Recently, while visiting my mother down in the rural South, I was surprised to see symbols typically seen at military events at her United Methodist Church — a huge mural of an Eagle set in the background of an American Flag. For a few years after the Vietnam War, it was not uncommon to see an old Gospel favorite favorite performed at white Southern Churches — “Down By the Riverside,” the powerful refrain in the lyrics remind us to follow the teachings of Christ:

I was able to find on YouTube this old favorite being performed by a white choral group, judging from the clothing, from the early 1970’s. However, this video was not available to be viewed on YouTube as it contained the following excoriation: “This video may contain content that is inappropriate for some users, as flagged by YouTube’s user community”. Only by registering with the site is it possible for anyone to even know that white Christians once performed this old favorite. Perhaps except for some remote locations in places like rural Georgia, where I am told Sunday School teachers of a certain stature remind their students that “We Study the Prince of Peace and not the Prince of Preemptive War”, I have come to the conclusion that these days white Christianity in America is composed of a largely warmongering crowd. Perhaps too many of its members work for the Military Industrial Complex. Fortunately, YouTube does offer up some excellent versions of this old favorite performed by true Ambassadors of Peace. Here to bring you a message of Peace is Sister Rosetta Tharpe and chorus, praising him with stringed instruments. Hallelujah!