Lessons from Children’s Songs – Part 4
“Roll The Gospel Chariot Along” teaches children the importance of evangelism and helping sinners to repent and come to Christ. It is a traditional children’s song rooted in American spiritual folk culture without any known author. Those often simplified, the traditional lyrics are:
You’ve got to roll the gospel chariot along,
Come on and roll the gospel chariot along,
You’ve got to roll the gospel chariot along,
And we won’t tag along behind.
If my brother’s (sister’s) in the way, We will stop and pick him up.
If my brother’s (sister’s) in the way, We will stop and pick him up.
If my brother’s (sister’s) in the way, We will stop and pick him up.
And we won’t tag along behind.
If the devil’s in the way We will roll right over him.
If the devil’s in the way We will roll right over him.
If the devil’s in the way We will roll right over him
And we won’t tag along behind.
The gospel chariot is a metaphor for the church. We want as many to be added to the kingdom as possible. Paul wrote, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15). Saving sinners means that we stop and pick up as many as we can as we faithfully preach the gospel and sow the seed of the kingdom.
It also teaches the necessity of resisting the Devil. James 4:7 says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Peter wrote “Be sober, be vigilant; because[fn] your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9).
God bless you and I love you,
Kevin Cauley