“Please stand and turn in your hymnals to hymn #_____”. Every Sunday morning and evening for the better part of my life those words rung from behind wooden pulpits to signal the beginning of worship. If you are anything like me you still have memorized the numbers of all your “song leaders” favorite hymns from his favorite hymnal (In the Baptist Hymnal hymn #4 is “To God Be the Glory” & Hymn #303 is “Just As I Am”). And if you are anything like me the moment you were introduced to contemporary worship music you were hooked by the def tones of all the new edgy songs of the 80′s like “Shout to the Lord” and “Lord I Lift Your Name on High”. Those songs would pave the way for nothing short of a movement that has birthed much controversy and change within our local churches. From Keith Green to Chris Tomlin, from Matt Redman to Hillsong United, the music world changed rapidly and a struggling church tried to adapt in its wake.
The worship wars have been well documented and their casualties still line our pews and trendy worship centers. It seems to me (I’m no expert) that the cannons of this war are being silenced and now lots of amazing music is filling our churches in it’s place. What is perhaps most ironic is that much of the new music being sung isn’t new at all. Today many of the most gifted writers are using their gift to put a fresh groove on an old text. A quick search on iTunes will reveal that nearly all of our favorite old hymns don’t sound so old anymore. The worship movement that threatened to reduce our hymnals to nothing more than props for our projectors is now publishing more hymns than perhaps any point in church history.
As a man called to shepherd the people of God and lead them particularly in music, I am curious to discover what you guys think. Do you prefer the deep old english text of our past or the fresh new lyrics of our faux hawk adorned, v-necked brethren?
“Sing to Him a new song. Play skillfully with a shout of joy!” Psalm 33:3
Now, since this was written before the 1800′s I am pretty sure that it is good to sing songs that have been born since the 1800′s. I truly feel that God delights in His children using their creativity to glorify Him. Whether it be through new versions of the old hymns or totally new lyrics and music. Oh, how many times my family and I have been blessed by new songs on the radio from people like Laura Story and others! We as Christians must not get preferrence and tradition confused with truth from Gods word.
It is all about Him and not about us and what we like. Our Worship Pastors “lead us” not only in song but spiritually as well. We have to trust their heart and even if it is not our preferred type of music, knowing that he loves his church and God, we can freely worship in whatever style he has chosen without “grumbling” or “complaining”.
Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1TH: 12-18
Well Said Ruth Thanks!