Global Perspectives
by Teri Ong
I haven’t had ten minutes for writing in the past three weeks. The week before Thanksgiving was taken up in a whirlwind of rehearsals, final classes, concerts and last music lessons of our “term.” Then there was a day of laundry and packing, the Lord’s Day, and an early Thanksgiving celebration with the gathered family, and off to London for two weeks with our eager study group.
In typical American tourist fashion we have gone non-stop from morning until bedtime. But in a-typical fashion we have avoided Madame Toussaud’s Wax Museum, the London Dungeon, the London Eye, and shopping on Regent Street, while taking in as much as possible of the remnants of Reformation England. The students were only slightly bedraggled from the constant pushing and prodding to get on and off the Underground trains in a timely and humane way. They have suffered only mildly from the usual allotment of blisters, muscle cramps, and shin splints from our seven to ten miles of walking almost every day.
There are two days in every study trip when the walking dramatically decreases– two days of rest– two Lord’s Days spent blessedly with our beloved brothers and sisters at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. There and then do we have time to worship, reflect, and refresh in the fellowship of kindred minds. Their hospitality to us is always abundant, loving, and gracious.
We experienced many contrasts in our fourteen days: the crowded and the solitary, the noisy and the serene, the hustle and the grinding halt (I can’t adequately describe the “gridlock” of human bodies at Leicester Square station on a Saturday evening). But one contrast particularly stands out in my mind.
On Monday, Nov. 30, we took our group to St. Paul’s Cathedral for a traditional Anglican evensong service. (One can’t fully appreciate the Puritans without understanding what they were reacting to.) As it turned out, the church was holding its first service for Advent. Our students saw a beautiful spectacle of choirs, candles, processions, vestments, liturgy, Latin plainchant and incense in one of the most visually stunning churches in the world. The aural experience of choirs, soloists, antiphonal responses and the pipe organ in that vast cavernous space is one of overwhelming “surround sound.”
In stark contrast to that is the pure and simple worship at the “Met Tab.” There our students experienced the unadorned proclamation of God’s Word, Gospel preaching, robust singing of unison Psalms and hymns, close personal fellowship and edifying conversation with believers from all over the world.
The Anglican Church of late has been very proud of its tolerance and diversity. Ironically, the “ticket holders” for the Advent service at St. Paul’s were predominantly well-dressed 
Caucasians. On the other hand, many people would probably not associate the word “diverse” with “separatist Baptist.” They would, however, be mistaken in not doing so, especially as regards the Met Tab. The congregation there is pure heaven– a vast array of people from every nation, kindred, people, and tongue gathered in unity and purity to worship God. (Rev. 7:9)
On Sunday, Dec. 6, we were blessed to be able to participate in the communion service following the evening Gospel message. The thought came to several of us that, due to the time differential of seven hours, our churches back home were sharing the bread and the cup at nearly the same moment. Unity of the Body of Christ in remembrance of His sacrifice for us and in hope of His soon coming spanned continents and oceans.
Today Steve and I spent time buying and reading some of the great Puritan classics by Charnock, Sibbes, and Baxter. We also held a newborn baby in a godly Christian home who will undoubtedly be raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Unity of the Body also spans centuries and generations.
See the ransomed millions stand,
Palms of conquest in their hand;
This before the throne their strain,
‘Hell is vanquished, death is slain;
Blessing, honor, glory, might,
Are the Conqueror’s native right;
Thrones and powers before Him fall;
Lamb of God, and Lord of all!
Hasten, Lord! The Promised hour;
Come in glory and in power;
Still Thy foes are unsubdued;
Nature sighs to be renewed.
Time has nearly reached its sum,
All things with Thy bride say, ‘Come.’
Jesus, whom all worlds adore,
Come, and reign for evermore!’
–Josiah Conder (1789-1855)
