‘Revive Us Again’

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

I don’t care for this rendition of the hymn, but my wife thought it was awesome. I yield to her judgment. Maybe you’ll like it, too.

Revive Us Again, a classic hymn by Fanny Crosby–by Dr. E. Dewy Smith and his congregation.

7 comments on “‘Revive Us Again’”

  1. I don’t think it was awesome, just different. I’ve spent some time worshiping in mostly black churches. I know a few black pastors, and am a close friend to another. For the most part, their “style” of worship is somewhat different.

    For one revival, our large church (mostly white) choir invited, a large, mostly black church choir to sing together, no rehearsal beforehand. As their choir mixed with ours, our choir leader told the visiting choir, when you start to sway, just make sure you gab hold of our members, so you all sway in unison, everyone laughed. What wonderful singing from that choir that night.

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  3. It seems like most of the congregation does not know this Crosby hymn that well. The black churches and the Pentecost churches I have visited seem to put great emphasis on emotion. I have learned not to depend on too much on emotion.

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  4. It’s not that they place emphasis on emotion; that is just the outpouring of their expression of love for our Lord, and in those kinds of churches, they are free to express it. Those that go to basketball, football, or any such type of event go to cheer on their team, the emotion just comes with it.

    I am reminded of David, the joy that filled his heart, when the ark of God was brought to the city of Jerusalem “And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.” II Samuel 6:14-15 There was certainly great emotion the people of God showed for their Lord that day. And I am also reminded of what happened to his wife, Michal, when she wasn’t happy with all the outpouring of emotion David showed that day. You can read that account as the story continues in the rest of that chapter.

    And no, I would not care to present that hymn, that way. But if you understand their “order of service” that seemed to be just a spontaneous demonstration of praise to God, not a practiced choir number. The pastor was just preaching, and the members of his congregation started to sing along with him. And I am sure, when, and if their choir did practice this hymn, their presentation would have been outstanding, and very different. Short clips like this, taken out of context, do not present the whole story.

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    1. I’m with Lee’s wife on this one, I thought it was awesome. Music has been a part of my life and to this day when I’m listening to good music, playing music myself at home, or on those occasions when I get to play in public with a band, it’s an emotional experience.

      The song chosen is, IMO, one of sincere praise to our God. It was well performed and had the spontaneous nature which I love. Personally, I have never felt called to do praise music, and the new-school P&W music of our day, at times gives me pause. Some has New Age overtones I prefer to avoid. But this song; wonderful!

      A lot of music in the last century has been influenced by the Church as practiced by black Christians, especially in the south. They are very spirited in their self expression and it shure appears that the folks in that video felt it to their very soul. This might not be what you’d hear in a Presbyterian service in Massachusetts, but I certainly don’t take exception to it.

      A lot of good secular music seeks to emulate this music. The “behind the beat” feel of a that is never rushed, but somehow still insistent. There was no phony exaggerated wailing or conspicuous displays of false emotion, but every one participating seemed to have been feeling the song, and I know I sure was. By the second run through I was singing along with them.

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