christian songs with rage in the lyricsx

#Christian songs with rage in the lyricsx full

This tune of Luther’s EIN FESTE BURG, was, like most tunes written around the time, originally scored in rhythmic form, which can be found in Psalter Hymnal 468. Luther reminds us that we can’t simply sit back and watch as horrible things unfold in our world, but that we must join the battle, knowing that God is on our side, and that we fight for a side that has, in a sense, already won. That sounds very dramatic and almost cliché, but it is important to remember. Whether we believe in very real, physical demons and tempters, or less concrete forces, we are in the midst of a very real war between good and evil. However, this text also needs to be understood in terms of a spiritual struggle against the powers of darkness. There is a case for arguing that we need to see this hymn in light of the history in which it was written, when Christians were fighting to defend their faith.

#Christian songs with rage in the lyricsx full

The text is full of battle imagery this, coupled with the historic use of the hymn in actual battles, can be troubling for Christians who struggle with making sense of warfare. The most commonly used English version is a translation by Frederick H. Luther wrote this text sometime between 15 as a paraphrase of Psalm 46, though stanza four comes directly from Luther’s own persecution experience. In any time of need, when we do battle with the forces of evil, God is our fortress to hide us and protect us, and the Word that endures forever will fight for us. The text is not restricted, however, to times of actual physical battles. As you can see, this is a hymn close to the hearts of Protestants and Lutherans, a source of assurance in times of duress and persecution. Albert Bailey writes, “It was, as Heine said, the Marseillaise of the Reformation…It was sung in the streets…It was sung by poor Protestant emigres on their way to exile, and by martyrs at their death…Gustavus Adolphus ordered it sung by his army before the battle of Leipzig in 1631…Again it was the battle hymn of his army at Lutzen in 1632…It has had a part in countless celebrations commemorating the men and events of the Reformation and its first line is engraved on the base of Luther’s monument at Wittenberg…An imperishable hymn! Not polished and artistically wrought but rugged and strong like Luther himself, whose very words seem like deeds” ( The Gospel in Hymns, 316). Many stories have been relayed about its use. This hymn is often referred to as “the battle hymn” of the Reformation.

The closing line of the text provides much comfort: 'God's truth abideth still his kingdom is forever!' 'Earthly powers' in stanza four undoubtedly referred to the Roman Catholic authorities of Luther's day, but modern Christians may identity other 'powers' that oppose the rule of Christ. The text expresses trust in God's protection amidst the battle that Christians wage against the devil. Stanzas 1-3 of the original text were inspired by Psalm 46 stanza 4 arose directly from Luther's persecution experience. He is remembered primarily for his translation of Luther's famous hymn. His original hymns and translations were published in Hymns for the Church of Christ (1853), which he compiled with F. A respected transcendentalist and a famous German scholar, he published the monumental Prose Writers of Germany 0848). Hedge served congregations in Maine, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, and taught church history at Harvard Divinity School (1857-1876) and German literature at Harvard University (1872-1884). Educated at Harvard University and Divinity School, he became a Unitarian minister in 1829. Between the ages of twelve and sixteen he was in Germany, where he studied German literature. Hedge was a precocious child who read Latin and Greek classics at an early age. Hedge's translation, which closely follows Luther's words, is the one usually found in North American hymnals. Cambridge, 1890) it was published in Furness's Gems of German Verse (1852) and in Hymns for the Church of Christ (1853), a hymnal edited by Hedge and Frederick Huntington. This English translation of Luther's German text is by Frederick H. See PHH 468 for a brief history of the original text and tune. 3 And though this world, with devils filled,