Altar To The Unknown God Lyrics

(Lyrics by Smith; Music by Smith and Wood)

Build a fire and fan the flame
Sacrifice without a name
Offerings on the altar to the unknown god

Multitudes of gods cover our landscapes and our lives
Images of deities and halls of sacrifice
Philosophers and scholars and sophisticates we are
Our gods are our religion and religion is our god

A stranger came to town one day
And fearlessly proclaimed
“The unknown god you worship
On this altar has a name”
He said, “This god is not an image
Or a statue of the dead
In Him we live and have our being
As your own poets have said”

Build a fire and fan the flame
Sacrifice without a name
Offerings on the altar to the unknown god
Dance around the altar blaze
Brings the works your hands have made
Place them on the altar to the unknown god

He dwells not in temples
Built by human hands
He needs no assistance
Or service of man
The nameless you worship
Is greater than all
Your idols of death
Never answer your call
All nations He formed
From the flesh of one man
He marked out their times
And the boundaries of lands
Your life and your breath
He bestows with the day
So seek Him and find Him
For He is not far away

Fire upon the altar
Burns the sacrifice
Sacrificial lamb was slain to pay the final price
Come, ye heavy laden
Sinner's mercy cry
The unknown God your call upon is nigh

Gather ‘round the altar
Stoke the holy fire
Purifying flames of righteousness
Are rising higher
Come ye hungry, eat the bread of life
And drink the wine
Altar to the living God divine

Solo: Val

No image of stone or of silver and gold
No effigy mankind has raised to behold
The day and the hour of judgment is set
He's proven Him by the resurrection of the dead

Build a fire and fan the flame
Sacrifice without a name
Offerings on the altar to the unknown god
Stand before the altar blaze
Bring the lives His hands have made
Place them on the altar to the one true god
Your unknown god
Is the one living God