February 2024 | VOLUME 50 | ISSUE NO.2
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EVANGEL
OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF FIRST FREE CHURCH
Nothing But The Blood Hymn Spotlight According to a Methodist history of this well-known and enduring hymn, its author, Robert Lowry (1826-1899), was a Baptist preacher who served churches in our home state of Pennsylvania. He also served as a minister in New York and New Jersey. Moreover, as a graduate of Bucknell University, Lowry spent time serving his alma mater as a professor. Somehow, amid these varied and demanding involvements, Lowry became a popular and in uential hymn writer, producing what were originally Sunday school song collections.
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The original printing of this beloved hymn featured a reference to Hebrews 9:22 above the title. That verse reads: "Indeed, under the law almost everything is puri ed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." As the Methodist history points out, the hymns' repeated reference to blood, so central to scriptural teaching regarding the nature of Christ's atonement and our forgiveness, troubles some today. They consider repeated references to blood as gory, at times even gratuitous. These objections stand at odds with scripture, considering how prominently the Old and New Testaments speak of the power of our Messiah's sacri ce and blood
Peace, Not Panic By Pastor Kevin Labby "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7 We worry about so many things, most of them mainly, if not entirely, beyond our control. Our fearful imaginations create catastrophic visions of the future that will likely never come to pass but trouble us in the present. What an invitation from God we receive in these two verses! Here, the Apostle Peter, inspired by God's Spirit, urges us to humble ourselves before God the Father (simultaneously acknowledging our limits while also confessing His limitless love for us), see our lives under His hand, and believe that His mighty hand hovers not to crush but rather to cover and comfort us. What a blessing to know that God in Christ is not only near us. He is for us. As we enter a New Year seemingly promising innumerable threats to our peace in Christ, including a challenging election cycle, economic and geopolitical uncertainty, pressures to bend our knees to the gods of this age, and more, the temptation toward anxiety is powerful, even palpable. Thankfully, the provision of God's peace through prayer is even more so. Let's resolve to enjoy this gift, choosing peace through prayer over panic.