higher hymnody – Higher Things

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!

“No Tramp of Soldiers’ Marching Feet”

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.