Faith of our Fathers

Faith of our fathers living still
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword
O, how our hearts beat high with joy
When‘ere we hear that glorious word
Faith of our Fathers, holy faith!
We would be true to Thee ‘til death.

I grew up singing this song in the Methodist church I was brought up in. It was one of my favorites. As an adult I’ve converted to Lutheranism, and have had the joy of deepening my understanding of my faith through the richness of God’s Word which is the substance of the liturgy and the hymns we sing in church.

The history of this song can be found here. I think it’s rather interesting considering how prevalent this particular hymn is in the mainline protestant denominations.

And speaking of protestant denominations, today marks the 479th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession, which was authored by Philip Melanchthon, and read in German to Emperor Charles V and his princes and other court authorities and church officials on June 25, 1530, eleven years after the beginning of the Reformation. The document is the primary confession of the Lutheran Church and in its unaltered state relates what is believed, taught and confessed in Lutheran Churches the world over. The courageous men who stood before the Emperor and the Roman Church were literally putting their faith and confession before their lives as to do so might have cost them their lives and the lives of their families and states. (Psalm 119:46 I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame.) Although we do not sing that particular hymn in the Lutheran Church, when’ere I hear it, I think of these brave men who put their faith and confession before their lives, just as those men did who the above hymn was written about.

I also think of a more modern tune called “For Future Generations.” I was introduced to that song via the group 4Him after my mother died in November 2000. Someone gave me their CD entitled Hymns which contained many songs that my mother had taught me at home and that we have sung in church. It was a great comfort to me. I then got ahold of the 4Him CD "The Ride" which had “For Future Generations” on it. I don’t normally dabble in praise songs, but these two CDs by 4Him are ones I enjoy. The lyrics of “For Future Generations” remind me that we ALL must be faithful to our confession of faith.

I am grateful to my parents who brought me up in a Christian home and encouraged me to learn about my faith and to live my confession as a response to the working of the Holy Spirit within me who increases and directs my faith.

Ephesians 1:13-17 (New King James Version)
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him…

Here's a good blog about how the Augsburg Confession applies to us today.