Take My Heart – God’s Response to a Willing Vessel regardless of Cultural Norms.
Jon Seccombe has written a prayerful hymn of consecration: ‘Take my Heart’. ‘Take my Heart’ reinterprets the hymn, ‘Take My Life’ written by female evangelist, Frances Ridley Havergal in 1874.
Jon, an historian and New Testament scholar has researched the life and ministry of Frances Havergal as well as prominent New Testament women. In the following article, Jon brings insight into the often-underestimated role of women in ministry. We pray your heart is moved to a deeper level of consecration as you listen to this wonderful hymn and learn how God uses willing vessels regardless of cultural expectations. https://youtu.be/dSSLn0OZO9Y
(and with special thanks to Lee-Anne Byrne for her illustration of Francis)
The year was 1874 and a dynamic and charismatic woman was setting out to run an evangelistic meeting with a local household….
The woman was Frances Ridley Havergal and she was both acting in the fullest capacity that her society allowed her at the time but she also exceeded this considerably as you will see. Sadly and to its loss, the role of women in early Christianity and their potential in church life has been frequently underestimated throughout the ages.
As a boy growing up in a conservative rural locale of the 1960s and then the suburbs in the 1970s, I was gobsmacked when the wife of the elderly pastor of our tiny Baptist church stood up to speak. Raised in Baptist churches from infancy, I could not once remember anyone but a male leading from the front, however, here was a lady and wow, was she dynamic. She was a deaconess and this was the beginning of a revelation as I came to see what a gender not my own could do and achieve. This was despite all my cultural experiences to date suggesting otherwise.
As I studied the scriptures more latterly, I grew to see that women did perform leading roles at times in the New Testament church. Some of these were surprising examples of leadership and one seems quite modern. In the middle of Acts, we meet Lydia, a businesswoman who has punched through the glass ceiling. She is involved in the textiles industry, specifically catering to very well-off customers who enjoy the status that wearing purple clothes brings them.
This Tyrian dye she procures is as difficult to make as today’s saffron, requiring careful techniques: up to 12,000 molluscs are needed for 1 gram of dye: the emperors themselves maintain exclusive rights to the trade. In today’s terms, her clients are equivalent to the wearers of Hermes and Louis Vuitton (certainly not the knock off variety) and Lydia herself possesses significant status and wealth being part of that trade. Although a gentile, (a non-Jew), she is a ‘God fearer’, one who has already accepted the fundamentals of Judaism and is clearly on a search for meaning in her life – perhaps having achieved so much already and yet not quite satisfied.
When Lydia meets Paul and Silas, she accepts the Christian message that they bear. The hand of God is at work here: He has been preparing to significantly extend His kingdom and in this case, He deliberately chooses a woman as a key part of this venture; one in whom He has planted a great yearning to know the Lord of the Universe. And God has his reasons for choosing her.
In a culture where it is regularly assumed that a male heads the household, it is Lydia who appears to be the head of this small community. She issues the invitation and presses the evangelists (the 4 men) – to stay in her house. Luke, the writer of Acts, is also accommodated.
After her decision to become a follower of Christ and at her instigation, Lydia’s entire household then joins her in following the Lord and is baptised into the faith. The context shows that there would certainly have been quite a few people living in this large household – family and servants – and Lydia is most definitely the one who leads in this small community beneath her roof.
Sometime later, the Apostle Paul and Silas are illegally beaten by a mob in an act which is subsequently condoned by the Roman magistrates of Philippi. When they are imprisoned and released by God’s grace, it is Lydia who returns them to her house until have overcome the effects of the severe beating and are well enough to leave.
Elsewhere in his letter to the Romans, Paul commends Phoebe, a woman who is a deacon, when he writes to the Christians in Rome. Although the office of deacon is chosen initially in Acts to solve a financial issue, shortly afterwards we see one of these deacons, Stephen, preaching powerfully, leading to his unique position as the first Christian martyr. Another of the group of deacons selected in Acts 2, Philip, was also an evangelist whose ministry is attested through miracles and the direction of the Holy Spirit and who plays a key role in the extension of Christianity to non-Jewish people. A deacon, therefore, was not simply involved in housekeeping: Phoebe also has important work and Paul commends the church of Rome to give her all the assistance that she needs. (In fact she carries a copy of this important letter to the church in Rome on Paul’s behalf.) In short, God – through the Holy Spirit – has always included women in the mission to increase and mature the kingdom of believers. He has done so since the beginning of the church, with individuals such as Phoebe and continues through to this day.
And so, we come to our 1873 prayer meeting and Francis Ridley Havergal. Daughter of a minister and proud that she was named for the great English reformer and martyr, Nicholas Ridley, Frances was conversant in at least seven languages and read the Bible in both Greek and Hebrew, (the languages of its composition). Frances published books, songs and poems which were widely used across 2 continents. The leading preacher of the day, Spurgeon, gave copies of 2 of her devotional books to 300 pastors at his conference because he believed that they would have a great impact on their spiritual growth.
Francis Havergal was also a copious letter writer and received a hundred letters a month from those she inspired and mentored. Volumes of her letters are still available today. Yet her main calling was as a fervent evangelist and these letters give a powerful insight into the way that she urged others, both men and women, to accept and follow Jesus. In her short and passionate 43 years on this earth, she was instrumental in more people, both becoming Christians and growing in great maturity, than an entire phalanx of Christians might achieve in many lifetimes.
Frances organised mission meetings, conducted choirs and ran multiple groups of bible studies and prayer groups for women. She had a beautiful voice and could play most of Mozart’s and Beethoven’s piano sonatas from memory and after performing, she would use that moment and the atmosphere she had created to witness about her saviour. In her letters she indicates that her performances took place in both homes and halls. On one occasion she speaks to 1000 men, presumably after performing. We know this because the group was so large that she mentions her sister was speaking to the overflow outside.
She was never backward in challenging any preacher to explain the saving grace of Jesus if she felt that they had not been clear enough. Frances achieved all this despite setbacks such as frequent illness (including typhoid) and the death of her mother as a youngster. She was at the heart of mission and revival in Worcester, Liverpool and other major cities in England.
On that particular February night in 1874 in the West Midlands of England, she set out from the house where she was a guest for study and prayer with another local household. By the end of the evening, every adult would make a commitment to follow Jesus: Frances was not going to leave until they did as she later recounted! Frances wrote in this oft quoted passage, quite typical of her style:
“There were ten persons in the house, some unconverted and long prayed for, and some converted, but not rejoicing Christians. He gave me the prayer, ‘Lord, give me all in this house!’ And He just did! Before I left the house everyone had got a blessing.”
Frances was staying at Areley, north of Worcester (one could say that she had arrived there to run a mission but in reality, her entire life was one continual mission). A few nights later after these events, she was asked to speak to the two daughters of the household where she had been staying at this time:
“The last night of my visit after I had retired, the governess asked me to go to the two daughters. They were crying, etc.; then and there both of them trusted and rejoiced; it was nearly midnight. I was too happy to sleep, and passed most of the night in praise and renewal of my own consecration; and these little couplets formed themselves, and chimed in my heart one after another till they finished with ‘Ever, Only, ALL for Thee!'”
Although within her lifetime others would put these words to a famous tune of Mozart, she strongly disliked this and was clear that she much preferred a tune of her father’s, which, although famous in its day, has now fallen into obscurity, lacking the same appeal to contemporary audiences.
For Frances then, every moment of her day was given over to prayer, praise, writing, mentoring, or witnessing. She knew doubt, disappointment, and death. Yet she rose above it, all knowing, that God would defeat those three ‘ds’ and deliver.
We live in a vastly different would today than Frances Havergal’s. It is a post-Christian era. If we could compare it to the New Testament, Frances was evangelising people who were much like the Jews that Phoebe and Peter spoke to. Ones who had a knowledge and acceptance of a God-centred worldview; having grown up in the environment of the Christian church. However, although they had considerable knowledge about God and His involvement in human affairs, this didn’t mean much to many of them, until Frances showed them the need to live only for Jesus.
By contrast, our world has become much more like that of the gentiles that Paul preached to: one caught up in idol and self-worship, lacking even the most basic knowledge of Jesus or even agreement of how to find truth. They are ripe for the picking of any satanic argument that appears on their social media feed. Likewise, when Paul preaches to the Athenians in the marketplace, he has to explain the most basic of facts; that there is a God who we will one day answer to and who is responsible for the making of our world; a God who is outside of the creation which mirrors His qualities.
In part this change has happened in the last 20- 30 years, but its genesis is much older. This departure from a Christian worldview happens when evangelism slows or even stops and this is the fierce joy of the evil one. But that’s very negative: I would prefer to read of Frances Havergal, a woman who was so passionate that every single moment was captive for her Jesus and that meant that she seized every opportunity to witness to Him. When she died at 43, there were thousands who could say that they had become followers of Christ through her testimony and thousands more who were strengthened in their faith because of her total commitment.
And isn’t our society bleeding for this same Good News?
A few further observations of Frances from her letters:
“The only tune I do not like, and cannot possibly sanction, in your Songs of Peace and Joy, is the setting of my Consecration hymn, ‘Take my life,’ to that wearisomely hackneyed kyrie of Mozart. It does not suit the words cither, and I was much vexed with Mr. Mountain for printing it in his ‘Hymns of Consecration’ and it would just spoil your book to let it pass. I particularly wish that hymn kept to my dear father’s sweet little tune, ‘ Patmos,’ which suits it perfectly.”
Frances’ sister wrote: “At the close of the meeting, my sister gave to each one a card with her Consecration hymn, ‘Take my life and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee,’ specially prepared and printed for this evening (Messrs. Parlane, Paisley, still supply them). Her own name was omitted, and a blank space left for signature. As she gave the cards, she asked them to make that hymn a test before God, and if they could really do so, to sign it on their knees at home. Then the hymn was sung to our dear father’s tune ‘Patmos’ (No. 145, S. G. G.)”
On Prayer:
“My new book The Royal Invitation —distinctly and entirely for outsiders have long wanted to have full fair shot at those who are not the King’s children. Can you spare two minutes to pray that may have special help in this?”
On Committees
“Committees I never belonged to, and never shall, and believe more successful work is often done by someone brave man or woman.”
Regarding social hierarchies
Frances moved amongst many strata of society, talking at one point about the deaths of people connected to her family such as Viscount Mountmorres and then the Earl of Kellie’s death, yet running classes of singing for factory girls and being the greatest of friends with all the servants in her sister’s house. She writes about a particularly rough crowd in one of her evangelistic campaigns:
“I was wonderfully helped on Saturday evening. The people are the roughest, lowest lot I ever came in contact with, and much depended on a good start with them. So as there were going to be proposals made to them about clubs and doctors and mutual help, I began with a popular song, the burden of which is, ‘Do your best for one another;’ and after singing a verse or two, I called upon the assembly to join in the ‘chorus’ after each verse! This took wonderfully, and they encored it furiously! So I sang it again, with chorus. So my point was gained, and as soon as the next song was announced they cheered heartily. I am quite sure I never sang more tellingly in my life than, ‘He shall feed His flock,’ and Come unto Him.’ (ed. arias from Handel’s Messiah) Mr. Menzies introduced with few nice words, and had all that rough lot listening all through in utter stillness. I felt I had them so in my power that I could shade off into the softest notes and yet be heard all over the great place, which holds 900. The silence and breathless attention would have been remarkable anywhere; but fancy these poor wretches, who certainly never heard anything but the lowest songs before! Mrs. Menzies got twenty-seven of them to come to her reading last night. p132″ (that is many came to a Bible study afterwards.)
Even Frances’ sister, Maria, (her biographer) was an evangelist:
“Did you know that while you were speaking in the schoolroom, Maria was addressing more than 100 men and boys outside, for whom there was no room inside. They stood in the dark lane for more than an hour listening to her. Mr. Shaw says he has heard her when she did not know, and her power and ability are very remarkable in that line. My sister says she will try to carry on the young ladies’ class which I am hoping to form. So with new classes and prayer meeting, that makes five new means started.”
On joy
“Somebody said it was ‘religiously jolly ‘! which expression by no means displeased me, because it is just what I wish, to get people to connect religion with all that is pleasant and joyful. ‘Him serve with mirth ‘ — do you remember my asking you to retain that old reading? I am so glad you did.”
On her contemporaries
“Heard Spurgeon one Sunday A.M. Magnificent don’t recollect ever hearing anything finer. Heard Dr. T. the Sunday before at Westminster Abbey, p.m. Service — cold and argumentative and decidedly unimpressive. Papa’s chant to the Psalms was grandly played chanted at the Abbey. That Tabernacle (Spurgeon’s church) certainly one of the most remarkable sights in the world — the end of the season and London half empty, but was thronged, and always twice every Sunday; and more than half are men, and intellectual-looking ones too.”
Further facts about Frances
Rev. Havergal, Frances’ father was a talented composer. He provided a set of musical melodies/ chants for the psalms and these were used in Westminster Abbey, a fact of which Frances was proud as she adored her father and was distraught when he died, feeling that she was now an orphan. Similarly, the ‘Spurgeon’ she mentions was the most famous preacher of modern times, (excluding Moody and Billy Graham). He was called the ‘prince of preachers’ in Victorian England. All of his sermons are extant (taking up around 70 volumes) and make worthwhile reading. His Sunday sermon was printed each week in newspapers around the world. It was nothing for Spurgeon to be preaching to 6,000 people on a regular Sunday and spoke to crowds up to 30,000 without any aid.
* Frances Havergal was so well known that she could be guaranteed that any publisher would take a risk on her work, knowing that it would sell.
* Frances had memorized approximately half the N.T and a fair bit of the old – her letters reveal an exhaustive knowledge of scripture.
* Frances performed a role similar to George Beverley Shea (as musician to the Billy Graham evangelistic campaigns) and Ira Sankey (for the evangelist Moody), singing hymns (often written by herself) and playing piano. She possessed a beautiful voice and great skill on the piano and in writing harmony, the latter self-taught. Her audiences often numbered in the hundreds. As she notes repeatedly, people were often greatly emotionally affected by her singing and the words of the hymns, so she immediately took the opportunity to ensure that they had understood both the promises of Jesus and the requirement for personal commitment to Him and immediately challenged them to follow Jesus, immediately after a performance. She was certainly good enough to perform the arias from Handel’s Messiah and did so on occasion, I assume while accompanying herself on the piano.
For more information about Spurgeon: https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/spurgeon-did-you-know#:~:text=During%20his%20lifetime%2C%20Spurgeon%20is,time%20while%20he%20was%20preaching
A personal note:
Language – and the expressions we use – change over time. When Francis used the phrase, “Take My Life’, the meaning was crystal clear to her audience. She was giving every aspect of her life to God and wanted him to use it as he saw fit. In my lifetime and in the place where I live, this phrase has come to have a very dark meaning as a reference to suicide. I have had several students do this and have spent much time helping others who have been impacted on this. Because this phrase can have such a heavy impact on others and may invoke responses that are intended, I chose to modify the title so as not provoke unnecessary hurt.