1
Onward Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
Christ, the royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See, His banners go!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
Christ, the royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See, His banners go!
Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus,
Going on before.
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus,
Going on before.
2
At the name of Jesus
Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers,
On to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
At the shout of praise:
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise!
Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers,
On to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
At the shout of praise:
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise!
3
Like a mighty army
Moves the Church of God:
Brothers, we are treading
Where the saints have trod;
We are not divided,
All one Body we—
One in faith and Spirit,
One eternally.
Moves the Church of God:
Brothers, we are treading
Where the saints have trod;
We are not divided,
All one Body we—
One in faith and Spirit,
One eternally.
4
Crowns and thrones may perish,
Kingdoms rise and wane;
But the Church of Jesus
Constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never
’Gainst the Church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise,
Which can never fail.
Kingdoms rise and wane;
But the Church of Jesus
Constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never
’Gainst the Church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise,
Which can never fail.
5
Onward, then, ye people!
Join our happy throng;
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor
Unto Christ, the King;
This through countless ages
Men and angels sing.
Join our happy throng;
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor
Unto Christ, the King;
This through countless ages
Men and angels sing.
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Clovis, CA, United States
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.
Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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.
San Francisco, CA, United States
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.
Keego Harbor, MI, United States
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.
Rochford, Essex, United Kingdom
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.
Montgomery, Texas, United States
I sang this song in the hospital in 1985. It was a real war, and it turned out victory.
Frederick, MD, United States
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
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
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.
Nairobi, Kenya
This song is amazing and compels one to rise up and defend our Christian Faith knowing that God goes before us and Christ leads the charge..
Best version in my opinion is the Celebration Choir Version
Kampala, Uganda
This is a terrific song. Very encouraging and uplifting. The words are rich and with sound theology. We bless the Lord