, give of your wealth to speed them on their way; pour out your soul for them in prayer victorious; O Christians, haste to bring the brighter day! (Refrain)
Before Jesus ascended, he commissioned his disciples to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15) That’s not possible for a single Christian to do, nor is it possible for a single church to accomplish. That’s why we band together as Christian churches in order to send out missionaries on our behalf. And we as individual Christians can support this work by giving generously to missions and praying fervently for them to successfully deliver the message of Christ.
“Haste makes waste.” The saying applies in so many situations. But not here. Not with the mission God gives us. We don’t have time to waste. Souls are dying. Let’s go quickly. Let’s go now. Let’s go and bring the light of Christ to people who are living in the darkness of sin and unbelief. Let’s point them to the bright future that comes to them courtesy of the cross of Christ.