I am of the generation that bears the greatest culpability
for the Church moving away from hymns.
This isn’t all bad. There
are many wonderful contemporary songs that speak truth to our souls and lift our eyes to Christ. Songs like
“Blessed Be Your Name,” or one of our new ones, “Your Great Renown,” keep us in
our place of humility before an Almighty, Benevolent, Praiseworthy God. It doesn’t get more worshipful than
that. I love contemporary music,
but not to the exclusion of the great hymns of the past. One of the things I love about Grace
Fellowship is the variety we enjoy in the music portion of our services. As I like to say, “If you don’t like
the music come back next week because it will be entirely different.” When the schedule puts Juli on the
piano or Dennis at the podium I know we are going to be singing hymns, and I
rejoice for many reasons. I’ll
share just a few of them with you now:
1. Hymns are a great source of sound theology. Your theology is what you believe to be
true about God. We are all
theologians. It is in our best interest
to be good at it. Hymns help.
Martin
Luther’s, “A Mighty Fortress,” is in my estimation the best teaching on
demonology to be found outside the pages of your Bible. “The prince of darkness grim, we
tremble not for him – his rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure: One
little word shall fell him.”
Contrasted with, “Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would
be losing, were not the right man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing. Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He – Lord Sabaoth
His name.” Lord Sabaoth is an Old Testament reference meaning, Lord
of Hosts, or Lord of Armies. James
borrows this Hebrew phrase to comfort persecuted Christians, reassuring them
that “Lord Sabaoth” has heard their prayers. No song encourages me more in spiritual battle than the theological precision of “A
Mighty Fortress.”
“I
Know Whom I Have Believed” is another powerful hymn that condenses theology
into poetry. “I know not how the
Spirit moves, convincing men of sin, nor how believing in His Word wrought
peace within my heart.” And then,
right out of 2 Timothy 1:12, “But I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded
that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.” There are mysteries beyond the scope of
our intellect. Good theology is
honest about that while grasping firmly to what we know – to what Scripture
reveals. This hymn anchors us to the biblical truth of Christ.
2. Hymns are communal.
Sunday evening a handful of folks came out for our hymn-sing. The attendees ranged in age from Lucas to Chet
Firnekas. The Grace Fellowship
tenure ranged from Joan Crowe to Les Hunt. Every person present knew every one of the songs. That would not be possible during a
Praise and Worship jam-fest (as fun as that would be!). Across generational and geographical
lines hymns draw us together in a way that is truly unique.
Hymns
speak the language of the Church.
Joel helped me lead during the hymn-sing and it was obvious that in his
9 years of life he’s picked up at least a cursory knowledge of many hymns. He can walk into any church and know
the hymns. He can go with me to
Amie Holt and sing along with 90-year-old saints who can only mouth
the words. When he is 90 and
residing in an assisted living facility he’ll be singing “In the Garden” while
his great-grandkids groan under the weight of an ancient hymn, “Grandpa, that
song is so old!” But, it still
speaks the language of the church.
Always has, always will.
“Blessed be the tie that binds.”
Few things do that more than music; no music does that more than the
hymns.
3. Hymns have stood the test of time. And Can it Be, Come Thou Fount, It is
Well. Isaac Watts, John and
Charles Wesley, Fanny Crosby.
These names will be with the Church for eternity – most likely quite
literally. This is not to say that
“In Christ Alone” won’t stick around for generations to come. It is to say that a true classic, a
true great hymn of the faith, will make its way into the annals of hymnody and
your great-great-grandchildren will find themselves humming it around the
house.
Many
contemporary songs that were popular 5 years ago have faded away. We’ll be singing a thousand variations of “Amazing Grace” for another thousand years. I tend to think that “Blessed be Your
Name” is here to stay, while “Jesus, You’re My Super Hero” has just about ran
its course.
The
reason why #2 is true is because #1 is true, which is also why #3 is true. A song with powerful lyrics will find
itself sung by the faithful who will pass it on to grateful generations to
come. “Be Thou My Vision” will
never be trumped. These timeless
words, transcending generational and cultural categories, speak to Christians
of every age. “Riches I heed not,
nor man’s empty praise, Thou mine inheritance, now and always: Thou and Thou
only, first in my heart, High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.”
What
are your favorite hymns and why?
What would you add to this list of reasons why you love the hymns?
