This hymn has haunted me since Saturday afternoon.

[TomSlick]

Once to Every Man and Nation.

Once to ev'ry man and nation
Comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth and falsehood,
For the good or evil side;
Some great cause, some great decision,
Off'ring each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever
'Twixt that darkness and that light.

[badhair77]

1. Thanks for this reminder. I haven't thought

of that hymn for years but it comes right back to me. And yes, so pertinent to the recent decisions by some senators. Some missed their moments.

[catrose]

2. It's been haunting me for months.

I grew up singing it in the Baptist Church, which might be the reason I mull over decisions and conduct, wondering if this is my time.

I wanted to write to Mike Pence and mention this hymn (probably a shared heritage) when he could have pulled a 25A. Oddly, there was a way to send an email to the 'resident but not the VP.

And then the senators got to hear it from Chaplain Rev. Black--fell on 43 or rather 86 deaf ears. And they actually more than one chance (though that doesn't work as well musically), but EVERY time they chose the evil side.

And that's exactly the version I've had playing these last few months.

[RicROC]

3. I don't know that hymn

I know the music but not the words, so I'm not sure if it was sung in our Lutheran Church. The hymn I just refuse to sing in church in 'Onward Christian Soldiers'. Yet, I see the emotion on the faces of those who do sing it.


By the way, this youth group performance was very good and I compliment them.

[TomSlick]

5. I have long thought "Onward Christian Soldiers" problematic.

I understand that it is an allusion Paul's repeated military metaphors, but still.

[wnylib]

7. Just noticed this thread.

I grew up Lutheran and we sang it.

Agree with you about Onward Christian Soldiers.

[LAS14]

4. One of the most evocative hymns for me. nt

[efhmc]

6. Once had a pastor who love this hymn and put it into any service when he could.

I really miss going to church because of music like this and also very intelligent thoughtful sermons. (Progressive Lutheran here.) The closest church like this to me is 90 miles away.