Rise Up, O Church of God

Rise Up, O Church of God ist ein in den protestantischen Kirchen der Vereinigten Staaten beliebtes geistliches Lied, welches ursprünglich für die Presbyterianer entstand.

Verfasser des Textes ist William P. Merrill. Er veröffentlichte seine Dichtung 1911 in der presbyterianischen Zeitung The Continent. Er bezieht sich in ihr auf Mt 22,37 EU, 1 Joh 2,14 EU sowie Joh 12,32 EU. Der Liedtext wird gesungen nach der Melodie des Festal Song von William H. Walter aus dem Jahr 1872. Er vertonte darin den Paul-Gerhardt-Text Befiehl du deine Wege. Merrills Lied wurde in der alternativen Textfassung Rise up, O church of God regelmäßig in den Fernsehgottesdiensten aus der Crystal Cathedral mit Robert Schuller gesungen.

Text

1. Rise up, O men of God!

Have done with lesser things.

Give heart and mind and soul and strength

To serve the King of kings.

2. Rise up, O men of God!

The kingdom tarries long.

Bring in the day of brotherhood

And end the night of wrong.

3. Rise up, O men of God!

The church for you doth wait,

Her strength unequal to her task;

Rise up and make her great!

4. 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!

Alternative Fassung:

1. Rise up, O Church of God!

Have done with lesser things;

Give heart and soul

and mind and strength

To serve the King of kings.

2. Rise up, O Church of God!

His Kingdom tarries long;

Bring in the day of brotherhood

And end the night of wrong.

3. Rise up, O Church of God!

The Church for you doth wait:

His strength shall make

your spirit strong,

Her service make you great.

4. Lift high the cross of Christ!

Tread where His feet have trod,

As followers of the Son of Man

Rise up, O Church of God!

5. Rise up, O saints of God!

His Kingdom tarries long;

Bring in the day of brotherhood

And end the night of wrong.

6. Rise up, O saints of God!

The Church for you doth wait:

His strength shall make

your spirit strong,

Her service make you great.

Literatur

• Calvin Weiss Laufer: Hymn Lore. Philadelphia 1932.
• Baptist Hymn Book herausgegeben vom Psalms and Hymns Trust, 1962.
• Methodist Hymn Book, Methodist Publishing House, 1954.