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a. b. simpson

The Regions Beyond

Words: Albert Benjamin Simpson (b. Dec. 15, 1843; d. Oct. 29, 1919)
Music: Margaret Mae Simpson (b. April ___, 1878; d. Oct. 9, 1958)

Note: Pastor Simpson’s fine missionary hymn was published in 1904. His daughter Margaret supplied the tune.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

The phrase that dominates this hymn, “to the regions beyond,” is taken from the words of Paul in Second Corinthians.

Having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment. But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

II Cor. 10:15-17

Or, as J. B. Philips has it, “Our hope is that your growing faith will mean the expansion of our proper sphere of action, so that before long we shall be preaching the gospel in districts beyond you.”

Particularly in the Christian missionary work of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, that phrase, “the regions beyond,” came to represent the goal and passion of many servants of Christ. One of these was Canadian pastor and missionary statesman Albert Simpson.

(1) To the regions beyond I must go, I must go
Where the story has never been told;
To the millions that never have heard of His love,
I must tell the sweet story of old.

To the regions beyond I must go, I must go,
Till the world, all the world, His salvation shall know.

The pages of secular history are dotted with the names of intrepid explorers who dared to reach beyond the confines of the European continent to the shores of what was to them a New World. Leif Erickson was apparently the first, at the end of the first millennium, followed by Columbus (1492), Cabot (1497), Magellan (1520), and many more.

These reached beyond the seas that bounded their own lands. Then others, later, dreamed of even grander things. Hot air balloons enabled man to reach beyond the bounds of earth, and Wilbur and Orville Wright pioneered flight in heavier-than-air machines. Though it took half a century more, it was only “one small step for a man” to climb beyond the confines of earth’s atmosphere and eventually reach the moon in 1969.

When it comes to biblical history we can see the same thing. During the three years He was on earth, only once did the Lord Jesus step briefly beyond the borders of the Holy Land. But after His death and resurrection, and before He ascended back to God the Father, Christ commissioned His followers to carry the message of the gospel much further. “You shall be witnesses to Me,” He said, “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

The book of Acts is the record of how dedicated believers began to do that. Even opposition didn’t stop the spread of the gospel. In fact, the devil rather outsmarted himself in that. If his intention was to stir up the enemies of the cross to stamp out Christianity, it worked in completely the opposite way. The Bible says:

A great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria…those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

Acts 8:1, 4

It was like trying to stamp out a fire, and having the glowing sparks fly off and start new fires elsewhere. One of the missionaries, a converted Jewish Pharisee named Saul (later, Paul), went on three journeys (and likely a fourth, after the end of Acts) preaching the gospel and founding new churches around the Mediterranean world. The hardships and cruelty he faced are graphically reported (II Cor. 11:23-28).

Acts chapter 18 records his early ministry in the city of Corinth. Then, when problems later developed in the church there, he wrote letters to them giving further instruction and calling for corrective measures (the first and second epistles to the Corinthians). It’s near the end of the second letter that Paul speaks of his hope to get things settled in the Corinthian church so he can move on elsewhere, “to preach the gospel in the regions [or lands] beyond you” (II Cor. 10:16)–likely referring to western Greece, Italy and Spain.

(2) To the hardest of places He calls me to go,
Never thinking of comfort or ease;
The world may pronounce me a dreamer, a fool,
Enough if the Master I please.

(3) Oh, you that are spending your leisure and powers
In those pleasures so foolish and fond;
Awake from your selfishness, folly and sin,
And go to the regions beyond.

Questions:

  1. In what areas are missionaries serving who are supported by your church?
  2. Can you think of three or four ways you can encourage and help these servants of Christ (either as a church, or personally)?

Links:

Yesterday, Today, Forever

Words: Albert Benjamin Simpson (b. Dec. 15, 1843; d. Oct. 29, 1919)
Music: James H. Burke (b. _____, 1858; d. _____, 1901)

Note: A. B. Simpson served as a Presbyterian clergyman for many years, but in the 1870s he believed he had a “Second Blessing” experience, and gradually moved toward espousing more holiness teachings. In the early 1880s his health gave way, and doctors told him he had only a few months to live. However, Simpson experienced a dramatic healing, enabling him to continue in active ministry for another thirty-five years.

This last experience seemed to crystalize his holiness position, and he began teaching that Christ is the believer’s: Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King. (This formula has been used also by the Assemblies of God, as well as the Four Square churches.) Simpson founded the Christian and Missionary Alliance (CAMA) denomination which holds this doctrinal position.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

Though I have much in common with this group, have friends there, and have preached among them, I do not agree with all they teach. Pastor Simpson had a strong evangelistic ministry, and a great passion for world missions. In these things I certainly concur with his stand. However, I do not believe that the “Second Blessing” experience, or physical healing being unfailingly available on demand, can be supported from Scripture.

The latter issue is related to the present hymn, which is based on Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” However, Albert Simpson, and those who believe as he did, take that verse much further than the inspired author of the text likely intended. It is one thing to say of Christ that what He is never changes, but quite another to say that what He does never changes.

The writer of Hebrews (whose identity is not known) was dealing with Jewish converts who were facing persecution (Heb. 10:32-33). As with John the Baptist in prison, some struggled with doubts and uncertainties. And like John they were asking, in effect, “Is Jesus the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (cf. Lk. 7:19). The ringing answer is, “Jesus is the Christ [the Messiah], yesterday, today, and forever. He is who He is. His identity will never change.”

However, we must not conclude from that that Christ never acts in a different ways, or did things at one time that He does not do now. For example, He died while on earth, but He “dies no more” (Rom. 6:9). And His healing miracles had the specific purpose of confirming His identity and authenticating His message (Acts 2:22), but that does not mean He will necessarily do the same today. The apostles likewise worked miracles for a similar purpose (II Cor. 12:12), but these things are spoken of as something past, by the writer of Hebrews (Heb. 2:3-4).

It is unquestionable that the Lord heals today. He does so through the natural healing processes God has built into the human body. He does so through medicines and medical treatments He has enabled human beings to discover. And, yes, He does so from time to time, by supernatural means that rise above and beyond this. But to imply as Simpson’s hymn does in (3) that miracles of healing are as readily available now as they were during the days when Christ walked the earth is to go too far.

(3) Oft on earth He healed the sufferer, by His mighty hand;
Still our sicknesses and sorrows go at His command.
He who gave His healing virtue to a woman’s touch,
To the faith that claims His fullness still will give as much.

Having said these things, there is much in this hymn that is encouraging. Most hymnals (other than the CAMA’s own Hymns of the Christian Life), select stanzas that are suitable for a wider use, and agree with other evangelical theological perspectives. As of this writing, the Cyber Hymnal doesn’t include the following two stanzas found in many hymn books. I believe they are likely Simpson’s stanzas four and five, with the last stanza in the Cyber Hymnal becoming number six.

(4) He who pardoned erring Peter never needst thou fear,
He who came to faithless Thomas all thy doubt will clear;
He who let the loved disciple on His bosom rest
Bids thee still, with love as tender, lean upon His breast.

Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same.
All may change, but Jesus never! Glory to His name!
Glory to His name! Glory to His name!
All may change, but Jesus never! Glory to His name!

(5) He who ‘mid the raging billows walked upon the sea
Still can hush our wildest tempest, as on Galilee;
He who wept and prayed in anguish in Gethsemane
Drinks with us each cup of trembling, in our agony.

Questions:

  1. What does the Bible mean when it indicates that God never changes (Mal. 3:6)?
  2. How would you briefly describe your own theology of bodily healing?

Links: