It is relatively easy to find hymns to sing during the two beloved times of the Christian calendar: Lent and Advent. I have written many posts on hymns for these two seasons, which made me look at the times that do not fall within those two seasons. One of the beauties of the Christian calendar is allowing hymns to be sung year after year during Advent, encouraging our hearts to remember the reason for Christ’s first coming and celebrate his Incarnation. And the hymns sung during Lent fortify our hearts as we look to the cross with Jesus’ agonizing sacrifice, which ultimately gives way to our proclamation of “Hallelujah” on Easter morning!
The largest portion of the Christian calendar year falls under “Ordinary Time” or the “Time after Pentecost.” Although we can sing about Christ’s Incarnation and his death any time throughout the year, we typically do not sing about his Incarnation often during the “Ordinary Time” Obviously, each time we gather on the first day of the week, we remember Jesus’ resurrection on the first day of the week, and we continue to celebrate his once-for-all atoning sacrifice.
I shared a post recently that focused on hymns to sing while in the valley of the shadow of death, for that is a season we all walk through. As I considered hymns for that post, I thought about so many other great hymns that do not fall into Advent, Lent, or suffering. These are hymns that form us so deeply on topics of ecclesiology, perseverance, supplication, repentance, and thanksgiving (among many others!).
I have decided to create a series of posts covering the topics listed above, especially because we currently find ourselves living in the “Time after Pentecost.” The hymns selected for discussion are often historical and you may not be as familiar with them. This is on purpose! I believe we get a steady diet of newly-written songs (where there are many great ones!), but we have a dearth of historic, theologically-rich hymns that have been forsaken along the way.
As we begin our journey into different hymn themes, it’s only appropriate to begin with ecclesiological hymns.
Hymns on Ecclesiology (The Church)
The Church’s One Foundation, Samuel Stone (1866)
When I think about songs of the Church, the first one that always comes to mind is The Church’s One Foundation. Samuel Stone wrote the poem in 1866, which contains so many echoes of the Apostle’s Creed. The hymn contains images of the Church standing unshaken and stalwart against the many darts from the evil one. Stone wrote the text to provide a scriptural defense against theological heresies that were questioning biblical authority. What a treasure this hymn continues to be to churches today!
The church’s one Foundation
is Jesus Christ her Lord;
she is His new creation,
by water and the Word;
from heav’n He came and sought her
to be His holy bride;
with His own blood He bought her,
and for her life He died.Elect from ev’ry nation,
yet one o’er all the earth,
her charter of salvation,
one Lord, one faith, one birth;
one holy Name she blesses,
partakes one holy food,
and to one hope she presses,
with ev’ry grace endued.Tho’ with a scornful wonder,
men see her sore oppressed,
by schisms rent asunder,
by heresies distressed,
yet saints their watch are keeping,
their cry goes up, “How long?”
And soon the night of weeping
shall be the morn of song.The church shall never perish!
Her dear Lord, to defend,
to guide, sustain, and cherish,
is with her to the end;
tho’ there be those that hate her,
and false sons in her pale,
against the foe or traitor
she ever shall prevail.‘Mid toil and tribulation,
and tumult of her war,
she waits the consummation
of peace for evermore;
till with the vision glorious
her longing eyes are blest,
and the great church victorious
shall be the church at rest.Yet she on earth hath union
with God the Three in One,
and mystic sweet communion
with those whose rest is won.
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we,
like them, the meek and lowly,
on high may dwell with Thee.
Christ is Made the Sure Foundation, 7th century Latin, translated J. M. Neale (1851)
This text, which originated in the seventh century, stands with other great Latin hymns such as O Come, O Come Emannuel (also translated by Neale) and Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence. The richness of the words helps us know that we are connecting to centuries of Christians as the language is different from what we hear today.
John Mason Neale was an English scholar and hymnist that lived in England during the nineteenth century. He was influenced greatly by the Oxford Movement, a revival movement within the Church of England that encouraged a return to sacramental worship and elevated worship practices. Neal helped usher the Oxford Movement to Cambridge by co-founding the Cambridge Camden Society, later the Ecclesiological Society. Neale translated numerous hymns from Latin and Greek into English, and also composed the lyrics to “Good King Winceslas.” This particular hymn focuses on the work of the Church and closes with a strong trinitarian doxology.
Christ is made the sure foundation,
Christ the head and cornerstone,
chosen of the Lord, and precious,
binding all the church in one,
holy Zion’s help forever,
and her confidence alone.All that dedicated city,
dearly loved of God on high,
in exultant jubilation
pours perpetual melody,
God the One in Three adoring
in glad hymns eternally.To this temple, where we call You,
come, O Lord of Hosts, today;
with accustomed lovingkindness,
hear Your servants as they pray;
and Your fullest benediction
shed within its walls alway.Lord, here grant to all Your servants
what they ask of You to gain,
what they gain from You, forever
with the blessed to retain,
and hereafter in Your glory
evermore with You to reign.Praise and honor to the Father,
praise and honor to the Son,
praise and honor to the Spirit,
ever Three, and ever One,
one in might, and one in glory,
while unending ages run.
A Mighty Fortress is Our God, Martin Luther (1529), translated Frederick Hedge (1852)
Martin Luther’s “Battle Hymn of the Reformation” most likely needs no introduction. This hymn often finds an appearance around Reformation Sunday in October, but it is sung throughout the year, as well. Luther fought for many worship reforms throughout his lifetime, which directly impacted how the church should operate. Part of Luther’s liturgical reform included removing singing as a priestly role and placing songs in the mouths of parishioners, yet again. Luther also stripped the number of sacraments down to two (baptism and The Lord’s Supper), as opposed to the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church.
There are many doctrines taught in Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress,” but one is the beauty of the church. Luther emphasizes the “church militant” in standing against the devil’s schemes and the ultimate destruction of all things evil. As we sing, we are encouraged to stand firmly on Christ alone, knowing that “God’s truth abideth still; his kingdom is forever!”
A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper He, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and pow’r are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God’s own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
LORD Sabaoth His name,
from age to age the same;
and He must win the battle.And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.That Word above all earthly pow’rs
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
thro’ Him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still;
His kingdom is forever.
O Church Arise, Keith Getty & Stuart Townend (2005)
I mentioned that many hymns I highlight are historical, but this hymn by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend is a beautiful ecclesiological hymn. These hymnwriters have written numerous hymns together, with their most popular being “In Christ Alone.” One of the elements that distinguishes a modern hymn from songs published in the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) industry is the rhyme scheme and meter of the song. “O Church Arise” uses a cross-rhyme scheme (ABAB) and is in the Iambic meter (weak-strong). Additionally, the verses fit snugly into a hymnic meter of 10.8.10.8.8.8.10.8., meaning the number of syllables per line is consistent across all stanzas. See if you can identify these features below.
The hymn text echoes the “church militant” as seen in Luther’s hymn, while also resonating “The Church’s One Foundation” in its unifying language. Getty & Townend use multiple references to Christ being head of the Church, and they note the centuries of saints that have faithfully stood to defend Christ’s bride.
O Church, arise, and put your armour on;
Hear the call of Christ our Captain.
For now the weak can say that they are strong
In the strength that God has given.
With shield of faith and belt of truth,
We’ll stand against the devil’s lies;
An army bold, whose battle-cry is Love,
Reaching out to those in darkness.Our call to war, to love the captive soul
But to rage against the captor;
And with the sword that makes the wounded whole,
We will fight with faith and valour.
When faced with trials on every side
We know the outcome is secure,
And Christ will have the prize for which He died,
An inheritance of nations.Come see the cross, where love and mercy meet,
As the Son of God is stricken;
Then see His foes lie crushed beneath His feet,
For the Conqueror has risen!
And as the stone is rolled away,
And Christ emerges from the grave,
This victory march continues till the day
Every eye and heart shall see Him.So Spirit, come put strength in every stride,
Give grace for every hurdle,
That we may run with faith to win the prize
Of a servant good and faithful.
As saints of old still line the way,
Retelling triumphs of His grace,
We hear their calls and hunger for the day
When with Christ we stand in glory.
Why sing songs about the Church?
After reading through these few hymn texts, I hope it is obvious why we should sing these in our corporate gatherings! We remind ourselves that we are unified in Christ together; Christ is the one doing the unification. And when we gather, we are gathering in His name. There is so much more happening when we gather on Sundays than most American Christians think. We stand on the shoulders of those who have come before us, some of those who laid down their lives for the privilege of continuing to gather safely in Christ’s name. We respond as a corporate body to God’s revelation of who He is, and we encourage and edify each other when we sing, pray, and listen to the Word spoken to us.
The gathering of God’s people is not something to be taken lightly. We whole-heartedly join fellow believers in ascribing all glory to God, knowing that we will spend our eternity doing the same. The local church is a small picture of what our eternity will be…it is our practice for heaven. “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known” (1 Cor. 13:12).
Thank you, God, for the blessing of your Church.
