You help make Hymnary.org possible. More than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources and encouragement on Hymnary.org in 2025, including you. Every visit affirms the global impact of this ministry.

If Hymnary has been meaningful to you this year, would you take a moment today to help sustain it? A gift of any size—paired with a note of encouragement if you wish—directly supports the server costs, research work and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org
Calvin University
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for your partnership, and may the hope of Advent fill your heart.

Christians, Hold Out Your Light

We read of scribes and pharisees

Tune: [We read of scribes and pharisees]
Published in 6 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 We read of scribes and pharisees
Who sit in Moses’ seat,
Who are partial in the Word of God,
But their works are not complete.

Chorus:
Christians, hold out your light,
Christians, hold out your light,
Christians, hold out your light,
Hold out the light of God.

2 They are in the door of heav’n,
They keep the sinners out,
They ridicule the blood-washed child,
Who has a right to shout. [Chorus]

3 But stand back, ye professors,
Who say you are doing right,
For while you are having your dark hour,
I’m a walking in the light. [Chorus]

4 If you want to be called Christian,
Hold out the heav’nly light,
Don’t claim your Savior all day long,
And put Him off at night. [Chorus]

5 You can hide your crimes from people,
Deceive the Christian men,
But God can see you the darkest night,
And remember all of your sin. [Chorus]

6 You go to all these frolics,
Which makes your religion cold,
These no harm sins I’m telling you about,
Will cause you to lose your soul. [Chorus]

7 There are many cold professors,
Who live without the power,
And think by and by when death comes along,
They’ll get a heavenly shower. [Chorus]

8 Today is the day of salvation,
If you are going to go with me,
You must crucify the fallen man,
And Christ will set you free. [Chorus]

9 These moral Christians will not do,
Who will their religion hide,
For in my Father’s house above
They are wholly sanctified. [Chorus]

10 O get the pure religion,
And help to praise the Lord,
Hold out the heav’nly light of God,
For the lukewarm way is hard. [Chorus]

11 No sin can enter heaven,
Nor those who are defiled,
You must be cleansed from ev’ry sin
And become as a little child. [Chorus]

12 If you are a sinning Christian,
God’s word refuse to know,
Then by and by on the judgment day,
You’ll reap whatever you sow. [Chorus]


Source: Pentecostal Jewels #33

Text Information

First Line: We read of scribes and pharisees
Title: Christians, Hold Out Your Light
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Christians, hold out your light
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances in all hymnals

Instances (1 - 6 of 6)
TextAudioPage Scan

Pentecostal Jewels #33

Songs of Pentecostal Power #d138

Page Scan

Songs of Pentecostal Power, Complete #33

Songs of Spiritual Power; Songs that Win #d174

Songs of the Kingdom #119

Windows of Heaven No.7 #d107

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.