FEATURES 40 Years of Vision for United Methodist Renewal James V. Heidinger II touches the keystones of the Good News mission.
Methodism's Silent MinorityCharles Keysor's pivotal editorial that birthed a movement.
From the Margin to the Mainstream Riley B. Case tracks evangelicalism from its grassroots beginning.
A Requested Critique J. Richard Peck weighs Good News dogma and decisions.
Vision for the 21st Century
Rob Renfroe urges leadership from clergy and laity alike.
Bill Hughes confronts today's United Methodists with an open-air message.
Jorge Acevedo glimpses Wesley's vision from the pews of the New Room.
George Hunter directs readers to the main business.
Lindsey Davis issues an urgent summons for new church plants.
Adam Hamilton calls reformers to the radical center.
Rudy Rasmus serves as prophet for intentional spontaneity.
Will Willimon offers a crisp assessment of Good News at age 40.
General Conference
Tom Lambrecht surveys the upcoming
ecclesial arena.
COLUMNS
Editorial Reflections on 40 years of Good News ministry
RENEW Women's Network Christmas is coming!
Next Generation Youth ministry as wind chime II
The Great Commission Imprinting
From the Heart Know El
DEPARTMENTS
News United Methodists seek spiritual renewal at Aldersgate.
"Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel. Born is the King of Israel." These words form the familiar Christmas carol which is a favorite of many. Through its traditional lyrics God has revealed himself throughout the generations, and at this season we can once again.know El.and have our hearts prepared for his incarnation.
The word El comes from a Hebrew root word that means might or strength or power. Additional words are then attached to the root to further define our God and to distinguish him from false gods.
There is El Echad-the one God (Malachi 2:10), El Hanne'eman-the faithful God (Deuteronomy 7:9), El Emet-the God of truth (Psalm 31:5), and El Shaddai-the all-sufficient God (Genesis 17:1; Exodus 6:3; Ruth 1:20; Psalm 68:15). The list grows with El Elyon-the Most High God (Genesis 14:20; Psalm 9:2), El Olam-the everlasting God (Genesis 21:33; Psalm 90:1-3), El Hakkadosh-the holy God (Isaiah 5:16), El Channun-the gracious God (Jonah 4:2), El Sali-the God of my strength (Psalm 42:9), and El Rachum-the God of compassion (Deuteronomy 4:31). Quite a tally. And most revealing of the character of the One to whom we bow the knee.
The composers of the tunes that we sing throughout the holidays understood God's revelation of himself. I don't know all the specific circumstances they were experiencing at the time their pencils touched paper, but I do know that they began to. know El. And, they proclaimed him in the lyrics they penned. Consider just a few.
Charles Wesley wrote these words: "Hark! The herald angels sing, 'Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled." In that last phrase Wesley proclaimed the truth of El Yeshuatenu-the God of our salvation (Psalm 68:19).
In the 12th century, Henry S. Coffin declared El De'ot-the God of knowledge (1 Sam. 2:3) in his contribution to the hymn "O come, O come, Immanuel." In the second stanza he writes: "O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, and order all things, far and nigh; To us the path of knowledge show, and cause us in her ways to go."
El Gibbor-the mighty God-(Isaiah 9:6) is the subject of Isaac Watts' words in the classic carol, "Joy to the World." In his third stanza Watts commands: "No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make his blessings flow, far as the curse is found." Now, that's power!
In the hymn, "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear," Edmund Sears wrote perhaps the most endearing words for the weary human heart. He said: "And ye, beneath life's crushing load, who forms are bending low, who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow, Look now! For glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing: O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing!" It's clear that Sears was passing on what he saw of his God. In those lines the Lord was showcased as El Roi-the God who sees me (Genesis16:13), and as El Chaiyai-the God of my life (Psalm 42:8). This becomes personal as we consider our own toiling and the longing for rest.
John H. Hopkins, in "We Three Kings," declared, "Glorious now behold him arise, King and God and Sacrifice, Alleluia, Alleluia! sounds through the earth and skies." In this we can clearly see El Hakkavod-the God of glory (Ps. 29:3) and Emmanuel-God with us (Isaiah 7:14).
As powerful as these words are to help us understand our great God, perhaps what is even more grand is how we can know him through the carol he sings to us. Zephaniah 3:17 declares this truth boldly. "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
Think of it. A singing God! The Almighty belting it out just for us to.know El. And what can we know? "The Lord" tells us he is sovereign over all. "The Lord your God" declares that he is personal. "The Lord your God is with you" says he is present. "He will take great delight in you" says he chooses ecstatic emotion about you. In the original tongue, it means that he twirls around you looking for your outstretched hands to meet his. "He will quiet you with his love" tells us he is the source of peace. And, "he will rejoice over you with singing" speaks of further delight. He wants you to hear his song.
So, what can we do with what we know of El? We can allow him to actually be Lord over every area of our lives. We can foster our personal relationship with him. We can look for him everywhere. We can dance with him. We can find our peace in him. And, we can sing his song to others. He is, after all, El Hannora-The Awesome God! (Nehemiah 9:32).
*The term "Know-El" is thanks to the teaching ministry of Pastor Lane Douglas.
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