Another song of my childhood resonates with a powerful message. I am indebted to a couple of Englishmen who used their God-given giftedness to write a song.

Samuel John Stone wrote the words to “The Church’s One Foundation” while still in his early twenties. In 1864 Samuel S. Wesley, a talented composer and organist wrote the music just prior to his death at the ripe old age of 66.

The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord; 
she is his new creation by water and the Word.
From heaven, he came and sought her to be his holy bride;
with his own blood, he bought her, and for her life, he died.

Elect from every nation, yet one o’er all the earth;
her charter of salvation, one Lord, one faith, one birth;
one holy name she blesses, partakes one holy food,
and to one hope she presses, with every grace endued.

Though with a scornful wonder we see her sore oppressed,
by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed,
yet saints their watch are keeping; their cry goes up, “How long?”
And soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song.

‘Mid toil and tribulation, and tumult of her war,
she waits the consummation of peace forevermore;
till, with the vision glorious, her longing eyes are blest,
and the great church victorious shall be the church at rest.

It was a 150 years ago, but the two Samuel Brits nailed it. It was almost as if they were reading their Bibles.

Now, for the questions:

• Is it possible a church built on the one and only foundation Jesus, while upholding the charter of salvation, one Lord, one faith, one birth; and living from one holy food, could emerge from an unfamiliar culture? (I believe we call those missionary churches.)
• Is it possible for such a church to be accepted by God while practicing unfamiliar customs to the point that I would feel strange in their midst and perhaps not even recognize their worship?
• Can a church like that be five miles from where I worship and still be a sister congregation?

If I believe the New Testament demands a blueprint model for church establishment, my answer to the above questions almost has to be no.

If my view of church flows from the cross and I truly believe in one Lord, one church, one baptism and one faith, my answer to the questions above almost has to be yes.

How do you answer the three questions?

Stay tuned. – Gary J. Sorrells – On Cross Church.