Onward Christian soldiers

This song is relevant in this time we find ourselves. The year 2020 till now in 2021 the war is going strong, but our God is El Shaddai, God Almighty. Jesus our Defender and Commander.

This site has changed the words of this hymn in verse 3. It should read "One in hope and doctrine, One in charity" NOT "One in faith an Spirit, One eternally". This is not the original version.

This song does indeed contain sound doctrine as my african brothers pointed out below. Christians need to unite behind the Holy Scriptures not their particular denominations. A cursory reading of lyrics shows that the battle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers of evil in high places. It should be sung more often. Of all times in history, now is when these truths are needed.

I turn 55 this year. As the 7th of 9 children in a Roman Catholic family who attended Catechism classes and Mass weekly, my friends could not understand why my Mother sent us to Methodist Sunday school, it’s summer Bible school for two weeks at the Lutheran Church. I loved Sunday school with the songs that I still sing today. Mrs. Dixon our S. S. teacher taught us this song as we marched to put our coins in collection plate. I taught and sang these songs to my nieces and nephews and grand-nephew. I did not know it was so controversial until I started reading these comments. How sad. I am still a practicing Catholic and embrace all faiths and cultures. Thank you Mummy (1928-2002), for having an open mind and heart and passing that along to us.

I grew up High Anglican in Canada during the 1950’s. Our church elders, including many women, were truly of the Victorian and Edwardian era.

Onward Christian Soldiers may have been the most popular hymn, belted out with gusto by our small rural Congregation ..

Stella or Louie, both organists in their mid 70’s thru themselves into it.

I had goose bumps and my Grandmother smiled.

Even Ernie, an English atheist and WW1 veteran , stood for Onward Christian Soldiers. This a warm memory but I can’t imagine singing this in public now!!

Crusade - like fer sure.

To each their own. I grew up in a low Episcopal church outside NYC. This hymn rubbed me the wrong way from the earliest age. Something about going to war for Christ that reminded me of the Crusades.

I'd rather sing Morning Has Broken.

How sad that a church in England banned the singing of this hymn in 2017 at their remembrance service in case it offended non Christians! The sooner everybody agrees to accept everybody else as they are, the better our world will be.

I sang this song in the hospital in 1985. It was a real war, and it turned out victory.

I remember singing this song in the United Methodist Church in Liberia where I grew up. It was used a lot for funeral possessions. As I reflected on 2020 the Lord brought this song to mind. The battle must continue with Christ leading the way. Praise is how we fight our battles

I learned this hymn when I was in they Episcopal School in Tela, Atlántida, a small Town on they North coast of Honduras. I was about 7 or 8 and now I'm 70, and I still feel that enthusiasm as when I was a little girl. I love thee God.