This month marks the twentieth anniversary of Mark Heard's death. Christianity Today has a memorial to him at their site. Victims of the Age, from 1982, was one of my favorite albums. For thirty years, his song from that album, Everybody Loves a Holy War, continues to ring in my ears with every political campaign and church conflict I see. We need more Mark Heards today! Here are the lyrics (And to be clear, if you think these lyrics only apply to your opponent's camp, left or right, you're missing the point):
Everybody Loves a Holy War
Some say that God has approved of their mob
Esteeming their purposes alone
Choosing sides with a definite pride
And taking their cause for His ownEverybody loves a holy war
Draw the line and claim divine assistance
Slay the ones who show the most resistance
Everybody loves a holy warMany's the man with the iron hand
Supposing his own thoughts to be Divine
He will break any bond –
'cause the other man's always wrong
It's a handy excuse for his crimesEverybody loves a holy war
Draw the line and claim divine protection
Kill the ones who show the most objection
Everybody loves a holy warDissident cries are met with cold eyes
And treatment the devil would get
Righteousness and truth
can be weapons in the hands of fools
While innocents go to their deathsEverybody loves a holy war
Draw the line and claim divine assistance
Slay the ones who show the most resistance
Everybody loves a holy warWritten by Mark Heard
© 1982 Bug 'n Bear Music ASCAP
Leave a Reply