ONWARD Christian Soldiers

Backward Christian Soldiers

1. Backward Christian soldiers,

Fleeing from the fight,

With the cross of Jesus,

Nearly out of sight.

Christ our rightful master

Stands against the foe

Onward into battle, we

seem afraid to go.

Chorus: Backward Christian soldiers,

Fleeing from the fight,

With the cross of Jesus,

Nearly out of sight.

2. Like a mighty tortoise

Moves the church of God.

Brothers we are treading,

Where we've often trod.

We are much divided,

Many bodies we,

Having different doctrines, but

Not much charity.

3. Crowns and thrones may perish,

Kingdoms rise and wane,

But the cross of Jesus

Hidden does remain.

Gates of hell should never

'gainst the Church prevail,

We have Christ's own promise, but

we think it might fail.

4. Sit here then ye people,

Join our sleeping throng.

Blend with ours, your voices

in a feeble song.

Blessings, ease and comfort

Ask from Christ the King,

But with our modern thinking,

We won't do a thing.

Backward Christian soldiers, fleeing from the fight,

With the cross of Jesus, nearly out of sight!

Christ our rightful Master, stands against the foe,

But forward into battle, we are loath to go.

Like a mighty tortoise, moves the Church of God;

Brothers, we are treading, where we've often trod.

We are much divided, many bodies we,

Having different doctrines, not much charity.

Crowns and thorns may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,

But the Church of Jesus, hidden does remain.

Gates of hell should never, 'gainst the Church prevail,

We have Christ's own promise, but think that it will fail.

Sit here, then, ye people, join our useless throng;

Blend with ours, your voices, in a feeble song.

Blessings, ease and comfort, ask from Christ the King.

With our modern thinking, we don't do a thing!

Backward Christian Soldiers...

George Verwer.