WE GATHER TOGETHER
Low Country Protestant Worship. Public domain.
Ask ten Christians who grew up in ten different churches what it was like going to their church and you’ll likely get a wide range of experiences. One thing I have found to be fairly ubiquitous among Christians, however, is an acquaintance with hymns. Becoming familiar with hymns and church songs was an unavoidable part of going to church regularly. Even after all these years, I can still remember melodies and words of hymns I haven't heard since I was young. One of those wonderful songs is “We Gather Together.” Not only is it a beautiful hymn, but it reflects an important message for Christians as it describes a key purpose of gathering: praise.
“We Gather Together” was written in the aftermath of the 1597 Battle of Turnhout. The battle was part of the Dutch struggle for liberation from the Spanish Empire in the Eight Years’ War. Using a Dutch folk song as the tune, poet Adianus Valerius composed the hymn to celebrate the Dutch victory in the battle. The hymn was an ode to God for the victory which resulted in the Protestants’ ability to gather freely for worship - something they had been unable to do under Catholic Spain. The hymn has since taken on a life as a song of thanksgiving in churches across the United States.
I was unaware of any of this history when I first sang the hymn as a child. All I knew was the beauty of the words and tune. There is a bit of irony that I sang this hymn in the Catholic church of my youth. But the song’s journey from a celebration of a Protestant victory over a Catholic king to a wider use celebrating assembly and thanksgiving is a testament to its universal appeal.
“We Gather Together” started in the Dutch Reformed Church but has become part of the hymnal of a variety of churches across America, including Episcopalian, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Unitarian, and Catholic, as previously mentioned. Many theological differences between these traditions certainly exist. Regardless of these differences, faith in Jesus Christ bonds those under the Christian umbrella. Sometimes things like theological differences, worship styles, and different histories can cause us to forget the things we have in common.
A hymn shared between traditions can serve as a common language for dialogue, particularly one whose message is that of gathering. “We Gather Together” is such a hymn. This idea can be found in the opening lines of the hymn: “We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing. He chastens and hastens His will to make known.” In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus makes it known that those who are to be His followers are to gather with one another, to commune together. “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:20, NRSV) When Christians of all sorts gather together, despite differences in traditions, even in the face of complicated histories of misunderstanding and hurt, they do so in honor of the most important factor uniting us all - the Risen Lord present in their midst.
In only a few lines, the lyrics of the second verse succinctly portray the notion of God leading someone on their path in life through its trials and tribulations. The hymn expresses trust that God will help us along the way. “Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining, ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine. So from the beginning the fight we were winning. Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!” The martial imagery of this verse likely references the particular battle that originally inspired the hymn. Yet over time the words have taken on a broader meaning. Now when I sing this hymn at church, I think not of a war between nations or people, but how God is there with us as we fight the adversaries that we all experience in each of our daily lives. Whether that is dealing with loss or illness, sadness or frustration, being overworked and overwhelmed, or seeing the spiritual forces of wickedness in the world, stepping back and reflecting on God’s everloving presence in our lives can help bring comfort and stability, especially in times of need.
What is so important about the themes found within this hymn, in my opinion, comes down to adopting a mindset of embracing differences. God became incarnate in Jesus Christ for all of us, not only those who express their faith in a particular way. Christ calls us all to come follow Him. We can practice this calling by working to bridge the gaps between each other and loving one another as ourselves. This speaks to my heart, as I strive (as short as I often fall) to see others as God wants all to be seen, as beloved children of the Father.
Hymns like “We Gather Together” and others stand as important pillars throughout Christian history and today. For me, hymns act as a way of praising the Lord, whatever chapter our life may be in, as well as a way for Christians to embrace one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. So if you feel so inclined, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to gather together and sing.
