Weapons of Warfare for the Christian Leader

It was early September, 1977, Fall convocation for my first semester at Nazarene Theological Seminary. The Seminary Chapel at 1700 East Meyer Boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri, was at near capacity with over 400 persons in attendance. I don’t remember anything from the day, with one exception.

For the opening hymn, everyone stood. The atmosphere was thick with both the sense of calling that had brought us all to that place, and the anticipation of what God had for us in that semester and beyond. The organist, having already “pulled out all the stops,” commenced the introduction. And then, 400 plus (admittedly, mostly male) voices lifted in unison to sing the first verse of “Lead On, O King, Eternal.” We seemed to raise the roof. For this country boy from Ohio, it was an ethereal experience. I had never heard anything like it; I have never forgotten it, and I never will.

The pomp and circumstance of my remembrance is quite a contrast with where I have been in recent days. There certainly weren’t 400 comrades in arms. Resources were scarce, Christ's warriors were wounded and weary, and results, by the world's measure, were few. Yet, there was still much kingdom work being done—dedication to the mission was not in doubt and stories of victory were shared. But I also  heard of great harvest fields waiting and enlistments for the battle wanting.

The great hymn seems to make the Lamb’s War a glorious thing. Where I was, nothing seemed all that glorious. However, the great hymn, with all of its bravado, does briefly indicate how the Lamb’s War was waged in ancient days, how it is being fought in humble places, and how all the great leaders of the Lamb fight the good fight. It’s in the last few words of the second verse: “with deeds of love and mercy the heavenly kingdom comes.”

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds . . . (2 Corinthians 10:4).

LEAD ON, O KING ETERNAL

Lead on, O King eternal,

The day of march has come;

Henceforth in fields of conquest

Your tents will be our home.

Through days of preparation

Your grace has made us strong;

And now, O King eternal,

We lift our battle song.

Lead on, O King eternal,

Till sin's fierce war shall cease,

And holiness shall whisper

The sweet amen of peace.

For not with swords' loud clashing

Or roll of stirring drums

With deeds of love and mercy

The heavenly kingdom comes.

Lead on, O King eternal;

We follow, not with fears,

For gladness breaks like morning

Where'er your face appears.

Your cross is lifted o'er us,

We journey in its light;

The crown awaits the conquest;

Lead on, O God of might.

--Charles "Chuck" Nutt