Love will be our Hallelujah (website only)
The glory of our Lord is not revealed with gun or sword.
No, the victory that sets us free was never won in war,
for the path of hate and violence only ever leads to more,
but Love would change us all.
Refrain:
Glory, glory, Hallelujah,
Let our lives sing Hallelujah.
Love will be our Hallelujah.
God’s love will change the world.
See, the Power of our Saviour does not trample, has no need
for in loving strength our God would sooner die, would rather bleed
so that we might live and love, and learn the truth that sets us free:
that Love would change us all.
Refrain
We have heard the call, we’ve heard the One who knows us each by name.
It is not a call to arms, for he has shown another way.
“You have seen how I have loved you, now then go and do the same”,
for Love would change us all.
Refrain
Let the Love of God be that which would transfigure you and me –
Love transforms us and it moves us so we see things differently.
May it change the way I am to you and how you are to me.
Come, Love, come change us all.
Refrain
Let us learn to see each other as the God of love beholds:
we are children of the One who bids us share the love of God.
There’s no glory in the hurting, but in holding, healing Love –
Yes! Love will change us all
Refrain
Words: Brenton Prigge © 2017 New Hymn (Admin: Brenton Prigge) CCLI # 7089679
Tune: Battle Hymn of the Republic (William Steffe)
Ideas for use
Can a hymn be subversive? When it takes a tune so wedded to a set of words as is The Battle Hymn of the Republic, and revises those words – engaging in a dialogue with them – then perhaps yes. One member of the StF+ hymn submissions group observed that Brenton’s words “redeem [the tune] in a striking way”.
At heart, Brenton’s hymn asks what God’s love looks like in our lives and actions. In times of conflict, when reflecting on past conflict, or when expressing a desire for peace and reconciliation, this is a hymn that may disturb, or at the very least stimulate conversation. A hymn to preach with, perhaps?
More information
Brenton Prigge (pronounced “Prigga”) was born and raised in South Africa, where he was ordained into the Methodist Ministry in 2000. In 2009, he and his family emigrated to Australia where Brenton served the Uniting Church in Western Australia, resourcing and equipping congregations to be more inclusive of young people and children. He worked as a Messy Church regional coordinator and qualified as a Godly Play Trainer.
Brenton’s wife, Ann, comes from Minehead in Somerset, and in 2020 they moved to the Plymouth and Devonport Circuit of the British Methodist Church, where Brenton is a “Recognised and Regarded” minister. “For 28 years, Ann has moved wherever my ministry took us. She was asking me whether it might be her turn for a change!”
With a passion for many different activities, from photography to scuba diving, Brenton is also a prolific song and hymn writer. See http://www.newhymn.com/.