This serious and structured approach to Christian living became so well known that people began calling them and their followers “Methodists.” Because the Methodists lived differently from most people, they were often misunderstood—and even mistreated. Some were yelled at, had their homes damaged, and were even physically attacked for their faith.

In the middle of this hard time, Charles Wesley wrote "Soldiers of Christ, Arise" to encourage new believers. He wanted them to remember that following Jesus isn’t always easy—it’s a spiritual battle. But we’re not alone! God gives us spiritual armor to help us stand strong, just like it says in Ephesians 6:10–11.

The original hymn was long—sixteen verses! It first appeared in a book called Hymns and Sacred Poems in 1749. Later, John Wesley included parts of it in a Methodist hymn collection. The shorter version many churches sing today—just three verses—was published in 1847.

Even though it was written centuries ago, "Soldiers of Christ, Arise" still reminds us today that God gives His people everything we need to take a bold stand for Christ.