"A mighty fortress is our Lord" by Martin Luther. let's all sing along

[mopaul]

A mighty fortress is our God, a trusty shield and weapon;
He helps us free from every need that hath us now overtaken.
The old evil foe now means deadly woe; deep guile and great might
Are his dread arms in fight; on Earth is not his equal.

With might of ours can naught be done, soon were our loss effected;
But for us fights the Valiant One, Whom God Himself elected.
Ask ye, Who is this? Jesus Christ it is.
Of Sabbath Lord, and there’s none other God;
He holds the field forever.

Though devils all the world should fill, all eager to devour us.
We tremble not, we fear no ill, they shall not overpower us.
This world’s prince may still scowl fierce as he will,
He can harm us none, he’s judged; the deed is done;
One little word can fell him.

The Word they still shall let remain nor any thanks have for it;
He’s by our side upon the plain with His good gifts and Spirit.
And take they our life, goods, fame, child and wife,
Let these all be gone, they yet have nothing won;
The Kingdom ours remaineth.

[Christ was Socialist]

1. Martin luther was mentally ill/anti semetic/a traitor to peasents/and

corrupt/amongst other things, not to mention the evangelicals see him as there founder.

[Bertha Venation]

2. Evangelicals do not see Martin Luther as their founder.

At least Baptists don't. No way. Baptists don't consider themselves Protestants.

[curlyred]

9. Luther was nuts

If modern day Lutherans knew how whacked he was, they'd change the name of their church.

[74dodgedart]

12. Which evangelicals see him as their founder ?

There are more the than one strain of Lutheran..

[Lydia Leftcoast]

21. A little more perspective on Luther

He was certainly a hothead, but a smart one. He translated the Bible into German by himself (quite an achievement, if you know anything about translation. The King James Bible was translated by a committee.) He wrote dozens of hymns, both words and music. He wrote the Small and Large Catechisms. (Read the section on "Thou shalt not steal" in the Large Catechism some time. It could have been written by a left-wing Democrat.) He took on the Roman Catholic establishment and DIDN'T get burned at the stake--quite an accomplishment for that era.

Originally, he admired the Jews, and he naively thought that the only reason they didn't convert to Christianity was because of what Luther saw as the "superstitions" of the Roman Catholic church. He turned against them after they STILL wouldn't convert, kind of in an "after all I've done for you" mode. It's terrible that the Nazis, four hundred years later, were able to use his diatribes as propaganda.

For his day, he was what we might call a moderate. His reaction to the peasants' rebellion was very much like the reaction I remember from Democrats who supported the civil rights movement but were horrified by the urban riots of the late 1960s.

He was certainly no saint--quick-tempered and authoritarian-- but he was intelligent and brave, and you have to give him credit for that.

[bobbieinok]

3. in German

``Ein' feste Burg is unser Gott.''
by Dr. Martin Luther, 1483-1546
Text From:
THE HANDBOOK TO THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
(St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942). pp. 192

1. Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott,
Ein gute Wehr und Waffen;
Er hilft uns frei aus aller Not,
Die uns jetzt hat betroffen.
Der alt' boese Feind,
Mit Ernst er's jetzt meint,
Gross' Macht und viel List
Sein' grausam' Ruestung ist,
Auf Erd' ist nicht seingleichen.

2. Mit unsrer Macht is nichts getan,
Wir sind gar bald verloren;
Es steit't fuer uns der rechte Mann,
Den Gott hat selbst erkoren.
Fragst du, wer der ist?
Er heisst Jesu Christ,
Der Herr Zebaoth,
Und ist kein andrer Gott,
Das Feld muss er behalten.

3. Und wenn die Welt voll Teufel waer'
Und wollt' uns gar verschlingen,
So fuerchten wir uns nicht so sehr,
Es soll uns doch gelingen.
Der Fuerst dieser Welt,
Wie sau'r er sich stellt,
Tut er uns doch nicht,
Das macht, er ist gericht't,
EIn Woertlein kann ihn faellen.

4. Das Wort sie sollen lassen stahn
Und kein'n Dank dazu haben;
Er ist bei uns wohl auf dem Plan
Mit seinem Geist und Gaben.
Nehmen sie den Leib,
Gut, Ehr', Kind und Weib:
Lass fahren dahin,
Sie haben's kein'n Gewinn,
Das Reich muss uns doch bleiben.



http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/hymns/fortress-german.txt

[mopaul]

4. danke

[reprehensor]

16. Aaaah! The original. Much better. Bitte, bitte...

Das ist righteous.

[anarchy1999]

5. Here you go again.......... Do you just have a death wish?

n/t

and I stand by every word.

...

........Though devils all the world should fill, all eager to devour us. We tremble not, we fear no ill, they shall not overpower us.
This world’s prince may still scowl fierce as he will, He can harm us none, he’s judged; the deed is done; One little word can fell him.

The Word they still shall let remain nor any thanks have for it;
He’s by our side upon the plain with His good gifts and Spirit.
And take they our life, goods, fame, child and wife,
Let these all be gone, they yet have nothing won;
The Kingdom ours remaineth.

[placton]

6. I often hum this tune when

asking God to protect us from the Bushies. It is quite inspiring. We need not cede the comforts and protections of our various faiths to people who act directly contrary to their tenets.

[bigendian]

7. I like the Episcopal version.

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing
our helper he amid the flood, of mortal ills prevailing
for still our ancient foe, doth seek to work us woe
his craft and power are great,and armed with cruel hate
on earth is not his equal


It used to open the show "Davey and Goliath".

If you really want a keeper try Eternal Father Strong to Save.
That one has wound up in lots of movie soundtracks!

[bobbieinok]

18. this is version that was sung in Southern Baptist churches

[doni_georgia]

22. That's the Presbyterian and Methodist version too n/t

[caffefwee]

8. I don't get it?

Is it really a song, and what comment are you trying to make?

Atheist needs Cliff Notes, :)

[InkAddict]

10. Yes, it is really a hymn

The official anthem of the Evangelical Lutherans - Missouri Synod. Agressive, isn't it?

[74dodgedart]

13. The Missouri Synod does not represent the mainstream Lutheran Church...

[InkAddict]

15. You are correct

The ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)I believe is the mainstream group now. The MS(Missouri Synod)folks are hardliner fundies--little Pharisees, everyone!

[JVS]

20. Although my church is ELCA I am going to have to defend LCMS

for a moment here.

If one were to ask me who represents mainstream Lutheranism in the US, I'd have to say it is a draw between the ELCA and the LCMS. They are the two biggies. WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) is the fundamentalist synod and is quite small. While the LCMS is to the right of the ELCA, neither one is fundamentalist.

For instance take the LCMS position on rapture, which is quite at odds with popular fundamentalism.
http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=2743

For comparison look at the differences with the ELCA and the WELS
http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=2146
http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=2149

I would say that the LCMS is more traditionalist than the ELCA, but not that it goes over to the arena of fundamentalism.

[JVS]

11. How about "From Depths of Woe I Raise to Thee"

From depths of woe I raise to Thee
The voice of lamentation;
Lord, turn a gracious ear to me
And hear my supplication;
If Thou iniquities dost mark,
Our secret sins and misdeeds dark,
O who shall stand before Thee?

To wash away the crimson stain,
Grace, grace alone availeth;
Our works, alas! are all in vain;
In much the best life faileth:
No man can glory in Thy sight,
All must alike confess Thy might,
And live alone by mercy.

Therefore my trust is in the Lord,
And not in mine own merit;
On Him my soul shall rest, His Word
Upholds my fainting spirit:
His promised mercy is my fort,
My comfort, and my sweet support;
I wait for it with patience.

What though I wait the livelong night,
And till the dawn appeareth,
My heart still trusteth in His might;
It doubteth not nor feareth:
Do thus, O ye of Israel’s seed,
Ye of the Spirit born indeed;
And wait till God appeareth.

Though great our sins and sore our woes,
His grace much more aboundeth;
His helping love no limit knows,
Our utmost need it soundeth.
Our Shepherd good and true is He,
Who will at last His Israel free.
From all their sin and sorrow.


http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/f/r/fromdepw.htm

[bigendian]

14. So true.

In much the best life faileth...

But you still got to try, right?
Sometimes it makes it hard to hammer anyone.

By the way, thanks for the link.

[bobbieinok]

17. you want scary - try Onward Christian Soldiers

Luther's hymn I don't find scary; maybe because we didn't sing it much in church and the tune is difficult.

But we really got going on this. (For those of you unfamiliar with this hymn, you can listen to the tune at this site, too.)

Onward, Christian Soldiers
Text: Sabine Baring-Gould, 1834-1924
Music: Arthur S. Sullivan, 1842-1900
Tune: ST. GERTRUDE, Meter: 65.65 D with Refrain
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. 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.

2. 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)

3. 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)

4. Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
but the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
we have Christ's own promise, and that cannot fail.
(Refrain)

5. 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)




http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh575.sht

[Missy Vixen]

19. This was my favorite hymn in "the church years"

The guy that wrote this supposedly lost family members on the Titanic.

Julie

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul.
(Refrain)

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
(Refrain)

And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
even so, it is well with my soul.
(Refrain)

[jokerman93]

23. One of My own Personal Militant Supplications...

THE LITANIES OF SATAN

O thou, of Angels loveliest, most wise,
O God betrayed by fate, deprived of praise,

Satan, have mercy on my long distress!

O Prince of exile, who was dispossessed,
Who ever rises stronger when oppressed,

Satan, have mercy on my long distress!

O thou who knowest all, Hell's sovereign,
Known healer of mankind's afflictions,

Satan, have mercy on my long distress!

Thou who the lepers and pariahs doomed
Show out of love the Paradise to come,

Satan, have mercy on my long distress!

Thou who in Death, your mistress old and strong,
Breeds Hope - delightful aberration!

Satan, have mercy on my long distress!

Thou who dost give the outlaw the proud glance
Which damns the crowd who watch his sufferance,

Satan, have mercy on my long distress!

Thou who dost know where greedy earth enfolds
The precious stones a jealous God concealed,

Satan, have mercy on my long distress!

Thou whose clear eye knows the deep sepulchres
Where multitudes of metals lie interred,

Satan, have mercy on my long distress!

Thou whose great hand conceals the precipice
From the somnambulist whom roofs entice,

Satan, have mercy on my long distress!

Thou who by magic softens the old bones
Of loitering drunks by horses trampled down.

Satan, have mercy on my long distress!

Thou who, consoling frail mankind in pain,
Taught us to make our guns and gun-cotton,

Satan, have mercy on my long distress!

Thou who didst set thy mark, accomplice skilled,
Upon the heart of Croesus harsh and vile,

Satan, have mercy on my long distress!

Thou who put into women's hearts and eyes
The cult of wounds, the love of poverty,

Satan, have mercy on my long distress!

Staff of the exile and discoverer,
Confessor of condemned conspirator,

Satan, have mercy on my long distress!

Father to those whom in his sombre wrath
God drove from his paradise on earth,

Satan, have mercy on my long distress!


PRAYER

To thee, o Satan, glory be, and praise,
In Heaven, once thy kingdom, the abyss
Of Hell, where, now, thou dreamest silently!
Grant that my soul, one day, beneath the Tree
Of Knowledge, may rest near thee, when o'erhead,
Like a new Temple, its wide branches spread!

Charles Pierre Baudelaire

[The empressof all]

24. But here's another question for MN folks?

If we didn't have Luther-would we still have "hot dish"

[bobbieinok]

25. during VN war Am Bapt church sang a dissent hymn from Boer War era

can't remember first line or title

does this sound familiar to anyone??