Onward, Christian Soldiers

by: Lou Lotz

In the Roman armies of old, the act of becoming a soldier was called the sacramentum, the sacred moment. This was the solemn occasion when the young recruit swore his oath of allegiance to the emperor. Christians adopted the same terminology for that act by which a new believer swore allegiance to Christ. Thus the baptismal vows became the sacramentum, the sacrament.

Church rolls are clogged with the names of soldiers who have made their sacramentum but have never engaged in battle. After making their oath they promptly deserted. Others have gone on permanent leave, returning occasionally to the barracks to see how the other troops are doing. Other recruits remain in the barracks, never leaving camp to join the fray.

The church I serve recently purchased new hymnals. It’s a fine hymnal, but I was disappointed that the old hymn _Onward, Christian Soldiers_ was omitted. Its militarism offends people nowadays, I suppose, but I find no fault with its theology: “Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war. . . .” Are we not in a battle?

Christians are the salt of the earth, but salt that remains in the shaker is worthless. We are soldiers of the cross, but soldiers who remain in the barracks never a battle won. “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s” (2 Chron. 20:15).