How Sweet the Sound? - "Onward Christian Soldiers"

Episode 4: Onward Christian Soldiers with hosts Rev. Dr. Ben Huelskamp and Siobhan Boyd-NelsonFrom a Pentecost children's march to a Salvation Army battle cry, how did "Onward Christian Soldiers" become synonymous with militant Christianity? And can new lyrics redeem this controversial hymn?Ben and Siobhan march into the complicated history of Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould's "Onward Christian Soldiers," tracing its journey from a simple processional for children to a global anthem of Christian militarism. We deconstruct the problematic warfare imagery that has made many progressive Christians abandon the hymn entirely, then explore two sets of modern alternative lyrics that reimagine what it means to move forward in faith. In a surprising turn, both hosts discover new appreciation for a hymn they thought they'd left behind, proof that even our most martial songs can be transformed.In this episode:The original context: a Pentecost march for Baring-Gould's congregationHow the Salvation Army popularized the hymn and shaped its militaristic associationsDeconstructing the warfare language and its impact on Christian witnessTwo modern lyrical alternatives that reimagine the hymn's messageWhy both hosts found unexpected value in this controversial hymn after allRuntime: ~75 minutesMusic by Daniel Roberts - https://pixabay.com/users/blendertimer-9538909/