Lyrics Page

The Church Triumphant

By Gaither Vocal Band

5,537 views Oct 9, 2026 updated Reunited album Verified editorial review

Song Meaning

The Gaither Vocal Band's “The Church Triumphant” pairs a sung refrain with a long spoken passage about the endurance of believers. It opens with a call: “Let the Church be the Church, let the people rejoice, for we've settled the question, we've made our choice.” The singers picture the church as a ship that has seen many storms and rocks, and though “the hull may be battered, inside it's safe and dry,” it will carry its cargo “to the port in the sky.”

The recitation begins, “God has always had a people.” It notes that conquerors who tried to force the church out of sight were mistaken, since a river “is not diminished because it's forced to flow underground.” It names Simon the Magician, who tried to buy spiritual power, and says the church has been praised, ridiculed, gilded and scorned, yet remains a “powerful army of the meek.” Then it addresses the discouraged pastor, the lonely missionary, the old saint, busy mothers and faithful fathers, and each hears that the church is still alive.

Christ's promise to build his church is Matthew 16:18. Simon's attempt to buy the gift appears in Acts 8:18-20, and the assurance that God will not forsake his people is Hebrews 13:5.

Lyrics Verified by Editorial Team

Let the Church be the Church

Let the people rejoice

For we've settled the question

We've made our choice

Let the anthems ring out, songs of victory swell

For the church triumphant, is alive and well


You know, this ship's been through battles before

The storms and the tempests and all the rocks on the shore

Though the hull may be battered

Inside it's safe and dry

It's gonna carry its cargo to the port in the sky


God has always had a people.

Many a foolish conqueror has made the mistake of thinking that because he had forced the church of Jesus Christ out of site, he had stilled its voice and snuffed out its life, but God has always had a people.

The powerful current of a rushing river is not diminished because it's forced to flow underground.

Now the purest water is the stream that burst crystal clear into the sunlight after it has forced its way through solid rock.

There have been those who like Simon The Magician sought to barter on the open market that power which cannot be bought or sold, but God has always had a people.

Men who could not be bought and women who were beyond purchase.

God has always had a people.

There have been times of affluence and prosperity when the church's message has been nearly deluded into oblivion by those who sought to make it socially attractive, neatly organized, financially profitable, but God has always had a people.

Yes it's been gold platted, draped in purple and encrusted with jewels.

It has been misrepresented, ridiculed, lauded and scorned but God has always had a people.

And these followers of Jesus Christ have been, according to the whim of the times, elevated sacred leaders and modern heretics.

Yet through it all, their march is on that powerful army of the meek.

God's chosen people who cannot be bought, blabbered, murdered or stilled.

On through the ages they march, the church!

God's church triumphant!


Listen child of God, its alive.

Discouraged pastor, it's his church and it's still alive.

Lonely missionary, sow that seed with confidence.

The church is still alive.

Old saint, you're not alone or forgotten.

The church is still alive.

Its alive my broken-hearted friend, it's still alive.

Busy mothers, just keep trusting in Jesus, the church is alive.

You're not alone out there, just keep looking to Jesus.

The church is alive.

And faithful fathers, there's rest in the Lord.

God's church is still alive.

So family of God lift your hands, lift your hands and praise the Lord.

The church, God's church triumphant is alive, it's alive my friends.

Alive and well

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