8-3-26<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am going to share an old song, and its lyrics. Anyway it seems like an old song \u2013 1979, which makes it seem like \u201cOld Testament days\u201d for me, because I <\/em>am old. It was a Christian radio hit, Oh Buddha<\/em> by the Imperials. When Oh Buddha<\/em> was a hit on Christian radio, my wife and I attended a revival in Madison Square Garden in New York City. I believe it was R W Schambach, whose ministry I still revere; or Kenneth Copeland, whom I followed at the time. It was very well attended, and protesters were on the sidewalk outside the Garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, those protesters might be Black Lives Matter types, or feminists, or Muslim extremists; or (very likely in Manhattan at that time) militant Zionists. The small group of protesters rallied against the thrust of the revival inside the Garden. They chanted for Buddha, or Mohammad, or Reverend Sun-Myung Moon (\u201cUniversalist Church\u201d), or an Eastern mystic via chants of Hare Krishna<\/em>, or some arcane gods or \u201creligions\u201d of the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was a modest and quiet demonstration. But the emerging crowd of revival-goers circled \u2018round them and were not exactly arrogant\u2026 but however were confrontational. Someone started singing the contemporary radio hit, and scores joined in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, old Buddha was a man And I’m sure that he meant well,<\/em> But I pray for his disciples Lest they wind up in hell.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And I’m sure that old Mohammed Thought he knew the way,<\/em> But it won’t be Hare Krishna We stand before on Judgment Day.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This was, as I said, a hit song in the Christian community of the day. Do you know it? Me, I see nothing wrong with its theology \u2013 for, despite its novelty-category aspects, it speaks Biblical truth, and Christ\u2019s hard message. If we care about the souls of others, it is a doctrine we should follow. Peoples\u2019 salvation is at stake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The song was recorded by the Imperials, one of the legendary quartets of Christian music. It was founded by the great Jake Hess, whom I was privileged to know, when he left the Statesmen Quartet; and through the years its personnel included giants like Henry Slaughter, Gary McSpadden, Armond Morales, Jim Murray, Terry Blackwood, Larry Gatlin, Sherman Andrus, and Russ Taff. For a time the Imperials sang backup for Jimmy Dean and even for Elvis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But on the evening I recall, the song was not sung as a novelty tune, but to attack. The group of revival attendees was mocking, not ministering. I felt moved to rebuke the crowd singing that song, but not self-righteously. (I mean my putative motivation, not theirs.) Our job as Christians \u2013 our duty, our command, in fact \u2013 is to persuade others to be strong in their faith\u2026 or that we be dedicated to sharing, encouraging acceptance, and fostering the embrace of the Gospel\u2019s saving grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus is the incarnation of God among mankind. He was sent to be our stand-in for the punishment we deserve \u2013 His plan that by believing in Him and His sufficient sacrifice, and that He rose from death and ascended to return to the Father \u2013 and we will therefore spend Eternity in Heaven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To believe otherwise; that is, to let others believe that their<\/em> idea of a new home in Glory, to Heaven forever, can be anyone\u2019s random idea\u2026 is to consign those people to oblivion. Or to Hell. That is not indifference. It is not dismissive. It ought not to be done in mockery nor even in cruelty. Do you hate someone that much? Is ridicule more important than sympathy, than love?<\/p>\n\n\n\n I don’t hate anybody, So please don’t take me wrong.<\/em> But there really is a message In this simple song.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n You see, there’s only one way, Jesus, If eternal life is your goal<\/em> And meditation of the mind Won’t save your soul!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n As I said, I did not feel self-righteous that day, when rebuking the folks I had spent hours worshiping with. And I have the same impulse now; Christians should. Let us reach out \u2013 whenever we can, however we can, as often as we can \u2013 to those who don\u2019t know the message of salvation!<\/p>\n\n\n\n And, by the way I plead to us all about this priority: It is not only Buddhists or Hindus or Muslims or Confucians or mystics or agnostics or atheists we should care about. There are friends and neighbors and co-workers \u2013 people we know and see and talk to every day; maybe even relatives \u2013 who might not fully know the Truth; or have \u201cbackslidden\u201d or fallen away. Yes, it is a common condition. Maybe folks who are seated in the next pew from you on Sundays!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, you can call yourself a Baptist, And not be born again.<\/em> A Presbyterian or a Methodist And still die in your sin.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n You can even be Pentecostal, Shout and dance and jump a pew!<\/em> But if you hate your brother You won’t be one of the chosen few.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Because it won’t be a Baptist Who’s sitting on the throne;<\/em> A Presbyterian or a Methodist Who’s calling us home.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And it won’t be a Pentecostal Who plays that trumpet tune, <\/em> So let’s all just live for Jesus Because He’s coming back real soon!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Amen!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, I will share a story that presents a slight intersection of mine with this great song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n