Unless you attend the "traditional service", this is my opinion of our churches' music tendencies: we sing fast praise choruses, with plenty of hallelujahs and ohohohs, we yell our throats out in youth group to those new songs written for the tenor range while our ears go deaf with the drums, and sometimes, if we're lucky, they'll throw some of those half hymn/half praise song numbers in. Worship is simply a bouncing feeling that comes when the beat can be heard above all else, and we all wave our arms around to a feel good woah.
That may sound a bit harsh, but I personally find the above observations to be accurate, though it is what our culture (particularly the younger generations) seems to grow and thrive spiritually from. It is how we "reach the lost", by identifying with what they consider hip and cool, cause hey, Christians and their music have got to be cool in order to spark interest in the church, right? But are they/we really worshiping the God of the Universe with reverence, or smiling and swaying to the "spiritual high", which is purely a physical reaction stemming from stimulated emotions?
The truth is that some of the most beautiful melodies and sound doctrine can be found in the words of old hymns. There are so many hymns, and sadly they are being replaced in services across the nation for the newer songs. Don't get me wrong, I do like praise songs, (and I will bounce up and down in youth service just like the rest of them), some of them do have beautiful tunes, but as a general rule, they lack the deeper doctrine that can be found in the dog-eared pages of your Grandparents' hymnal.
Also, there are very few modern choruses that speak of the joys of heaven. They are quite willing to talk about how God is with us in our troubles, and how He heals the brokenhearted, and while this is certainly Biblical and foundational, there are so many other areas of our faith that could be explored in their verses. Once again, hymns are right there, chock full of truths about the church, heaven, God's character and glory, and our sin and need for salvation.
Often times, I will sit down at the piano and play and sing through the pages of our hymnal, practicing my sight reading and enjoying the spiritual feast that is to be had.
There is so much more that could be said on the subject, and I'm still learning and forming my own opinions, so I'd like to close with various verses of some of my all time favorite hymns.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!
(O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus, 1st vs)
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
(How Great Thou Art - vs 3)
I serve a risen Saviour; He's in the world today.
I know that He is living, whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him He's always near.
He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.
He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.
(He Lives, 1st vs and chorus)
And tho this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph thru us.
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.
(A Might Fortress is Our God - 3rd vs)
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! The joys I feel, the bliss I share
Of those whose anxious spirits burn With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place, Where God my Savior shows his face,
And gladly take my station there, And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
(Sweet Hour of Prayer - vs 2)
How firm a foundation ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word;
What more can he say than to you he hath said?
You, who unto Jesus, for refuge have fled.
(How Firm a Foundation - vs 1)
Come Thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy praise
Streams of mercy never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it, mount of Thy redeeming love
(Come Thou Fount - vs 1)
Fixing our eyes upon Jesus,
Kaitlyn
P.S. For additional clarity or information, the book: "Why I left the Contemporary Christian Music Movement" by Dan Lucarini may be extremely thought provoking and helpful.
That may sound a bit harsh, but I personally find the above observations to be accurate, though it is what our culture (particularly the younger generations) seems to grow and thrive spiritually from. It is how we "reach the lost", by identifying with what they consider hip and cool, cause hey, Christians and their music have got to be cool in order to spark interest in the church, right? But are they/we really worshiping the God of the Universe with reverence, or smiling and swaying to the "spiritual high", which is purely a physical reaction stemming from stimulated emotions?
The truth is that some of the most beautiful melodies and sound doctrine can be found in the words of old hymns. There are so many hymns, and sadly they are being replaced in services across the nation for the newer songs. Don't get me wrong, I do like praise songs, (and I will bounce up and down in youth service just like the rest of them), some of them do have beautiful tunes, but as a general rule, they lack the deeper doctrine that can be found in the dog-eared pages of your Grandparents' hymnal.
Also, there are very few modern choruses that speak of the joys of heaven. They are quite willing to talk about how God is with us in our troubles, and how He heals the brokenhearted, and while this is certainly Biblical and foundational, there are so many other areas of our faith that could be explored in their verses. Once again, hymns are right there, chock full of truths about the church, heaven, God's character and glory, and our sin and need for salvation.
Often times, I will sit down at the piano and play and sing through the pages of our hymnal, practicing my sight reading and enjoying the spiritual feast that is to be had.
There is so much more that could be said on the subject, and I'm still learning and forming my own opinions, so I'd like to close with various verses of some of my all time favorite hymns.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!
(O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus, 1st vs)
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
(How Great Thou Art - vs 3)
I serve a risen Saviour; He's in the world today.
I know that He is living, whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him He's always near.
He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.
He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.
(He Lives, 1st vs and chorus)
And tho this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph thru us.
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.
(A Might Fortress is Our God - 3rd vs)
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! The joys I feel, the bliss I share
Of those whose anxious spirits burn With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place, Where God my Savior shows his face,
And gladly take my station there, And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
(Sweet Hour of Prayer - vs 2)
How firm a foundation ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word;
What more can he say than to you he hath said?
You, who unto Jesus, for refuge have fled.
(How Firm a Foundation - vs 1)
Come Thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy praise
Streams of mercy never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it, mount of Thy redeeming love
(Come Thou Fount - vs 1)
Fixing our eyes upon Jesus,
Kaitlyn
P.S. For additional clarity or information, the book: "Why I left the Contemporary Christian Music Movement" by Dan Lucarini may be extremely thought provoking and helpful.