Thomas A. Dorsey, Reformed Theologian?

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And now to the actual post…

Give a good listen to Thomas A. Dorsey’s “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” (sung here by the great Mahalia Jackson)

Here’s someone who knows that making each step of faith and faithfulness requires a lot of help.  There is no triumphalism, no “victorious Christian life,” no pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps individualism.  I’m a mess.  It all depends on Jesus.

We want to follow, to live the life Christ calls us to — but can we?

I’m thinking it’s unlikely that the Baptist Dorsey read a lot of sixteenth-century Reformed theology. Still, he’s an excellent interpreter of Question 127 of the Heidelberg Catechism. It is the section on the line of the Lord’s Prayer

“And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one”

or more familiarly,

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”.

Here’s Dorsey:

Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I’m tired, I’m weak, I’m lone
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

When my way grows drear precious Lord linger near
When my life is almost gone
Hear my cry, hear my call
Hold my hand lest I fall
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

Here’s a bit of Heidelberg Q127:

By ourselves we are too weak
to hold our own even for a moment.
…
And so, Lord, uphold us and make us strong
with the strength of your Holy Spirit,
so that we may not go down to defeat
in this spiritual struggle, but may firmly resist our enemies…

So why is it that we can be moved to tears identifying with the real human struggle of Dorsey’s Gospel song and at the same time find ourselves objecting to this particular line of the Lord’s Prayer?

“Of course God wouldn’t lead me into temptation!” we declare.

“If God loves me why do I have to beg to be spared from the time of trial?” we ask.

But you know, if you read the papers about wars and famines, terrorism and abuse, you have to admit that there is really bad stuff out there.  Or just start writing in your journal about the struggles in your own life — temptations and trials abound, and still God is there.

We want to be spared, so with Dorsey, Heidelberg, and the Lord’s Prayer itself we cry out to God,

Do not bring us to the time of trial!

Precious Lord, take my hand!

We are too weak to hold our own!

Lead us not into temptation!

Lead me on! Help me stand!

Lord, uphold us and make us strong!

Why do you find it hard or easy to pray this line of the Lord’s Prayer?

How have you seen God delivering you from evil and trial?

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