Onward, Christian Soldiers–hey, can somebody give me an “Amen!” on this?
As we listen to this hymn, a certain flatline Protestant denomination has kicked off its annual General Assembly with prayers to Allah. I don’t think you’ll hear Onward, Christian Soldiers there.
Sing louder, sing louder.
Okay, you powerless minority–let’s start our day with a little marching music: Onward, Christian Soldiers, sung by Tennessee Ernie Ford.
Sorry: that characterization of American Christians as a small, powerless minority–it still rankles with me.
You know the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), in which the great lord, before embarking on a long journey, gives his servants sums of money and commands them, “Occupy until I come.”
If American Christianity truly is powerless against the onslaught of filth and apostasy, it’s because our churches, like the slothful and unfaithful servant who buried his lord’s money in a hole in the ground instead of putting it to work to earn more money, have failed to occupy. We have not used the talents that Our Lord has given us.
No one has requested a hymn for today–those who haven’t done so yet, come on, join in!–and I need a hymn. It’s only just ten o’clock and I’ve already heard enough bad news to last me all day.
So, OK, I found this and I hope you like it–Mahalia Jackson singing Onward, Christian Soldiers. Go get ’em, Mahalia!
Before I write my Mother’s Day tribute to my mother, which might take me a while, let’s have a hymn.
We need more hymns like “Onward, Christian Soldiers.” It has fallen out of favor in our sissy churches.
What about the movie clip? What’s that?
In addition to offering a fine, hearty rendition of the hymn, the movie, Stanley and Livingston, celebrates Dr. David Livingston, who brought God’s word to some of Africa. I believe that one of these days Africa is going to bring God’s word back to us. We can already see that happening in Western Europe.
Onward, Christian soldiers! Belt it out! And if the liberals don’t like it–well, ain’t that just too bad?
If you feel like watching a pro wrestling match, you go to… church?
Okay, now I’ve heard everything. “Christian cage fighting” is just what it sounds like: you put two “Christians” in a cage and they beat each other to a pulp–because, runs their motto, “Jesus Never Tapped Out” (“tapped out” meaning “cried uncle”). It goes on until one of them gives up ( http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/january/cage-fighting.html ). .
And you thought Tom and Jerry cartoons were violent.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HR28Nfiizvg/TIMbEy-m4wI/AAAAAAAAAAM/WYRwB59Ucr4/s1600/tom-jerry-pic.jpg
This business is supposed to correct the problem of the American church being overly feminized. Well, sure–when they say you can’t sing “Onward, Christian Soldiers” anymore because it’s just too butch, certainly some correction is called for. When 90% of the congregation is female, obviously the church isn’t reaching the other half of the human race.
But I think with Christian cage fighting they’ve turned the dial way too far the other way.
I am pretty sure this is not what St. Paul meant when he told the Corinthians, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” (I Cor. 14:40)
The “pastor vs. pastor steel cage matches” seem to be especially popular.
This is right up there with the old ladies clad in burlap, dancing around the altar in some of those insufficiently masculine flatline churches.
Could we just have the lesson and the sermon and the choir, and save the entertainment for the TV room?
