Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb,
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His Name?
Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face*?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?
Sure I must fight, if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord.
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.
Thy saints in all this glorious war
Shall conquer, though they die;
They see the triumph from afar,
By faith they bring it nigh.**
When that illustrious day shall rise,
And all Thy armies shine
In robes of victory through skies,
The glory shall be Thine.
I used this one this morning in adult Sunday School class as an illustration of a way of thinking which has all but disappeared in too many Western mainline churches.
right up there with Onward Christian Soldiers huh Kendall.. Or the childhood song, “I’m in the Lords Army”.
Grandmother
If the Baptismal rite hadn’t been changed with the advent of the 1979 book, everyone present would know that they are being called to be “Christ’s faithbul soldier” and to “manfully fight under his banner.” Thankfully, we’re starting a 1928 BCP service in our parish this Sunday!