Mansion Over the Hilltop song...scriptural?

My papaw's house. As close to an earthly mansion as I've ever been

As a pastor and former music minister, I have often had to face criticism over songs that I have selected. One of the most criticized songs that I have had to defend is Mansion Over the Hilltop, written by Ira Stanphill in 1914. I've heard "it's a fleshly song," "it's only about the person and not the Savior," "it's not scriptural and shouldn't be sang in church," etc...

Well, my dear reader, this has bothered me for some time, so I decided to examine the song for it's Scriptural content and see if it cuts the mustard.

Verse 1

I'm satisfied with just a cottage below
A little silver and a little gold
But in that city where the ransomed will shine
I want a gold one that's silver lined 

(Satisfied while here below)  

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

(The ransomed) 

Isaiah 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. 

(will shine)

Matthew 13:43: 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Chorus

I've got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we'll never grow old
And some day yonder we will never more wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold 

(Mansions in Heaven) 

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

(In that bright land) 

Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

(Streets of pure gold) 

Rev. 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

Verse 2

Tho’ often tempted, tormented and tested

And, like the prophet, my pillow a stone.

And tho’ I find here no permanent dwelling,

I know He’ll give me a mansion my own.

(Often tempted and tormented and tested) 

Hebrews 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

1 Corinthians 10:13: 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

James 1:12: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

(The prophet’s pillow of stone)

Genesis 28:11: And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.

(No permanent dwelling here)

2 Corinthians 5:1: For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Verse 3

Don't think me poor or deserted or lonely
I'm not discouraged I'm heaven bound
I'm just a pilgrim in search of a city
I want a mansion, a harp and a crown 

(Not concerned about being poor) 

Proverbs 28:6: Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

(Pilgrim in search of a city) 

Hebrews 11:13: These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

(A harp)

Psalm 33:2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

(A crown) 

James 1:12: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 

So, there you have it friend. Is Mansion Over the Hilltop scriptural? You better believe it is. In fact, it has more Scriptural references than most songs. Is it a "selfish" song? I guess that depends on what kind of person you are. If you believe it is selfish then you are probably a selfish person, otherwise you would see that it is a beautiful song written to sing about the glories of Heaven which awaits those that are saved. It speaks of the wonders and sites of that city that God promised us and also said in His Word in Isaiah 64:4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.  and then later backed up by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:9: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Enjoy the below clip of my dad, James Chesney, picking and singing this good old SCRIPTURAL song. 

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Recklessness behind the pulpit

I was saved at the very young age of seven. It was during Vacation Bible School at Elm Street Baptist Church. It was an experience I’ll never forget. I felt true conviction after hearing the Gospel, and the pastor of the church, Adral Hall, thoroughly questioned me of my knowledge of Christ. I realized that I was lost and on my way to hell without a Savior. I also knew and believed that God sent his son, Jesus, to earth to die for my sins so I could be saved. I knelt on the altar and poured my heart out and asked Jesus to save me and I accepted Him as my Savior. I was baptized not too long after that. I wish that I would've had someone to take me under their wing and teach me the things of Christ. Unfortunately, that did not happen. Oh sure, I was took to church every time the door was open and attended Sunday school every Sunday. But I never received much Bible instruction at all when I was young.

As I got a little older I began paying more attention in church. I would listen intently of what the pastor or preachers were saying. One Sunday we were having a particularly spiritual service with many people shouting, crying, walking around, etc… In a Baptist church we call that “having a good service.” I was enjoying myself watching others and I felt happy. Then, it happened. The preacher made the following statement from the pulpit, “if you aren’t feeling the Spirit then there must be something wrong with you and you might want to consider whether or not you are saved.” I was flabbergasted. While I was enjoying the service, as a 10-year old boy I had no desire whatsoever to shout, run, or cry like many of the adults were doing. I felt that I must not have really been saved. I agonized over this for weeks. I would lie in bed at night and worry and cry and wonder what was wrong with me? I started noticing at other services the preacher making similar statements such as; “if you don’t feel like shouting then you might want to check up on your Salvation!” My fear kept building up and I began going to the altar to pray. Folks would come down and pray with me and I would feel a little better but still worried. I guess I did this off and on for 3 or 4 months. Finally one day I decided that I hadn’t really been saved when I was seven and I made another profession of faith. I was even re-baptized.

It wasn’t until I was in my late teens or early twenties that I come to the realization that I was truly saved at 7-years old and it was the recklessness of that preacher that had caused me to doubt my salvation. It was then that I decided if I ever became a pastor, preacher, or teacher that I would never say anything to make someone doubt their Salvation. It is not the job of the preacher or pastor to convict hearts; it is the Holy Spirit’s job. The preacher or pastor is the deliverer of the Gospel message. I fear that too many times, ministers are desperate to see people come to the altar and they say things to make people doubt their Salvation. How irresponsible of the man of God. Also, nowhere in the Bible will you find where people all had to have the same "feeling" or "experience" in order to be saved. It's an individual thing. The Holy Spirit deals with hearts on a personal basis and just because one person may feel like shouting doesn't mean that someone else should feel the same way. Not only that, just because a person shouts or says "Amen", does not mean they are more spiritual or closer to God either. I've seen many a shouter put on a big show and minutes later look stone cold. I've got more to say on this subject but I will save it for another posting.

One big flaw of the Baptist church, or at least the ones I am familiar with, is the lack of training provided to new Christians. It’s almost as if all churches want is to see people get saved, slap a new Bible in their hands, dunk them under the water, and send them on their merry way, just so they can add another name to the roll book. There should be follow up with each person that makes a profession of faith in Christ. If it’s a young man that gets saved then the pastor, a deacon, Sunday school teacher or other male officer of the church should be responsible for seeing that this happens. If it is a female then there should be some Christian ladies in the church to take on this responsibility and the pastor should hold them accountable. Perhaps we would see less “church jumpers” and more church workers if this happened.

I’m not sure why I wrote all of that. I guess it has been building up all of these years and now seemed to be a good time to let it all out. I pray that if you are a pastor or preacher of the Gospel that you will consider my testimony and reconsider the next time you make careless statements about one’s Salvation. Remember, it is your responsibility to present the Gospel, let the Holy Spirit worry about convicting hearts.

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New Knoxville Gospel Blog

This blog is for Knoxville area churches, and gospel/christian quartets, singing groups, soloist, to send their latest news to. I will update the site as often as possible and am also looking for co-authors to add site content. If you are interested in this, please send me an email or make a comment below with your contact info.

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