Why Not Sing More Hymns?
- Pat Altes
- Sep 7, 2007
Why not more hymns? Is it okay to use modern "rock
style" music for worship? We do get asked this all the time.
Our desire is to present music...either written last year, or 300 years
ago...in a fashion that would not sound foreign to modern ears. Our church is
committed to "contextualizing" the gospel, and we share that commitment as it
pertains to worship. It is of no advantage to ask people to adopt a foreign
musical style in order to worship. Anything that poses an unnecessary cultural
hurdle to the greatest possible number of people engaging in worship should not
be employed.
From a lyrical standpoint, many of the traditional hymns are a "platform" that
the modern person would find increasingly difficult to use as a form of
communication. The most obvious hurdle is dated and stilted language and/or
difficult syntax. If someone were to write a heartfelt letter to a loved one
(be it a spouse, a dear friend, or a child), would they use language that you
would not normally use? Would they use words that were so dated that they
themselves hardly understood their meaning? Would the syntax be convoluted? No,
this form of communication does not represent words or phrases they would
normally use; even to even address a person of immense honor, or someone especially
dear to them. So although the words of some of the traditional hymns are indeed
poetic, they would not reflect modern expressions of love, respect, or worship
that people would use today.
A second hurdle to using many of the hymns relates to the musical styles with
which they were originally written. In many cases, many of the older hymns are
written in styles that sound very foreign to modern ears. Many use time
signatures (3/4, 6/8 timing) that are not normally employed today. You'll
recognize many of the traditional hymns are essentially waltzes or marches.
Since we do the freedom to choose a musical form to communicate our feelings to
the Lord, I believe fewer and fewer people in the 21st century would choose a
polka, a march, or a waltz to do that.
There are those that would make a case for "tradition" as a reason to promote
the use of hymns in the church. Certainly some traditions are fine; however the
New Testament is clear on this: traditions are not to supersede higher
spiritual goals. I believe the goal of maximum congregation involvement in
worship supersedes any choice of musical style based on tradition. In almost
every case in the New Testament, holding on to traditions simply for the sake
of "being traditional" is severely condemned (see Mark 7:7-9). We have a higher
goal that simply adhering to tradition; and that is, using the freedoms we have
in Christ to employ whatever non-moral means to encourage as many as possible
to immerse themselves more fully in God's kingdom.
"To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I
became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to
win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not
having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law),
so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the
weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might
save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its
blessings". 1 Corinthians 9
The weight of Corinthians 9 would be towards using presentations and forms that
the surrounding culture would be familiar with. In our case, musical styles
that are most comfortable and useable by the surrounding culture....here in Daytona Beach, Florida
in the early 21st Century....are more "Coldplay" than Fanny Crosby. And you see
that this music is meeting great needs, and is partially the reason why our
church appeals to college students, non-believers, young believers, and mature
believers who are encouraged by this advancement of God kingdom.
When some people pose the "why don't you use more hymns" question to me, I
wonder if underneath that question are the fond, warm memories of their
particular Christian experience...growing up 20, 30, 40 years ago, singing
the traditional hymns in a traditional church. I am sensitive to the fact that
is where some people are! But, it is important to note...very
important....that this is a memory shared by fewer and fewer Christians
today....and fewer still of the "unreached". To bring this (difficult
language, dated and foreign musical styles) to bear on those who need to
worship the Lord in Post-Christian America offers no spiritual advantage.
If you have read of the life of Hudson Taylor, the pioneer missionary to China in the
1800's, you will see how he set aside the traditions of English Protestantism
for the sake of reaching the Chinese using their culture. Some of the
traditions were meaningful to the English (even though those, too, would
change), but not to the Chinese he was called to reach and serve.
There should be no compromise in the message; but the presentation and forms
should change. They are supposed to change.
We have to admit that we are currently living in a post-Christian America. In
other words, we are now missionaries in a non-Christian land. We need to employ
the same thinking, creativity and cultural awareness employed by those on the
mission field. We are to used our freedoms in Christ to reach the world around
us. Many churches, enjoying these freedoms in Christ, use dance, poetry or
drama in worship. It is why there is tremendous flexibility in the order of
service, or methods in presenting God's word in a nontraditional method. It is
why using "overheads" or video is o.k. to use instead of hymnals. Whatever
encourages the greatest number of people to worship and listen, to express
their worship to the Lord and embrace His message in the gospel in an
uncompromised fashion, is to be used.
How liberating this is! How challenging! We all find comfort our own
definitions of the "status quo", and each of us defaults to our own
traditions...even me. However the lost world around us is constanting changing,
and how we reach the lost sheep (or new believers, or modern American
believers) is to be forever changing.
in Christ's love
Pat Altes