tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934298301663499561.post1738363807572391724..comments2023-05-07T09:56:23.909-04:00Comments on The Christian Curmudgeon: A Hymn No Christian Should Sing - EverAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07146011447109951026noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934298301663499561.post-44952340834327630242013-12-03T10:30:09.224-05:002013-12-03T10:30:09.224-05:00Sorry, Biggsenator, but that dog won't hunt.Sorry, Biggsenator, but that dog won't hunt.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07146011447109951026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934298301663499561.post-47414483327364710972013-11-25T01:34:00.093-05:002013-11-25T01:34:00.093-05:00Although certainly not true of all of the verses M...Although certainly not true of all of the verses Ms. Howe originally wrote, it is true that the ones commonly sung and appearing in evangelical hymnbooks can be interpreted along orthodox lines and given that interpretation be quite stirring and enducive of worshipful, God-honoring zeal. I wonder if the passage in John 11, where the Holy Spirit used an unbelieving Caiphas's words to convey an inspired prophecy with a meaning different from what he intended, can and should teach us the propriety of singing and reinterpreting impious lyrics to suit orthodox and pious (in the best sense) sensibilities and purposes. I for one think that it can and that it does. So although I do not disagree with any of the history behind this hymn here outlined, nor approve of it, I reserve the right to sing this hymn with my own meaning and significance, which, when adopted, allows stirring music and words to serve a righteous purpose.biggsenatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13407439446935793534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934298301663499561.post-58886559821414836702013-07-08T07:48:56.025-04:002013-07-08T07:48:56.025-04:00I hardly regard this hymn as one of hate in compar...I hardly regard this hymn as one of hate in comparison to our nation's treatment of Blacks and Indians.Curt Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06086508660386800294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934298301663499561.post-25496576644457383222013-07-05T18:37:00.873-04:002013-07-05T18:37:00.873-04:00An irony of history is that the peaceful song of l...An irony of history is that the peaceful song of love and longing for home, written btw by a Northerner, is now banned as a hate song, and can't be sung anymore... I am referring to "I Wish I was in Dixie"<br />Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18069900337554876085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934298301663499561.post-22909835795417845422013-07-05T16:54:27.526-04:002013-07-05T16:54:27.526-04:00The original words to this tune were written by a ...The original words to this tune were written by a South Carolina Methodist Minister, named William Steffe around 1856. it was morphed into a hymn worshiping the terrorist and killer John Brown, "John Brown's Body" to whom perfection and deity is ascribed. <br /><br /> Howe recognized it was a catchy tune and when she heard Union soldiers singing it around campfires she saw it as the beginning of a war for righteousness, that would fulfill her family's dreams of killing southerners and ending slavery. She changed it to soften the references to John Brown and add ed her Unitarian version of Christ. <br /><br /> For those that like the tune I suggest you sing the original words: <br /><br />Say, Brothers<br /><br /> (1st verse)<br /> Say, brothers, will you meet us (3x)<br /> On Canaan's happy shore.<br /><br /> (Refrain)<br /> Glory, glory, hallelujah (3x)<br /> For ever, evermore!<br /><br /> (2nd verse)<br /> By the grace of God we'll meet you (3x)<br /> Where parting is no more.<br /><br /> (3rd verse)<br /> Jesus lives and reigns forever (3x)<br /> On Canaan's happy shore. Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18069900337554876085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934298301663499561.post-19194928506481428562013-07-05T10:10:57.771-04:002013-07-05T10:10:57.771-04:00I'm concerned that the historical context is m...I'm concerned that the historical context is missed in dismissing this song out of hand. Instead of banning it outright, the lesson needs to be told in full. The optic of today or even 40 years ago is not that of the Civil War era. To change the words is also wrong since words and music go together. To paraphase, when you sing you pray twice....not quite te prayer one would want to put forth. In the end it's not appropriate for activities where religion is intoned for sure.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13087772622739900429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934298301663499561.post-86125304839626530932013-07-05T09:16:17.068-04:002013-07-05T09:16:17.068-04:00Our choir wanted to sing an arrangement of this hy...Our choir wanted to sing an arrangement of this hymn, so we worked together to change the lyrics. There was a beautiful monologue with words such as "...The battle is not done; Jesus who died shall be satisfied, and earth and Heaven be one..." with musical accompaniment that preceded the choir. Then we substituted the words of the first verse from another hymn that made Christ as Son of God and judge of mankind central. That, in effect, co-opted and re-interpreted any of Ms. Howe's lyrics that followed. Though I am still bothered by the dissonance in my own heart, I can be somewhat satisfied in the irony that our choir's version was used to subvert the humanistic hubris of Ms. Howe's intentions. Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15223066522168789742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934298301663499561.post-57822725557587056602013-07-04T17:22:05.726-04:002013-07-04T17:22:05.726-04:00Of course in the sense of God's sovereign purp...Of course in the sense of God's sovereign purposes in history, God not only can but does use everything. But,that is not to say all serves good moral purposes. I would, therefore, wonder what good was served by this hymn. It expressed hatred, stirred hatred, and inspired hateful acts.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07146011447109951026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934298301663499561.post-27656378089784403412013-07-04T16:55:20.699-04:002013-07-04T16:55:20.699-04:00Wow. Just, wow. All I know is that God can use AN...Wow. Just, wow. All I know is that God can use ANYTHING, even this "hymn of hate" to His glory and for His purpose. Then again I'm most definitely not a theologian lol.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12620716836223244104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934298301663499561.post-22874989599071555332013-07-04T15:48:30.451-04:002013-07-04T15:48:30.451-04:00Years ago I was happily working away in my basemen...Years ago I was happily working away in my basement office. From upstairs, where my beloved was homeschooling my firstborn I heard the strains of that song. As I charged up the stairs, two and three at a time, my feet stomping all the way up, as I made my way toward the piano I heard the song stop, and my sweet wife, with pleading in her voice lest I explode exclaiming, "IT HAS DIFFERENT WORDS!! IT HAS DIFFERENT WORDS!!" I calmed down enough to say, "I don't ever again want to hear those notes strung together in this house, even if the words were my own."R.C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13976580613129096869noreply@blogger.com