No More Battle Hymns
This past Sunday in church the sending song was the Battle Hymn of the Republic. They tried to hide it by calling it “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory”, but it is the Battle Hymn, nonetheless.
I am certain that many in the congregation appreciated the choice of song for the Independence Day holiday. I am not one.
This is a vile, disgusting, and ultimately blasphemous song. It conflates God and country, it is redolent of Holy War, and historically it has served to stir people up to go and slaughter other children of God. In short, it is completely opposed to all that we are called to do in response to the Gospel. The song deserves to be forever ejected from the Christian musical canon.
True peace is furthered when we turn our hearts, and our songs away from the tune of violence and toward the Prince of Peace.
Praise Be to God
