Last week in one of my blog posts, I was lamenting the fact that many Christians don’t understand that we are in a battle and that the enemy is at war against us. One of the ways this is reflected is in our contemporary worship music. In generations past, it was not hard to find hymns that described the fight of faith, such as the hymn by Charles Wesley, Soldiers of Christ, Arise. Ironically, over the weekend, I stumbled across an excellent song by “modern” hymn-writers Keith Getty and Stuart Townend. By the way, I would commend anything to you by Getty and Townend – their music is excellent. Check out the lyrics to this song, which was written in 2005.

O Church Arise

by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

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

Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music