Every morning – right after the dogs, my coffee and morning prayers – the first thing I do is turn on my iPod player in the bathroom. The music – my music – sets my mood for the day and you can imagine almost every song is uplifting, happy stuff. Yes, I sing right along, always loudly in the shower and sometimes carefully when I shave, and I’ll admit I have a great mix of music.

I have literally days and days of all types of music stored on my iPod but the other morning, as I belted out “Onward Christian Soldiers” with the Gaithers, I inadvertently allowed a twinge of remorse to enter my thinking as I realized the churches I attend never sing this priceless song anymore. I think that is terrible and, as one who now misses the treats we enjoyed long ago, I wish we could resurrect the stirring 19th century hymn.

When I was growing up it was every kid’s favorite, the wonderful march-like cadence so much better than the soft, mournful hymns the old ladies liked. It is a hymn we loved to sing loud and, brother, when you add some trumpets and drums it really gets special. But the last time we as a nation all sung it together was at Dwight Eisenhower’s funeral in 1969.

What actually happened to “Onward Christian Soldiers, the best I can tell, is that the Viet Nam War got it taken out of a lot of hymnals. Say what you want but the Viet Nam thing was pretty unpopular and songs like "Onward Christian Soldiers,” along with other hymns that had military themes, got the boot by the pacifists that run among us. Other childhood favorites like “Stand Up for Jesus, Ye Soldiers of the Cross”, and “Soldiers of Christ Arise” and “Fight the Good Fight” were also deemed less than proper.

The song was written, I have learned, because of New Testament verses like Ephesians 6:10-17: “Put on the full armor of God…” and the exhortation to a young pastor, Timothy, as found in II Timothy 2:3: “Endure hardship…like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”

In the lean years that have followed for “Onward Christian Soldiers,” the public’s admiration and respect for our military has rebounded and, after the 9/11 attack, the Christian church has actually focused on the brave men and women who today guarantee our freedom. What greater salute to them than “Onward Christian Soldiers?” My goodness, it was General Ike’s favorite song!

I can’t explain why the Presbyterian Church (USA) omitted it from its 1990 hymn book and I regret how the KKK defiled the song back in the first anguished days of the civil rights awakening but, as a kid who has always been thrilled the very second the organist pulls out all the stops at the beginning of the song, I would just adore it if more congregations would rethink their stance and study the words:

ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus going on before.

Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!
Refrain

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!

Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.
Refrain

Like a mighty army moves the church of God;

Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,

One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Refrain

Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing

Refrain