Denver Seminary

ENGAGE 23 I grew up in the era of gospel music, a genre that spanned 120 years (1850 to 1970). Many of the songs from that time were not built to last. But some did. There's Blessed Assurance, It is Well with My Soul, and He Lives. I probably sang each of these songs thousands of times. Even though church congregations rarely sing them any more, my memory will not release them. To this day, I sing them under my breath when no one is around. Another of those memorable gospel songs is Fanny Crosby's Rescue the Perishing. The chorus (sung at the conclusion of each verse) goes, "Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save." This chorus focuses on grace. Crosby's third verse grips: Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter, Feelings lie buried that grace can restore; Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness, Chords that were broken will vibrate once more. The articles in this edition of Engage Magazine focus on human experiences "down in the human heart" that are—using Crosby's word—crushing. Some of the stories hint of no simple solution this side of Heaven. It's under such conditions—crushing—that the theme of grace arises. A grace that is visualized in the life and work of Jesus. A grace that is merciful to one who has failed. A grace that embraces the person whom others hate. A grace that offers hope to people who've lost theirs. A grace that is generous to those who have nothing. The result when grace is in motion? "Chords that were broken will vibrate once more." I imagine an unplayable violin restrung, producing once again beautiful music. Beautiful music! This kind of "rescuing" grace underlies the teaching in every class at Denver Seminary. BENEDICTION Gordon MacDonald CHANCELLOR The redemptive power of the gospel consists of restoration and adoption. Through the coming of Christ, we are rescued from bondage … and our identity is changed from a slave to the law to an adopted child of God. Dr. Keith Wells "The coming of Christ to this world is not limited to the salvation of our soul and heavenly bliss somewhere. He will abolish war, injustice, pain and suffering, economic inequality and exploitation, and He will rule the world in righteousness and peace." Dr. Alemayehu Mekonnen "True gratitude is not fundamentally a response to our circumstances. It is first and foremost a response to God and what He has done in Christ." Nancy Buschart "Jesus can empathize with the lonely, the abandoned, and the suffering. More than that, He can and does offer true hope in the midst of alienation and pain." Elodie Ballantine Emig "We can have confidence that the holy, loving God of the Bible is trustworthy and consistent. Far from cruel, his mercy is longsuffering." Dr. Richard S. Hess "The redemptive power of the gospel not only defeats evil, but, in the end, reverses it. Now that's power ... and love!" Howard Baker WORD FOR WORD

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