Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Come Ye Sinners?

Awhile back brother Fralick wrote about the inconsistency between the teachings of the Hardshells and some of the songs they nevertheless sing. I have also felt the same way. One of the songs the Hardshells sing but which they would never preach is this song.

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy
Weak and wounded, sick and sore
Jesus ready, stands to save you
Full of pity, love and power

Notice how the song addresses sinners and invites them to "come" to Jesus. But, should a preacher address sinners this way he would be called an "Arminian"! If a Hardshell preacher would tell sinners that Jesus stands ready to save them, they would call him "Arminian."

I will arise and go to Jesus
He will embrace me in His arms
In the arms of my dear Savior,
O, there are ten thousand charms

These words advise the sinner to arise and go to Jesus, but you will never hear Hardshell preachers giving this advice to sinners while preaching.

Come, ye thirsty, come and welcome
God`s free bounty glorify
True belief and true repentance
Every grace that brings you nigh

The message of the song is that "true belief and true repentance" is what will bring you nigh to Jesus and salvation. How can Hardshells sing this and yet preach against it at the same time? The song says "come" but the messages of Hardshell preachers do not say "come."

Come, ye weary, heavy-laden
Lost and ruined by the fall
If you tarry `til you`re better
You will never come at all

Come you "lost" and "ruined" sinners? They will sing this message but they will not preach it? Bidding sinners not to "tarry" but to come now?

I will arise and go to Jesus
He will embrace me in His arms
In the arms of my dear Savior,
O, there are ten thousand charms

Come to Jesus sinners! He will embrace you in his arms? You will never hear a Hardshell preacher end his sermon with such words of invitation. Yet, their oldest preachers did not shun from inviting sinners.

See Him Prostate in the garden
On the ground your Maker lies
On the bloody tree, behold him
Sinner, will this not suffice?

Persuading sinners to come to Jesus for salvation? How can Hardshells sing this but not preach it?

2 comments:

Paul Jacobs said...

you have missed the meaning implied in the second line; the condition of the sinner is "
"Weak and wounded, sick and sore" Weak and wounded, sick and sore. Now examine the song in that light and you will come to a different conclusion.

Stephen Garrett said...

Are you saying "weak and wounded, sick and sore" describe the regenerate state? If so, then it is you and not I who have missed it. Jesus ready stands to save you? Doesn't that say that they are not saved?