Part of an ongoing series remembering the hymns I recall from childhood with fondness. Or not. Today’s edition is from the “not” category.

He Lives

I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today;
I know that He is living, whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me
A-long life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.

In all the world around me I see His loving care,
And tho my heart grows weary, I never will despair;
I know that He is leading thro’ all the stormy blast,
The day of His appearing will come at last.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.

Rejoice, Rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find,
None other is so living, so good and kind.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.

How nice. I’m sure I was quite young still when I decided that the chorus represented just about the weakest possible apologetic for the existence of God that I was ever likely to hear. That would never stand up… “Oh, I know Jesus is alive because he’s in my heart.” Yeah, right. Do you walk with him and talk with him regularly too? Oh. See, this one only makes sense if you’re “in,” if you presuppose all that it says. If not, forget it. And I’m thinking this when I’m what, ten years old? Sure, by comparison it was a nice snappy tune compared with a lot of hymns… but really. The song opens portraying itself as an apologetic but fails. Thumbs down on this one.