Death is Destroyed: Duane W.H. Arnold, PhD

We recorded and released this song as part of our album ‘Mystic Chapel’ six years ago. The basic track was recorded in Nashville with my bandmate, Michael Glen Bell and our old friend, Phil Keaggy.

While the song itself is contemporary, the words are ancient, adapted from the Easter liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, dating from the fifth century.  It is an expression of what might be called an Ancient-Future Faith.  It is a faith that is firmly rooted in the ancient Church.  It is a faith that is rich in its theological expression.  It is a faith that is grounded in, and faithful to the narrative of Scripture, even when that narrative counts the women disciples of Christ as the first to proclaim His resurrection.

Yet, this is not a faith to be kept in a museum.  It is not a faith that rejects contemporary expressions.  It is not a faith that contemplates the future with dread or fear.  Instead, it uses the ancient treasures of scripture, tradition, reason and theology to enrich the present and transform the future.  Such a faith reminds us that although the resurrection was “then”… it is also “now”.

Christ is Risen!

He is Risen Indeed!

Death is Destroyed

The women disciples of the Lord

Learned from the angel of His rising

And with pride they did proclaim so

Joyously to His disciples

Death is destroyed

Christ our God is arisen

He gives to the world

Great mercy

So let us the faithful praise and worship

God the Son the Living Word

Who for our salvation was born of the Virgin

Suffered and died and rose again

Death is destroyed

Christ our God is arisen

He gives to the world

Great mercy

Death is destroyed

He gives to the world

Great mercy