Abide with me

A good friend in a time of great need, recently observed that "when days are dark, friends are few". Whilst I can testify to that, it is not something I like to talk about. However, the theme kept knocking at my heart until I turned over a piece of paper and saw the words of that great hymn, "Abide with me". It has been sung on battlefields and in great sports gatherings: a stirring piece of music that is more prayer than hymn.

"Abide with me fast falls the eventide: the darkness deepens, Lord with me abide,

When other helpers fail and comforts flee, help of the helpless, oh abide with me." 

Never in my long walk with God have I seen such a test of our Christian ethos as now. Its easy to love when things go well, but when we hit contradictions, we  tend to rationalise the observed condition, judge it and then give it a wide berth. For all our claims, the Christian faith is often the harshest judge of all. Jews survive by standing together in the storms, so do Muslims, but Christians often offend each other or turn a blind eye.

This is a harsh thing I am saying, but a friend told of a leader who saw a witch in a vision. The next day he saw the same woman in a shopping center and decided to confront her. She showed due respect, but no fear, adding, "Why should we fear a people that kills its own". Man that is such a kick in the pants.

Oh of course Christians do help in charity efforts, but I just can't help feeling we do so to relieve our consciences whilst preserving a hands-off posture. But when it comes to helping our brothers, those who share our foxholes, we are left singing, "When other helpers fail and comforts flee, abide with me".

"I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless, ills have no weight and tears no bitterness ...

where is death's sting. where grave thy victory? I triumph still if thou abide with me".

I am starting a series on the subject of codependency, in which I explore the simple, but very real fact - that if we don't learn to love each other practically, not necessarily through finance, but more importantly by simply supporting what God is doing in each other, we will not survive the coming winter. The Jews do it by trading between themselves to ensure that everyone shares in the collective, the Swiss cut back on the working week to keep everyone employed, the Moslems employ each other, but the Christians .... well the greater tragedy is that their leaders will make appeals for costly and unneeded building funds, whilst substantial numbers of their flocks have to cry through the night wondering how to survive.  These things ought not to be.

We are the commonwealth of God (Ephesians 3). If we build each other up, so that all prosper, will not the whole be better off.  Will we not have fewer divisions, more unity, better cohesion, less tragedy and a far more powerful witness. And if that be so, will not our churches alsofind teh resources to achieve more?

"Keep thou thy cross before my closing eyes, shine through the gloom and point me to the skies

heaven's morning breaks and earth's vain shadows flee, in life, in death, Oh Lord abide with me."

(c) Peter Eleazar @ www.4u2live.net