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[Note:\u00a0 <\/strong>This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 2<\/strong>\u00a0 page.]<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In 2007 I wrote a manuscript for the Bellview Lectures, Pensacola, Florida, titled, \u201cBuilding up the Church Through Singing.\u201d In it I briefly mentioned that some of the songs in the books we commonly use emphasize patriotism far more than praise to God and His Son. I cited the example of \u201cAmerica the Beautiful.\u201d This song references God several times, but it praises our nation more than Him (if it does the latter at all).<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sung perhaps even more frequently in our assemblies is the song, \u201cGlory! Glory! Hallelujah!\u201d (originally titled, \u201cBattle Hymn of the Republic\u201d). On the surface, it appears to be a song of praise to God and His Truth, concealing a dark history. Its obvious military motif (\u201csword,\u201d \u201ctrumpet,\u201d \u201cmarching\u201d) is employed by the New Testament at times regarding the Lord\u2019s Cause (e.g. Eph. 6:10\u201317; 2 Tim. 2:3\u20134).<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019m confident I am among many who have sung this song, unaware (as was I until recently) of its original intent and use or of its author. I learned this information in a book by our brother in Christ, Jerry Brewer, titled Dismantling the Republic<\/em> (which I recently read and highly recommend). He quotes at some length from a 2009 article by R. Michael Givens, in which Givens not only provides background on Julia Ward Howe, the song\u2019s lyricist, but on her purpose in writing the lyrics. Givens states the following:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I realize fully that most of the \u201cpsalms, hymns, and spiritual songs\u201d in our songbooks are written by men and women who were not Christians in any sense of the New Testament definition. However, with few exceptions, these songs express spiritual concepts and truths that are in harmony with the Holy Word and were-re written for the purpose of exalting the Divine Author and His Revelation.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It seems a fair to question, however, whether or not it is appropriate to employ a song in worship that was written for and served as a political propaganda piece and was written by an infidel, no less. To sing this song in a worship assembly seems little different from singing \u201cDixie\u201d therein. I see no seemliness for either of them in the worship of our God.<\/span><\/p>\n [Note:<\/strong> I wrote this article for and it was published in The Lighthouse, <\/em>weekly bulletin of Northpoint Church of Christ, Denton, TX, July 29, 2012, of which I was editor.]<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution:<\/strong> From thescripturecache.com<\/em>; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 1[Note:\u00a0 This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 2\u00a0 page.] \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In 2007 I wrote a manuscript for the Bellview Lectures, Pensacola, Florida, titled, \u201cBuilding up the Church Through Singing.\u201d In it I briefly mentioned that some of the…<\/p>\n\n