Category: Higher Hymnody

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Higher Hymnody

“All Christians Who Have Been Baptized”

god faith christian hymn baptism

by Rev. Rich Heinz

There is a Latin saying in the Church: Lex orandi, lex credendi – literally, “the law of prayer is the law of belief.” In plain English, this means that what we pray and how we pray contributes to the form and practice of our faith. Likewise, our faith shapes the content and pattern of our prayers.

Hymnody is also prayer. What we sing contributes to the formation of our doctrine and practice – our faith – and our faith directs our selections in song. As we sing to the Lord, He is speaking to us – teaching, proclaiming, and declaring Christ to us! That is one of the marks of a truly Lutheran hymn; it is not simply singing about Christ – it proclaims Christ and His saving work for you!

One such song that is returning to us is Paul Gerhardt’s “All Christians Who Have Been Baptized” (#596 in Lutheran Service Book.) This treasure of a hymn was written by one of Lutheranism’s — indeed, one of the Western Catholic Church’s — greatest hymn writers. Sadly, most English language hymnals seem to have set it aside, and not translated it. However, thanks to the scholarly efforts of the Rev. Dr. Jon D. Vieker, it returns to us as fresh and lively teaching on our new life, cleansed in Christ.

All Christians who have been baptized,
Who know the God of heaven,
And in whose daily life is prized
The name of Christ once given:
Consider now what God has done,
The gifts He gives to ev’ryone
Baptized into Christ Jesus!

Stanza 1 is an invitation. The first half of the stanza tells us who we are, the baptized Christians that the hymn writer is addressing. Then he urges us to consider the works of God – the gifts He gives through our Baptism into Christ. In the following five stanzas he then proclaims those gifts!

Stanza 2 speaks clearly on the scriptural truth of original sin:

You were before your day of birth,
Indeed, from your conception,
Condemned and lost with all the earth,
None good, without exception.
For like your parents’ flesh and blood,
Turned inward from the highest good,
You constantly denied Him.

Here is echoed King David’s preaching that we are conceived in sin – flawed from the moment our first two cells united. At the same time, this is a reminder of our Lord’s biblical teaching on the gift of life from conception, and a reinforcement of the teaching of original sin. Flesh and bone descendants of Adam, we inherit his rebelliousness. Left to our own works and words, we are self-centered, inward-turned, doomed creatures.

On the other hand, we dare not despair! Stanza 4 proclaims our joy of putting on Christ!

In Baptism, we now put on Christ –
Our shame is fully covered
With all that He once sacrificed
And freely for us suffered.
For here the flood of His own blood
Now makes us holy, right, and good
Before our heav’nly Father.

The Lord has not left us dead in our trespasses. He has given new birth – new life, made right and holy and good with God! We rejoice and love others and we live out our faith in our vocation.

Stanza 5 goes on to encourage Christians: “firmly hold this gift.”  Why? “When nothing else revives your soul, your Baptism stands and makes you whole, and then in death completes you.” In this world there is no creature or thing can truly give and refresh life. Life is given by God alone, and He alone sustains it. He blesses and revives our lives beyond imagination, with this sacred New Birth. The Eternal Word who spoke all things into existence gives true life as He attaches His Name to the water. We are gifted to fully enjoy this forgiven, renewed life here and now. However, the best is yet to come—He will fulfill and complete it all when we fall asleep in Jesus and He gathers us to Himself.

“All Christians Who Have Been Baptized” is a joyous gift from God, teaching us about original sin and our depravity. Yet it also teaches the absolute joys of living as New Creatures, baptized into Christ! At the same time, because we believe these truths of Holy Scripture, we joy in singing such a hymn.

What a joy, dear saints of God, that the Lord has taken this old song, and given it new life among us! A dear blessing has been given to us with a larger section of baptismal hymns in Lutheran Service Book. Our Savior is giving sweet comforting Gospel, assuring you of the treasure of this sacred washing with lasting effects!

Jesus now blesses you as His new creation. He places you in your various vocations to live in faith toward Him and in fervent love toward one another. As you do, rejoicing in your Baptism, He leads you to anticipate:

…that day when you possess
His glorious robe of righteousness
Bestowed on you forever!

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Higher Hymnody

“No Tramp of Soldiers’ Marching Feet”

stanza behold hymn king

by Rev. Randy Asburry

I had never sung this hymn before this week. But now that my kantor has been introducing it to us, I can’t imagine preparing for Holy Week or going through Holy Week without it. The hymn is “No Tramp of Soldiers’ Marching Feet” – #444 in Lutheran Service Book.

The tune, “Kingsfold,” has taken just a bit of effort to nail down for singing, especially because, as my kantor says, my ear wanted to sing something else at a couple of points. But I have come to realize that with sturdy, durable hymns, good things come. Not for those who put little effort into learning their hymns, but for those who do have to put some effort into learning and singing their hymns. Quite often the best and sturdiest hymns and hymn tunes — the ones that stay with you and put spiritual meat on your bones, so to speak — are the ones that take some time and effort to learn!

But back to the hymn itself. Once learned, this tune seems to have both a regal and a marching quality to it. Perfect for Holy Week as we ponder our Lord’s kingly procession into Jerusalem without customary regal fanfare. We can almost hear the tramping feet of soldiers marching to arrest Jesus and deliver Him to Pontius Pilate, and then as we raise the rafters of heaven in the singing of our Lord’s Easter victory.

The truly glorious thing about this hymn is how it immerses us in the humility of Palm Sunday, then takes us through our Lord’s Passion. In the final stanza, elevates us to the genuine victory procession of our Lord’s Resurrection. (By the way, a humble suggestion to any organist, pianist, or keyboardist who plays this hymn: Stanza 4 should be played as regally and triumphantly as possible!) And throughout the hymn, we keep singing of our King of glory and, in each stanza, repeating the words: “Behold, behold your King!”

I find it quite fascinating that each stanza places those words on quite different lips. In stanza 1, the Palm Sunday crowd joyously cries out. It’s the only thing that heralds the King’s coming. As the rest of the stanza says: “No tramp of soldiers’ marching feet” and “No sound of music’s martial beat” and “No bells in triumph ring, No city gates swing open wide.” Our Lord’s Palm Sunday entry is oh so humble.

In stanza 2, it’s the very stones that cry out, “Behold, behold your King,” reminding us of Jesus’ words that if we humans keep quiet, His creation will certainly sing His praises. The children cheer, the palms are strewn along the way, and, most powerful of all, “With every step the cross draws near.” Even if we were to keep silent, or be forced into quietude, the King still receives His due praised for what He has done for our life and salvation.

Then, in stanza 3, the statement “Behold, behold your King!” takes on the ironic note of Pontius Pilate’s utterance as he hands Jesus over to crucifixion. The joys of Palm Sunday have faded. The thorn replaces the bloom and leaf. “The soldiers mock, the rabble cries, The streets with tumult ring.” The cheery joys of Palm Sunday quickly transform into the jeering, chaotic din of Good Friday. What beautiful poetry!

But the genuine climax and meaning of the line come out fully in stanza 4, as “heaven’s rafters ring” and as “all the ransomed host proclaim ‘Behold, behold your King!” The stanza resumes the cry of “Hosanna to the Savior’s name,” but on the other side of the Resurrection. After all, once our Lord rose again, He revealed what it all means. He bore the cross for us mortals, and He took on the servant’s form in order that we may raise the rafters of heaven for all eternity in singing, “Behold, behold your King!”

It’s a great holy week hymn, and I highly recommend learning it, if you haven’t already. It will be well worthy of the time and effort it takes. The pictures and poetry of the text give much to ponder, and you will likely find yourself humming the tune to yourself long after you’ve sung the hymn in church or in your prayers.

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Higher Hymnody

“Our Paschal Lamb, That Sets Us Free”

by Rev. Rich Heinz

For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Corinthians 5:7b-8 ESV)

Thirty-four years ago, the Rev. Dr. Martin Franzmann pondered these words from the historic Epistle for the Resurrection of Our Lord. As the Lord blessed his imagination, talent, and eloquence, Dr. Franzmann’s pen issued forth a text with beauty and strength – one that begets many “Alleluias” and “Amens!”

Our Paschal Lamb, that sets us free,
Is sacrificed. O keep
The feast of freedom gallantly;
Let alleluias leap:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Again
Sing alleluia, cry aloud: Alleluia! Amen!

Jesus Christ is the true and great Paschal Lamb. All Passover lambs had always anticipated THE Lamb. The innocent shedding of blood and the body given to eat in celebration of the Lord’s deliverance had pointed forward for some 1,470 years, to the great events of our Savior’s death and resurrection.

As Saint Paul wrote God’s Word to the church at Corinth, the Lord’s Pascha (Easter) had been celebrated 25 years or so. The Church is jubilant as we recall and commemorate Jesus’ innocent suffering and death as our once-and-for-all sacrifice – and His triumphant resurrection.

Our festival is gallant – fearless – as we look death straight in the eye and declare: “You have no power over me! Christ died in my place. Now He is risen! You will not prevail!” And a host of “alleluias” stream from our mouths, concluded as only they can be, with the great “Amen!” of faith from Christ. Gift given. Gift received. Yes. Yes. It shall be so!

Let all our lives now celebrate
The feast; let malice die.
Let love grow strong anew, and great,
Let truth stamp out the lie.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Again
Sing alleluia, cry aloud: Alleluia! Amen!

Living out the faith God gives, our entire lives now rejoice in our Risen Savior. Hatred and strife pass away, as they are defeated by Him who is the Truth. He stamps out the lies of sin and death, spewed by Satan. Again, the response of the baptized cannot help but be “Alleluia!” and “Amen!”

Let all our deeds, unanimous,
Confess Him as our Lord
Who by the Spirit lives in us,
The Father’s living Word.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Again
Sing alleluia, cry aloud: Alleluia! Amen!

Now we, along with the whole Church on earth, together “with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven, …laud and magnify” the Lord. We confess what the Triune God has given us to confess: that the Word became flesh, and dwelt as the Lamb of God among us. That He suffered and died as the Paschal Sacrifice, is now risen from the dead, and lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true! (Amen!)

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Higher Hymnody

“The Gifts Christ Freely Gives”

gifts christ hymn church

by Jonathan Kohlmeier

Have you ever asked, “Why do we sing all these different hymns during church?” I have. Wouldn’t the service go much faster if we just started with the Invocation instead of singing all of the verses of some hymn before it? Do we really need a Hymn of the Day, doesn’t that just take up more time? I guess communion hymns are okay, they give us something to do while everyone else is receiving communion. Does Pastor really need to make the service even longer by having a closing hymn? What’s the point?

I used to think about those things. When I would see that we were singing a hymn with six verses I would feel like it was some kind of torture. If you can’t fit all the stanzas in between the music than it must be too long.

But now, if you haven’t guessed, my view of hymns has changed since then. We don’t sing hymns to keep us entertained during the service. If they were just to entertain us, then we’d probably have Pastor up front dancing and singing them to a karaoke track or something.

No, hymns aren’t there to keep us entertained. They are there to teach us. They are gifts to remind us of all that Christ has done for us and is doing for us. One of the hymns that do an exceptional job at this is found in the Lutheran Service Book, #602, “The Gifts Christ Freely Gives.”

The gifts Christ freely gives He gives to you and me
To be His Church, His Bride, His chosen, saved and free!
Saints blest with these rich gifts are children who proclaim
That they were won by Christ and cling to His strong name.

This stanza states that Christ’s gifts are not only free but that they are given to each of us. We are blessed with the gift of being His Church, His bride. He loves us as a husband is to love his wife. He loved us by giving His own life for us. We are chosen by Him in our Baptism where He marks us as saved and free from sin, death, and the power of the devil. In Baptism, we can also proudly proclaim that we were won by Christ and we are comforted by His name which He has placed on us.

The gifts flow from the font where He calls us to His own;
New life He gives that makes us His and His alone.
Here He forgives our sins with water and His Word;
The triune God Himself gives power to call Him Lord.

The gifts freely given by Christ are given to us in Baptism where we are continually called His children. In Baptism, we are given new life–an eternal life, a life that only children of God can have. This life is not only one that is free from sin but it never ends! That is certainly a remarkable gift that only Christ can give.

The gifts of grace and peace from absolution flow;
The pastor’s words are Christ’s for us to trust and know,
Forgiveness that we need is granted to us there;
The Lord of mercy sends us forth in His blest care.

Absolution is a great gift that we receive. It is given to us during the Divine Service and during the prayer office, Compline. Your pastor probably also has times set where he offers Private Confession and Absolution. If not, feel free to ask him about it. The pastor’s words are usually something like this, “In the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Those words are Christ’s words. All of our sins are forgiven by Christ right there. We can then go on in the Peace of Christ knowing that we are forgiven.

The gifts are there each day the Holy Word is read;
God’s children listen, hear, receive, and they are fed.
Christ fills them with Himself, blest words that give them life,
Restoring and refreshing them for this world’s strife.

God’s Word is a gift to us. Each day we have the chance to study God’s Word, but especially in the Divine Service, we hear about Christ and what He has done for us. The Word brings us life and salvation. It strengthens us, restores us and refreshes us throughout all this world’s strife.

The gifts are in the feast, gifts far more than we see;
Beneath the bread and wine Is food from Calvary.
The body and the blood remove our every sin;
We leave His presence in His peace, renewed again.

The Lord’s Supper is freely given to us in every Divine Service. We see bread and wine, but what we don’t see is far greater. In, with, and under the bread and the wine is Christ’s Body and Blood, broken and shed for us on the cross at Calvary. In this gift of His Body and Blood, we also receive the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life.

One of the gifts that Christ loves to give to his children is the ability to praise Him. Through the gifts of God’s Word, Baptism, Holy Absolution, and The Lord’s Supper we can sing with all honor, sincerity, and praise:

All glory to the One who lavishes such love;
The triune God in love assures our life above.
His means of grace for us are gifts He loves to give;
All thanks and praise for His Great Love by which we live!”

Amen!