Blast from the past

Sometimes the past reaches out and grabs you. That's what happened when I shared in a meeting of our Church's annual General Assembly which this year commemorated 200 years since its founding. For one day we met at the site of the first meeting place of the Church on the grounds of Montgomery Bell State Park near Dickson, Tennessee. The log home belonging to Rev. Samuel McAdow was the place where the Cumberland Presbytery convened, February 4, 1810. Many of us dressed in period costume and were inspired as we wandered the area where now there stands a lovely chapel, a replica of the log house, and a monument. Gathered in that verdant valley, we worshiped in the 95 degree heat, learned about crafts and tools from the period, listened to the beautiful music of choirs, and met old friends and new. We were transported to another time when the country was brand new, and indeed the western frontier was at the doorstep.

The founders of our Church were ministers of principle, prayer and purpose. They were under obligation to share the good news of Jesus Christ with a rapidly developing new land. They were not dissuaded by the elements, impassable roads, rivers and streams difficult to ford, hostile area residents (some of whom were two-legged), nor by the criticisms of those who regarded their doctrine and methods as venturing too far from tradition. They were part of the Second Great Awakening, sometimes known as the Great Revival of 1800. From their humble beginnings, God was glorified.

Today our circumstances are different. But we do share some things in common with those original leaders. We are still on a mission field today, and we still are under obligation to share the good news of Jesus Christ on our frontier. We are to be people of principle, prayer and purpose.

I'm not sure we have lived up to the heritage that is ours in these latter years. Yet the Church founders would probably not be concerned about that, if they were able to speak to us, but rather would ask: What are you doing to share the good news and be a blessing to the people of your frontier?