Holiness Hymns

 I have mentioned it before, but I tend to sing (usually three) songs when I pray the Daily Office.  I am currently singing through the Nazarene hymnal, Sing to the Lord, once again.  Today, I was in the section on holiness.  In fact, among the three that I sang was one of my three favorite hymns, Holiness unto to Lord.  (My other two are And Can It Be? by Charles Wesley and The Love of God by Frederick M. Lehman and Meir Ben Isaac Nehorai.)

This hymn holds special meaning for me, not only because of its content, but also because it is sung at every ordination service in the Church of the Nazarene.  -  It is unfortunate that, with so many churches moving exclusively to more modern songs, the message of this and several other holiness hymns has been lost for those congregations.  This is also the case for the theology of other classical Wesley hymns, as well as those that belong to the larger Christian Church.  -  I am not opposed to contemporary songs.  In fact, I like many of them.  However, if that is all we are singing, we are probably missing something import.

Holiness unto the Lord was written by Lelia N. Morris in 1900.  Mrs. Morris was a Methodist who wrote more than 1,000 gospel songs, including a number of holiness hymns; this being among them.

Holiness unto the Lord

1. "Called unto holiness," Church of our God,

Purchase of Jesus, redeemed by His blood;

Called from the world and its idols to flee,

Called from the bondage of sin to be free.

(Refrain) "Holiness unto the Lord" is our watch-word and song;

"Holiness unto the Lord" as we're marching along.

Sing it, shout it, loud and long:

"Holiness unto the Lord" now and forever.

2. "Called unto holiness," children of light,

Walking with Jesus in garments of white;

Raiment unsullied, nor tarnished with sin;

God's Holy Spirit abiding within.

3. "Called unto holiness," praise His dear name!

This blessed secret to faith now made plain:

Not our own righteousness, but Christ within,

Living and reigning, and saving from sin.

4. "Called unto holiness," bride of the Lamb,

Waiting the Bride-groom's returning again!

Lift up your heads, for the day draweth near

When in His beauty the King shall appear!

 

In addition to Holiness unto the Lord, I also sang Glorious Freedom.  Again, so many Nazarene churches are missing out on these songs that re-enforce our Wesleyan-holiness emphasis on entire sanctification.

Glorious Freedom

 

1. Once I was bound by sin's galling fetters;
Chained like a slave, I struggled in vain.
But I received a glorious freedom
When Jesus broke my fetters in twain.

(Refrain) Glorious freedom! Wonderful freedom!
No more in chains of sin I repine!
Jesus, the glorious Emancipator -
Now and forever He shall be mine.

2. Freedom from all the carnal affections;
Freedom from envy, hatred, and strife;
Freedom from vain and worldly ambitions;
Freedom from all that saddened my life!

3. Freedom from pride and all sinful follies;
Freedom from love and glitter of gold;
Freedom from evil temper and anger;
Glorious freedom, rapture untold!

4. Freedom from fear with all of its torments;
Freedom from care with all of its pain;
Freedom in Christ, my blessed Redeemer -
He who has rent my fetters in twain.

 

 

One might ask, what if my experience does not match the freedom that this hymn describes?  Indeed, it would be likely that there would be plenty within a congregation that would not claim this testimony.  But in that case, I would paraphrase the advice once given to John Wesley when he was searching for assurance of faith.  Sing it until you experience the grace described in the hymn, and then you will sing it because you have experience that grace!