This hymn paints the absolute necessity of missions on the heart of the hearer. Pastor Daniel O. Teasley wrote this hymn in 1910. We can see through his writing that Teasley understood the importance of the missionary heart and echoed the universal call of Christ’s Great Commission.
This hymn shows no mercy when it comes to the blunt, blatant, and sad truth that when the Church does not rise to love others, that lack of love clearly equates to a loss of souls for eternity. Teasley wants the singer to recognize this. We must act on this truth. This hymn is a hymn of conviction, and a movement of Christ would do well to sing it wholeheartedly.
“Many souls today are dying,
Sin and sorrow is their lot;
Darkness shrouds them with its mantle,
All because we love them not.
Refrain:
All because we do not love them,
Millions fill the heathen grave;
Brother, can you see them perish,
When a little love would save?
Brother, can we guiltless linger,
When to us the truth is giv’n?
Tearless, see the heathen dying,
Without God or hope of heav’n?
Refrain:
All because we do not love them,
Millions fill the heathen grave;
Brother, can you see them perish,
When a little love would save?
Love brought Jesus down from glory,
On the cruel cross to die;
Can we say we love the heathen,
If we turn away their cry?
Refrain:
All because we do not love them,
Millions fill the heathen grave;
Brother, can you see them perish,
When a little love would save?
Love undying, love eternal—
Love will send us o’er the wave,
Will impel us to our duty,
Helpless heathen souls to save.
Refrain:
All because we do not love them,
Millions fill the heathen grave;
Brother, can you see them perish,
When a little love would save?
Jesus said, ‘Go, teach all nations’;
They are lost if we delay;
Can we face Him at the judgment,
If His word we disobey?”
Refrain:
All because we do not love them,
Millions fill the heathen grave;
Brother, can you see them perish,
When a little love would save?
With love,
The Downing Family
