The Church of Christ cannot be bound
by walls of wood or stone.
Where charity and love are found,
there can the church be known.
True faith will open up the door
and step into the street.
True service will seek out the poor
and ask to wash their feet.
True love will not sit idly by
when justice is denied.
True mercy hears the homeless cry
and welcomes them inside.
If what we have, we freely share
to meet our neighbor’s need,
then we extend the Spirit’s care
through ev’ry selfless deed.
The church of Christ cannot be bound
by walls of wood or stone.
Where charity and love are found,
there can the church be known.
“The Church of Christ Cannot Be Bound” was inspired by Menno Simons’ well-known quotation: “True evangelical faith cannot lie dormant. It clothes the naked, it feeds the hungry, it comforts the sorrowful, it shelters the destitute and serves those who harm it. It binds up that which is wounded.” Since winning the 2005 Macalester-Plymouth hymn writing competition it has been published in a wide variety of hymnals, most often with the African-American traditional tune MCKEE (sound sample; score). It may be sung to a variety of other Common Meter tunes, including the familiar AZMON.
In addition to traditional tune options, composer Sally Ann Morris created a contemporary setting (sound sample; score).
Adam M. L. Tice, Copyright © 2005, GIA Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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