NEW YEAR'S EVE, NEW YEAR'S DAY, 2007-2008

A Homily on "Forth in Thy Name, O Lord, I Go" by Barry Bobb

What's in a name?

This important hymn on the theme of Christian service appears in the hymnal of almost every denomination, utilizing a variety of tunes. One can readily see the reason for its popularity for it lays out rather simply and directly some basic thoughts for Christians as they begin afresh each new day.

We are immediately struck by how this text stands apart in comparison with the bulk of Charles Wesley's hymnody. As Teresa Berger has observed*, most of Wesley's hymns are soteriological in theme. There's not a lot of First Article stuff in his poems. Wesley's work expresses primarily awe and thanksgiving at God's wondrous plan of salvation brought to completion in Jesus. This hymn is also intensely personal ("I", "me" and "my" appear ten times in five stanzas). It appears to be strongly autobiographical when we consider Wesley's life and struggles as a backdrop for the text. (This is much in the same way as "Dear Christians, One and All" was a very personal hymn for Luther.)

Wesley was awestruck by the "for me" dimension of the Christ event. He readily credits the writings of Martin Luther for this discovery, especially the commentary on Galatians. Note this journal entry from 1738 (before his conversion and parallel with his brother John's heart being "strangely warmed" by Luther's writing on Romans):

"I spent some hours this evening in private with Martin Luther, who was greatly blessed to me, especially his conclusion of the 2^nd chapter. I laboured, waited, and prayed to feel "who loved me, and gave Himself for me."

Wesley saw the complete change of heart which comes with salvation. Being a redeemed child of God affects everything, even our approach to daily living.

As others in this series have noted, Wesley's hymns are rich in Scriptural allusion. There is a Biblical underpinning to all of his writing. His opening line states the foundation for the rest of the hymn. He is reminding us of the importance of "name" in the Scripture, how it tended to sum up a person's existence. Think of Abraham, Peter, Paul and others. Or consider Jesus' own words in the High Priestly Prayer: "I have revealed your name to those you gave me...Father, protect them by your name---the name you gave me---so that they may be one as we are one" ( John 17:11) Once baptized into the name of the Christ, our existence is redefined. We throw off the other names which might serve as our daily banner. The names of other allegiances could include a dominant loyalty to self, to a company, to power, or to wealth. Interestingly Charles included a stanza which his brother John left out of the first Methodist hymnal as poetically inferior. But it is illuminating as to some of his fears:

"Preserve me from my calling's snare,
and hide my simple heart above,
above the thorns of choking care,
the gilded baits of worldly love."

Those in positions of power in the Church know well about those worldly temptations.

The name of the Lord, like his Word, has great power. As we enter another year of his grace, let us resolve and rejoice: resolve to search His Word and know His will; rejoice that His grace has found us and redeemed us for a life brimming with His divine love.

• For more background on the theology in Wesleyan hymns, the reader might enjoy Teresa Berger's Theology in Hymns: A Study of the Relationship of Doxology and Theology According to a Collection of Hymns for Use of the People Called Methodists 1780, translated from the German into English by Timothy E. Kimbrough. Kingswood Books, 1995 (Abingdon: Nashville TN/USA).