What does it mean to live into our mission of doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God?
I’ve been pondering this question this week as the preparations for this year’s NELA Pride Festival ramp up. Being part of The Festival is an obvious way of doing justice as so many people in the LGBTQ+ community have never been told God loves them as they are. It’s also our opportunity to humbly hold space with and for those who will never trust a church again.
But once Pride is over where is our mission calling us? Yes, we have the Missions Trunk which is a good thing and I’m glad to see it full every month. Our Missions Commission members are faithful stewards of that effort and that’s something to be thankful for. But could we - and more importantly - should we be doing more?
Please understand me clearly, I’m not critiquing our Missions Commission. They have faithfully done the job given to them by us, the church, to do. I do feel a push, however, for us to step out of our comfort zone and put “our hands on the plow” to use an old Spiritual. To volunteer at things like MedCamps which directly affect people in our congregation. To walk dogs and clean out kennels at the Human Society. To work a shift at the Food Bank. Or perhaps to discover new ways and organizations our community needs to be involved with. After all, if we consider for just a moment how much being involved with NELA Pride has benefited our church it’s obvious the potential for us to effect change - and be effected by change - is remarkable.
To conclude, the Spiritual I mentioned is “Gospel Plow,” also called “Hold On” and “Keep Your Hand on the Plow.” The title is based on Luke 9: 62 in which Jesus says, “Listen, if your hand is on the plow but your eyes are looking backward, then you’re not fit for the kingdom of God.” (The Voice Translation). The song was first documented in print in 1917 with its earliest recording happening in 1930 by the Hall Johnson Negro Choir. Perhaps the best-known version of the Spiritual was recorded by Bob Dylan in 1962.
There’s no one official version of the lyrics to the song which makes sense as the version I know includes a verse about Paul and Silas being locked in jail - my sermon text for Sunday. I first heard this Spiritual from the Music Minister at my home church, Mikki Lynn Thompson, as she has an abiding love for Spirituals and often shared them in our worship services. Clearly, the song stuck with me because I haven’t actively thought about “Gospel Plow” in years, and yet the lyrics have been running through my head all week.
I encourage you to enjoy the lyrics below and then look up “Gospel Plow” for yourself online. YouTube has several good versions. Let yourself be inspired both personally and for our Northminster Community about what work we’re being called to put our hands to plowing.
Mahalia Jackson’s version:
Hold on
Hold on
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on
Hold on
Hold on
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on
Heard the voice of Jesus say
Come unto me, I am the way.
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.
When my way gets dark as night,
I know the Lord will be my light,
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.
Hold on
Hold on
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on
You can talk about me much as you please
The more you talk, gonna stay on my knees.
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.
When I get to heaven, gonna sing and shout
Be nobody there to put me out.
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.
I know my robe's gonna fit me well,
I tried it on at the gates of Hell.
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.
Hold on
Hold on
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on
Bob Dylan’s version:
Mary wore three links of chain
Every link was Jesus name
Keep your hand on that plow, hold on
Oh Lord, Oh Lord, keep your hand on that plow, hold on.
Mary, Mark, Luke and John
All these prophets so good and gone
Keep your hand on that plow, hold on
Oh Lord, Oh Lord, keep your hand on that plow, hold on.
Well, I never been to heaven
But I've been told streets up there
Are lined with gold
Keep your hand on that plow, hold on
Oh Lord, Oh Lord, keep your hand on that plow, hold on.
Oh Lord, Oh Lord, keep your hand on that plow, hold on.
Oh Lord, Oh Lord, keep your hand on that plow, hold on.
The version I heard growing up:
Paul and Silas bound in jail
Had no money for to make their bail
Keep your hand on the plow and hold on
Hold on
Hold on
Keep your hand on the plow and hold on
Paul and Silas began to shout
Jail door opened and they walked out
Keep your hand on the plow and hold on
Hold on
Hold on
Keep your hand on the plow and hold on
Jillian
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