Songs We Sing: "must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone" Series

SONGS WE SING: ‘MUST JESUS BEAR THE CROSS ALONE?’

1 Peter 2:21-25, Matthew 16:24-25

#BadBadHymn

SING ‘MUST JESUS BEAR THE CROSS ALONE’

INTRODUCTION

This morning we are continuing a sermon series called: “The Songs We Sing.” Part of worshipping God is singing. It is not the only part, but is a significant part.

FOCUS ON “WORSHIP”

Worship is an important attitude of the heart and a total disposition of our soul focusing on God and His Word. As we focus on different songs we sing from now until Easter, understand that the songs are the surface focus, but the real focus is the direction of our hearts and minds when we sing. Worship is our focus!

Worship of God Almighty is our focus.

Worship claiming the blood of Christ is our focus.

Worship in the Spirit and in Truth is our focus.

And yet we often focus on music as an important part of worship… because it is! Music is something that can connect us to God in unique ways. Music gets inside our hearts and allows us to express ourselves to God with our whole being. Singing and instruments are part of worship all throughout the Bible. The Apostle Paul encourages the Ephesian (5:19) and Colossian churches to dig into singing well. Colossians 3:16 says:

READ COLOSSIANS 3:16 (ESV)

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

I find it interesting that in Colossians (and in Ephesians), the Apostle Paul mentions three different types of songs. He first mentions “psalms” from the Bible put to music which in Paul’s day would have focused on the harp. He then mentions “hymns” which would be a more formal song written for the church which is a song to be sung to God for praise. Lastly, he mentions “spiritual songs” which are a third type of song which in my mind tends to be a simple chorus of some kind.

Which is better? Which is best? God never says. Our Father God is glorified and praised by all types of music when He is the focus. That is the key! You and I cannot be the focus. The church cannot be the focus. Life cannot be the focus. The best worship song… no matter the style or instruments used or the meter or the beat… is the psalm, hymn, or spiritual song that directs our souls to God Almighty.

This morning we are going to focus on a hymn. If you want to look at the hymn in the hymnal, it is #189. Because we are equal opportunity here, you may also call the book with songs a her-nal and it is also on page #189. The song we will focus on is the worst hymn that has ever been produced (IN MY OPINION).

There are hymns that have nothing to do with anything and they are better.

There are hymns that are hard to sing and they are better.

There are hymns that are completely focused on us and they are better.

Why is this hymn the worst?

This hymn is the worst because it teaches incorrect theology about Jesus Christ.

Thomas Shepherd (1665-1739) was a minister in Nottingham, England in the early 1700s which was when he wrote this terrible hymn. I did not know him personally, but he should be ashamed of himself. This hymn has been printed and re-printed in over 1200 hymnals. His next most popular hymn is entitled “Must Simon Bear His Cross Alone?” which I am just going to leave alone today (hymnary.org/person/Shepherd_Thomas1665).

SONG LYRICS: ‘MUST JESUS BEAR THE CROSS ALONE’ (optional)

1 Must Jesus bear the cross alone And all the world go free? No, there's a cross for every one,

And there's a cross for me.

2 The consecrated cross I'll bear Till death shall set me free, And then go home my crown to wear, For there's a crown for me.

3 Upon the crystal pavement, down At Jesus' pierced feet, Joyful, I'll cast my golden crown

And His dear name repeat.

4 O precious cross! O glorious crown! O resurrection day! Ye angels, from the stars come down

And bear my soul away.

TRANSITION

As we think through this hymn, we are going to first look at the central belief in Christianity and then how the hymn communicates that.

CENTRAL BELIEF IN CHRISTIANITY

It is not hard to say that Jesus dying on the cross is the central belief in Christianity. Jesus is what makes Christianity different from all other religions. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is the central event in Christianity. What we believe about Jesus and His death on the cross is supremely important. Not understanding the cross of Christ can lead to different issues. A misunderstanding of the meaning of the cross and Jesus’ death on the cross can lead to several spiritual, theological, and practical consequences, depending on what is misunderstood.