Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Why Shout AMEN in Church?

When Jesus gave to His disciples what some call “The Lord’s Prayer” in Matthew 6, He ended it with the single word, “Amen.” This is a strong word of affirmation that literally means, “so be it” or “let it be so.” And so when you are sitting in church and you hear a song or a part of a message that you strongly affirm and cling to, it is appropriate to shout out the word, “Amen.”

When Daniel Webster was on his deathbed, his doctor, having done all he could for Webster, picked up a hymnal and read to him the words to his favorite song:

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins;
and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains
and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.
wash all my sins away, wash all my sins away
and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood shall never lose its power
till all the ransomed church of God be saved to sin no more.
be saved to sin no more, be saved to sin no more
till all the ransomed church of God be saved to sin no more.

E'er since, by faith, I saw the stream thy flowing wounds supply,
redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
and shall be till I die, and shall be till I die
redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I'll sing thy power to save,
I’ll sing thy power to save, I’ll sing they power to save.
Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I'll sing thy power to save.

When he finished reading, Daniel Webster uttered his last three words on this earth. They were the words,

Amen! Amen! Amen!”

And all God’s people said?

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Amen!

Anonymous said...

"Thanks for dictionaries"!(Amen)

Mark said...

What is the reference for this teaching? I agree it is beautiful but is it factual?

Pastor Scott said...

Mark - if you are talking about references to shouting AMEN - there are many including but not limited to 1 Chronicles 16:36; Nehemiah 5:13; and Nehemiah 8:6. The book of Deuteronomy is also filled with such references.

Mark said...

No sorry, I did not make my question clear. I was asking about the reference to Daniel Websters last words. Thanks.