You Never Mentioned Him To Me by Maxie Dunnam

James Rowe is a prolific music composer, and yet most of us have probably not heard of him. He was born in Ireland and worked for the Irish government before immigrating to the United States in his late 20s. Eventually, he became a full-time writer, composing hymns and editing music journals for publishers. One of my favorites songs among his best-known works is “Redeemed,”

Redeemed—how I love to proclaim it! 

Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; 

Redeemed through His infinite mercy,

His child, and forever, I am. 

Redeemed, redeemed…

Another well-known favorite is “Love Lifted Me.”

Love lifted me!

Love lifted me!

When nothing else could help,

Love lifted me!

One of his songs I have never heard sung in a congregation. It is entitled, “You Never Mentioned Him to Me,” and it speaks directly to an essential function of every Christian. We are witnesses.

O let us spread the word

where’er it may be heard,

Help groping souls the light to see,

That yonder none may say, “You showed me not the way,

You never mentioned Him to me.”

Scripture charges us to take the good news about Jesus to others, to sow the seed. We know that not all soil is fertile; the responsibility to respond to the gospel lies with the hearers, not with us. The prophet, Ezekiel, encourages us, “But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. (Ezekiel 33:9) Our charge is to be faithful. Paul was rather adamant about it. “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (1Cor.3:6-7)

O let us spread the word

where’er it may be heard,

Help groping souls the light to see,

That yonder none may say, “You showed me not the way,

You never mentioned Him to me 

 A few sweet words may guide a lost one to his side,

Or turn sad eyes on Calvary;

So work as days go by, that yonder none may cry,

“You never mentioned Him to me.”

The song pictures Judgment Day as we stand to hear our fate pronounced. Before our appearance at the bench, another is condemned to eternal death. He cries out an accusation toward us:

“You never mentioned Him to me,

You helped me not the light to see;

You met me day by day and knew I was astray,

Yet never mentioned Him to me.”

That is a harrowing thought. Perhaps that is why the song is sung so infrequently. It makes us uncomfortable. But the hymn isn’t intended to make us feel guilty about our shortcomings in talking about Jesus. It has an end in itself. As followers of Christ, we are called to witness. How often do we share Him with others? When was the last time we had a serious conversation with someone about our faith? Dare I ask? When was the last time you mentioned him? More painful perhaps, “when you mentioned him, what did you say?”  

You never mentioned him to me. You may have difficulty with the imagery, but reflect. The imagery reminds us of what is happening, in reality, every day of our lives. If we are faithful to our commission, whether we are successful in our efforts or not, this hymn should be an encouragement. But if we are not, songs like this should be a powerful appeal to redouble our efforts. Which is it for us?