I have to admit that I love me some hymns. This has not always been the case. I used to think they were outdated and irrelevant, but the more I grow in my knowledge of Christ, the more I love these age-old songs. There's something different about the hymns. And no, it's not that they are different because they are boring or lame. That may be your opinion. The hymns are different because they have a lot of depth. If it's true that 80% of the congregation's theology comes from the songs that they sing, then it's important for our songs to be Biblically accurate and to declare the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some of the most popular songs on Christian radio ("Safe for the Whole Family") may be catchy, but many of them are not Biblically solid or Gospel-declaring. Sometimes this kind of a music-culture can create people just like the songs- catchy and fun, but not very well-grounded and rooted in the the Scriptures.
So, what's got me thinking about this today? A hymn called "Jesus Saves" (written in 1882). The tune just somehow popped into my head and I've been reminding myself today that Jesus saves. See that it so wonderfully declares the Gospel- the Gospel that says we've been saved by grace through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and that this good news will not only redeem Christians but all of creation. I can't think of a better message to sing with the Church.
Here are the lyrics:
We have heard the joyful sound: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Bear the news to every land, climb the mountains, cross the waves;
Onward! ’tis our Lord’s command; Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Waft it on the rolling tide: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Tell to sinners far and wide: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing, you islands of the sea; echo back, you ocean caves;
Earth shall keep her jubilee: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing above the battle strife: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
By His death and endless life Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout it brightly through the gloom, when the heart for mercy craves;
Sing in triumph o’er the tomb: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Give the winds a mighty voice: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Let the nations now rejoice: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout salvation full and free; highest hills and deepest caves;
This our song of victory: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
I actually treasure hymns as well. I often hate that they get pushed by the wayside so many times in our fast paced society. I love the fact that you can take a hymn and break the words down and they stand the test of time and ring true year after year. Also love the fact that you can actually sing along to hymns, as opposed to so many of the songs that are often sung that result in feeling more like they are being performed and not a true corporate worship.
ReplyDeleteI could go on, but I won't... :)
I agree, Heather. It's crazy how most of the hymns that I grew up loving are very unfamiliar to the new church crowd. I guess that's good news and bad news. Hopefully the hipster church movement (I just named it) will bring a lot of the hymns back. I have noticed a lot of church plants claiming to have a love for the historical church - perhaps we will see an upswing in the use of hymns. It can only be a good thing.
ReplyDeleteDo you like this one because it says rolling tide...ie roll tide? I kid I kid. Good post. The new needs the old and the old school need the new school. We need both.
ReplyDeleteThat's true, Rob. We need both. I think to reject one over the other is to ignore the fact that a part of God's saving activity in the world today is his preservation of the Church. it just adds to the strength of the Church when we embrace (or at least appreciate) all the creativity, all the practices, and even all the doctrinal controversies that have taken place since the NT church began. Do you have a favorite hymn, The Rob?
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