In startled surprise, this thought will arise,
In human minds today
That a movement so small is the answer at all,
The power of sin to stay.
The churches so large are given this charge,
Of this men are so sure.
And if they can’t succeed, and this world safely lead,
Into God’s peace secure,
Then how could it be, is their scornful plea,
A group so young and small,
Has the truth for this hour, while the churches of power,
No longer have God’s call?
Well might we concede, we should be agreed
With them in this dispute,
But for History’s clear light, now so plain in our sight,
Which no one can refute.
Let’s read so we’ll learn, as those who do yearn,
The truth alone to find.
And the lessons of time, teaching truth so sublime,
Will error leave behind.
Pray find if you can, in history’s broad span,
When God has worked in might,
Through the churches so great, in their haughty estate,
So sure they have the light.
Such search will be vain, while ever again,
The facts will clearly show,
Through the humble and true, His own faithful so few,
God will His gifts bestow.
The church was so large, but God gave the charge,
When Christ was here on earth,
To a very small band, who obeyed His command,
And brought to men new birth.
The torch of His power in that shining hour,
Was not by those held true,
Who then stood in their pride on the great church’s side,
And scorned God’s humble few.
And what can we say of that wondrous day,
When David Goliath slew,
Or when Gideon’s band, made their valiant stand,
And saw the battle through.
Then there was the hour, when like a strong tower,
Moses and Aaron stood,
Each so few of their kind while the rest were so blind,
And never understood.
These lessons of old so plainly are told,
That men might err no more.
But where’er you may turn, we see men will not learn,
From that which went before.
They’ve learned not to know, that down here below,
It always will be so,
That you first find the truth, even though in its youth,
And then the church you’ll know.
– F.T.Wright, c. 1970
