From the many books I received from my dad’s library after his death, this one catches my attention at two levels.
One, style. It doesn’t get more dated than “Old Fashioned Revival Hour Songs.” But from 1937 to 1968, The Old Fashioned Revival Hour was a powerful, nationwide radio broadcast for the gospel. A radio ministry was a bold new concept at the time. Charles E. Fuller, for whom Fuller Seminary was named, was its leader. During World War II, my dad, on board ship in the Navy, listened to the OFRH every Sunday. It was a spiritual lifeline during all that distress and loneliness. Thousands of people were converted and helped. The style belonged to that age, obviously. But the Bible does not call us to imitate the style of those who have gone before us. It calls us to imitate their faith (Hebrews 13:7). That takes us to the second level.
Two, substance. Music was a big part of the OFRH. Hence, this song book. In it I find profound expressions of Christian faith. I cannot read them without getting a lump in my throat, just as much as with the powerful expressions of faith from our own time. The poetry of these old songs may not be grand, but the substance of their faith certainly is. For example:
I am amazed that God could ever love me
So full of sin, so covered o’er with shame
Make me to walk with him who is above me
Cleansed by the power of his redeeming name
I am amazed that God would ever save me
Naught but the cross could take away my sin
Through faith in Christ eternal life he gave me
Now he abides forever within
No one ever cared for me like Jesus
There’s no other friend so kind as he
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me
Oh, how much he cared for me!
Jesus my Lord will love me forever
From him no power of evil can sever
He gave his life to ransom my soul
Now I belong to him
I must tell Jesus all of my trials
I cannot bear these burdens alone
In my distress he kindly will help me
He ever loves and cares for his own
The river of thy grace is flowing free
We launch upon its depths to sail to thee
In the ocean of thy love we soon shall be
We are sailing to eternity
Some through the waters, some through the flood
Some through the fire, but all through the blood
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song
In the night season and all the day long
O Lord Jesus, how long, how long
Ere we shout the glad song?
“Christ returneth, Hallelujah!”
Hallelujah, Amen!
Hallelujah, Amen!