FAITH OF OUR FATHERS

Amazing Grace

Frederick W. Faber, 1814–1863

Contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. (Jude 3)

If you don’t have a cause that is worth dying for, you very likely don’t have anything worth living for.
— Unknown

Often we fail to realize the great price many of our forefathers paid to establish and preserve the Christian faith. It is good for us to be reminded often that the history of the Christian faith is a rich heritage of countless people whose faith in God was considered more dear than life itself. Much could be said about the first century Christians and their persecution by the Roman Empire, or even the religious persecutions of our American forefathers in their quest for a new land where they could enjoy religious freedom.

The “faith of our fathers” referred to in this hymn, however, is the faith of the martyred leaders of the Roman Catholic church during the 16th century. Although he was raised as a Calvinist and later was a minister in the Anglican church, Frederick Faber left the state church and joined the Roman Catholic fold. He became known as Father Wilfrid. Faber began to make it his life’s mission to write hymns that promoted the history and teachings of the Catholic church. Frederick Faber wrote 150 such hymns before his early death at the age of 49. His “Faith of Our Fathers” text first appeared in 1849 in the author’s collection, Jesus and Mary; or Catholic Hymns for Singing and Reading. It was always Faber’s hope that someday England would be brought back to the Papal fold.

The three stanzas found in our hymnals, however, are very usable for evangelical worship and can be reinterpreted to challenge our commitment and loyalty to the gospel that our spiritual fathers often died to defend:

Faith of our fathers, living still in spite of dungeon, fire and sword—O how our hearts beat high with joy whene’er we hear that glorious word!

Our fathers, chained in prisons dark, were still in heart and conscience free; how sweet would be their children’s fate if they, like them, could die for thee!

Faith of our fathers, we will love both friend and foe in all our strife; and preach thee too, as love knows how, by kindly words and virtuous life.

Refrain: Faith of our fathers, holy faith, we will be true to thee till death.

Reflect on the great gallery of Old Testament saints listed in Hebrews 11. Ask God to make your Christian faith something that future generations will want to emulate. Carry this tune with you—

For Today: Psalm 22:4-5; 1 Timothy 6:13-14; 2 Timothy 4:7; Hebrews 11

Osbeck, K. W.

• Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They called upon thee, and were delivered: they trustedin thee, and were not confounded. Psalm 22:4-5
• I charge thee in the sight of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness. Fight the good fight of faith: lay hold of eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:13-14
• I have fought a good fight, and have finished my course: I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7
• Now faith is the grounds of things which are hoped for, and the evidence of things which are not seen. For by it our elders were well reported of Through faith we understand that the world was ordained by the word of God, so that the things which we see, are not made of things which did appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a greater sacrifice than Cain, by the which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: by the which faith also he being dead, yet speaketh. By faith was Enoch translated, that he should not see death: neither was he found: for God had translated him: for before he was translated, he was reported of, that he had pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God, must believe that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek him. By faith Noah being warned of God of the things which were as yet not seen, moved with reverence, prepared the Ark to the saving of his household, through the which Ark he condemned the world, and was made heir of the righteousness which is by faith. By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed God, to go out into a plae, which he should afterward receive for inheritance, and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he abode in the land of promise, as in a strange country, as one that dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob heirs with him of the same promise. For he ooked for a city having a foundation, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith Sarah also received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful which had promised. And therefore sprang thereof one, even of one which was dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand of the sea shore which is innumerable. All these died in faith, and received not the promises, but saw them afar off, and believed them, and received them thankfully, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things, declare plainly, that they seek a country. And if they had been mindful of that country, from whence they came out, they had leisure to have returned. But now they desire a better, that is an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham offered up Isaac, when he was tried, and he that had received the promises, offered his only begotten son. (To whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.) For he considered that God was able to raise him up even from the dead: from whence he received him also after a sort. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, concerning things to come. By faith Jacob when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph, and leaning on the end of his staff, worshipped God. By faith Joseph when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel, and gave commandment of his bones. By faith Moses when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child, neither feared they the king’s commandment. By faith Moses when he was come to age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, And chose rather to suffer adversity with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, Esteeming the rebuke of Christ greater riches, than the treasures of Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, and feared not the fierceness of the king: for he endured, as he that saw him which is invisible. Through faith he ordained the Passover and the effusion of blood, lest he that destroyed the first born, should touch them. By faith they passed through the red sea as by dry land, which when the Egyptians had assayed to do, they were swallowed up. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were compassed about seven days, By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them which obeyed not, when she had received the spies peaceably. And what shall I more say? for the time would be too short for me to tell of Gideon, of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah, also of David, and Samuel, and of the Prophets: Which through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained the promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, of weak were made strong, waxed valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. The women received their dead raised to life: others also were racked, and would not be delivered, that they might receive a better resurrection. And others have been tried by mockings and scouragings, yea, moreover by bonds, and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were hewn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword, they wandered up and down in sheep’s skins, and in goats’ skins, being destitute, afflicted, and tormented: Whom the world was not worthy of: they wandered in wilderness, and mountains, and dens, and caves of the earth. And these all through faith obtained good report, and received not the promise, God providing a better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Hebrews 11