"The Battle Hymn of the Republic" was written by Julia Ward Howe when the United States of America was engaged in the Civil War. It begins:
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the
coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where
the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of
His terrible swift sword.
His truth is marching on.
How different "the coming of the Lord" here, and the coming of the Messiah in the peaceful birth of the babe Jesus. Yet, one might argue, hasn't it sometimes been the teachings of the Master that induced many to fight, even to kill and to give up their own lives?
