Now, for That Hymn of Installation, Rise Up, O Men of God

Reforming “Rise Up O Men of God”

Note: I am about to go on vacation, so instead of an exegetical essay, I would offer some simple thoughts on a hymn, and suggest a way we might improve upon it. I hope you find it helpful.

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God, and not to us.”~ II Corinthians 4:7

Whenever we ordain new officers, I love to sing the hymn, “Rise up, O Men of God!” Well, except for the words. It’s a hymn with great energy and a stirring tune (Festal Song), but have you ever really studied the words and where they place emphasis? No? Well, here they are. Read them and see if you can see what I mean:

Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things;
Give heart and soul and mind and strength,
To serve the King of Kings.
Rise up, O men of God!
His Kingdom tarries long;
Bring in the day of brotherhood,
And end the night of wrong.
Rise up, O men of God!
The Church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to the task;
Rise up, and make her great!
Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where His feet have trod;
As brothers of the Son of man,
Rise up, O men of God!

OK then, who in this hymn is doing the work of redemption in the world? Who is making the church great? Where is Christ's divinity and sovereignty shown forth? Think, if you sing this as is at an officer ordination, what are we asking of these poor ordinands? Would you want this burden placed upon your shoulders? Of course there is some truth in these words, but where is the emphasis? Perhaps this is why it is not in our Trinity hymnal.

What you may not know is that this hymn was actually penned by a Presbyterian minister named William Merrill, in the year, 1911. And if you know your historical theology, you can put two and two together and realize that this was written at the high water mark of the optimistic theology Protestant liberalism in which the Gospel was recast as much more about the Church redeeming all of society, rather than saving souls for eternity. Protestants across all denominations allied themselves with the progressives of society to promote such things as labor reform, prohibition and even eugenics, all with the great hope of a world without poverty or war.

Alas, three more years and one assassin's bullet would put the lie to this theology as World War I erupted, dashing the dreams of this man-centered gospel. But it would not be fair to leave all the blame for this “manly” optimism found in this hymn on Protestant liberals alone. Conservative Presbyterians also absorbed this sort of mindset from their American culture. Consider this little anecdote from B.B. Warfield’s essay, Why Study the Shorter Catechism?, (The Westminster Teacher, 1909):

We have the following bit of personal experience from a general officer of the United States Army. He was in a great western city at a time of intense excitement and violent rioting. The streets were over-run daily by a dangerous crowd. One day he observed approaching him a man of singularly combined calmness and firmness of mien, whose very demeanor inspired confidence. So impressed was he with his bearing amid the surrounding uproar that when he had passed he turned to look back at him, only to find that the stranger had done the same. On observing his turning the stranger at once came back to him, and touching his chest with his forefinger, demanded without preface: “What is the chief end of man?” On receiving the countersign, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever” – “Aah!” said he, “I knew you were a Shorter Catechism boy by your looks!” “Why, that was just what I was thinking of you,” was the rejoinder. It is worth while to be a Shorter Catechism boy. They grow to be men.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I do think learning sound doctrine helps us grow up to be godly men. But the question is, what kind of men should we “rise up” to be? The Gospel should not so much turn us into men calm in a riot, but into men humble before God for our own sin. That should be the first and most telling result of sound catechesis in Protestant orthodoxy – meekness before manliness.

So, what shall we do then with “Rise up, O Men of God?” Well, I suggest we take its thoughts captive for Christ – a Christ crucified. I suggest we still sing it, but rewritten to reflect this humility the Gospel brings, and to place the emphasis where it belongs – Christ’s work through us. Yes, we are here to bless the world, and yes, God uses us mightily – more than we often know, I think. But it is His work within us. We have this great power in jars of clay, to show that it is from God, and not to us.

So then, here is what I suggest we sing. Read it and see what you think.

Rise up, O men of God!

Have done with lesser things;

Give heart and soul and mind and strength,

To serve the King of kings.

Rise up, O men of God!

His kingdom tarries long;

But soon shall Christ bring in the Day,

And end this night of wrong.

Rise up, O men of God!
The church for you doth wait,
Your strength unequal to the task;
But Christ in you is great!
Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where his feet hath trod;
As servants of the King of kings,
Rise up, O men of God!