11 comments...What do you think?

1. Posted by Aaron M. 6th December, 2009 at 11:04 am

   A good hymn is as timeless as the Bible.

2. Posted by Amanda 6th December, 2009 at 11:36 am

   I actually love these hymns (especially this one – one of my favorites!) far *more* as a non-fundamentalist than I ever did as a fundamentalist. Granted there are some hymns that make me shudder because of their ties to certain aspects of fundamentalist theology (Garlock, anyone?), but others, like this one, I actually appreciate far more now than I ever did growing up.

3. Posted by Jordan M. Poss 6th December, 2009 at 1:33 pm

   Agreed, Amanda. One of the early things that began my disillusionment with fundamentalism was the shift in my church’s hymnals from a collection of old hymns (Watts, Wesley, etc.) to one stuffed to the gills with Garlock, Hamilton, and Mac Lynch. Not cool. Guys like Isaac Watts were infinitely more skilled poets then these johnny-come-latelys.

4. Posted by Sizzledowski 6th December, 2009 at 2:39 pm

   Love this song.

5. Posted by Deb 6th December, 2009 at 4:53 pm

   Lovely vid! Hymns are definitley a part of fundamentalism that I miss!

6. Posted by JimE 7th December, 2009 at 8:43 am

   This song is one of my favorites….. In my mind it ranks side by side with “Amazing Grace”. I love the third verse because it vividly takes me back to when I discovered God.

   “Thine eye diffused a quickening ray –
   I woke the dungeon flamed with light
   My chains fell off, my heart was free,
   I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.”

   A chill goes up and down my spine every time I sing/ hear these words.
   It was a great disappointment that the song leader in the fundy church skipped this verse about 95% of the time. Thanks for posting this song.

7. Posted by Mark 7th December, 2009 at 10:03 am

   Def. agree. These types of hymns still move me, but the southern gospel tripe sung in my parents’ church makes me want to barf.

8. Posted by chris 8th December, 2009 at 5:59 pm

   This is by Charles Wesley, c. 1738, so it is Anglican/Methodist in origin. First hymn I memorized after my own conversion. There is nothing fundy about it.

9. Posted by Pastor Harold 18th December, 2009 at 5:38 pm

   I hope they play this one at my funeral, always loved it.

10. Posted by exfundy 13th June, 2010 at 4:22 pm

    Did you know you can sing the lyrics of “Amazing Grace” to the tune of the Gilligan’s Island theme song? Try it!

11. Posted by james 9th July, 2010 at 10:07 pm

    i wouldnt say that a good hymn is as timeless as the bible…

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