There aged Confederates reenacted Pickett’s charge, limping across the field toward their old foe. I hope we’ll celebrate by remembering Ken Burns’s retelling of the 50th reunion at Gettysburg in 1913. Next summer marks the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. But when we realize that what we say in worship can be true only in the improbable reign of God, we regain our souls and sound the trumpet, this time for an army that marshals no troops but the frail saints, bears no arms but the sword of the Spirit, makes no advance except that of love and has no enemy but that which undermines God’s hope for human flourishing.īuried in the graveyard of that little Maryland church are Civil War veterans, both Union and Confederate. If the church loses this sense of absurdity and starts believing it really is some kind of army with sufficient strength to swat down our enemies and exert our will, then our worship becomes idolatry and our life demonic. “Like a mighty army, moves the church of God”? You must be kidding. “Praise God from whom all blessings flow”? Absurd. Instead of the words “Enter to Worship, Depart to Serve,” perhaps our bulletins should say, “Warning: Every word of the service to follow is absurd, to be uttered only in faith.” “I believe in the holy catholic church”? Absurd. Only in a place like this-a place where “Onward Christian Soldiers” was not a display of militarism but just patently ridiculous-could that hymn speak truth. There we were, a gaggle of Methodists and their two Presbyterian interlopers singing, “We are not divided, all one body we,” just after both of our communions had held rancorous, divisive denominational meetings. There we were, most of us graying, some infirm, a hearing aid or two whistling in the background, singing, “Like a mighty army moves the church of God.” If it hadn’t been worship, I might have laughed out loud. The irony of the moment caught me off guard. When I realized that “Onward Christian Soldiers” was our opening hymn a few weeks ago, I groaned. Thomas Church in New York couldn’t have been more reverent. On one Sunday someone squeezed out “Blessed Assurance” on an accordion on another Sunday, a woman braced a harmonica against the handlebar of her motorized wheelchair and lovingly played “She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain.” Evensong at St. An elderly saint plays the piano if her glaucoma isn’t too bad. When it comes to worship, the congregation-like a good country cook-pulls together what is in the cupboard. Now the congregation is aging, and each funeral brings yet another aching emptiness to once-filled pews.īut the congregation makes up in love and hospitality for what it lacks in membership and resources. This church was once a gathering place for a vibrant farming and fishing community, a place of summer revivals and ice cream socials, a place to chat under the live oak trees and maybe find a spouse. Our parish is the smallest congregation in a tiny three-point charge, and there are about two dozen of us there on a good Sunday. The nearest Presbyterian church is miles away, so my wife and I have become seasonal Methodists. It was in the little Methodist church just down the lane from our summer home in rural Maryland. Which is why I was surprised recently to find myself suddenly weepy as we sang “Onward Christian Soldiers” in worship. In a world grown weary of religious strife, a world where the word crusade arouses more anger and embarrassment than resolve, few are nostalgic for a hymn that celebrates Christian soldiers marching to war. Years ago, when the hymn was first excised from our repertoire, there was controversy over it, but that has mostly disappeared. Thank You, Father God for all that You do in Jesus' Name.Read our latest issue or browse back issues. Thank You, King of glory for reigning supreme over all and causing all things to work together for the good of them who love You and are called according to Your purpose. O King of glory, we worship and thank You for the protection, deliverance, righteousness and salvation that You give to us by Your Spirit. Prayer: Thank You Lord that You are a mighty Man of war. This through countless ages men and angels sing. Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King, Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,īlend with ours your voices in the triumph song. We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail. Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.Ĭrowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,īut the church of Jesus constant will remain. Like a mighty army moves the church of God īrothers, we are treading where the saints have trod. Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise īrothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise. On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory! Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war,Ĭhrist, the royal Master, leads against the foe Īt the sign of triumph, satan’s host doth flee
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