Tag: John Bunyan

More, More! ‘To Be a Pilgrim’

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My soul needs this nourishment today, so I hope nobody minds if once again I post this–my favorite rendition of one of my very favorite hymns, To Be a Pilgrim (also known as He Who Would Valiant Be).

John Bunyan wrote this song in jail in 1684, having been imprisoned for preaching without a license from the government. He wrote it into Part 2 of his immortal Pilgrim’s Progress.

It doesn’t look like the malicious power of government was able to quench John Bunyan’s spirit, does it?

As for my own spirit, I think for once I’ll post another hymn right after this.

Congregation Sings ‘To Be a Pilgrim’

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This is the hymn I woke up with today, the old John Bunyan hymn, To Be a Pilgrim–here sung by the congregation at Southwark Cathedral, in England. I’ve posted it before, because it stirs my soul. I hope it’ll do the same for you.

One More Time: ‘To Be a Pilgrim’

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Now I have to go out and get my blood pressure medications, so I find myself in need of encouragement.

It this hymn doesn’t pump you up, you’re probably due for an autopsy.

Words by John Bunyan, 1684–still glorious today.

By the Waters of Babylon

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By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?  –Psalm 137:1-4

It would not seem unusual for Christians to feel like this, these days. Only the difference is, the Old Testament Jews were carried off captive to Babylon; but for American Christians, their home country transformed itself into Babylon. And it’s worse for Christians in Britain, and the other European countries that once were called Christendom.

Yes, we might sing, with Don McLean, the refrain from Psalm 137. How, indeed, do we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?

Maybe like this.

Yes, I think: very much like this.