Comments on: “Let’s Do a Hymn”

By: Bob Kauflin

Bob Kauflin — Mon, 21 May 2007 22:13:29 +0000

J.T.,

Thanks for leaving a comment, and for your enthusiasm for hymns. I think you misread my post, though. I said, “There are many reasons we should value and take advantage of the rich hymns that history has handed down to us,” and, “Any church will benefit from doing more hymns.”

Since modern songs are usually critiqued more often for their lack of content, I thought I’d point out that not every hymn is a winner, either.

By: J.T. Johnston

J.T. Johnston — Mon, 21 May 2007 14:00:19 +0000

I appreciate the items mentioned in your post on hymns. Pardon me if I interpreted it in the wrong way, but I perceived a generally negative attitude towards hymn singing in your post as well as in most of the comments. Please let me point out that hymns are a rich tradition particularly in American worship and many congregants worship just fine singing mostly hymns. There are many people who have grown up in churches singing hymns who can quote you marvelous hymn texts that richly communicate the truths of God’s word. They have favorite hymns committed to memory and are able to worship with them at any time by humming or singing them as they go about their day. This is really no different than with other, ‘modern’ worship songs.
I guess what I am saying is don’t discount hymns as some old tradition that can be thrown in periodically to keep the old folks happy. Yes, there are bad hymns. Hymns with theology problems; hymns with bad music; hymns that are difficult to understand. Likewise there are vast numbers of contemporary worship songs with the same problems. I have gone through reams of pages of ‘worship songs’ and ‘praise choruses’ looking for singable songs with sound texts that are appropriate for worship and not merely emotional entertainment. IMHO there are at least as many poorly written worship songs out there (probably more) as there are poorly written hymns. Use the many rich hymns that are out there in your worship just as you do other choruses and spiritual songs. Where do you think the hymns came from, anyway. They are a collection of the ‘contemporary’ Christian music of the last several hundred years. You should hope the songs of today are the ‘hymns’ of tomorrow, as the songs that survive are most likely the best of what we are singing today.

By: Thomas Clay

Thomas Clay — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 14:51:47 +0000

I appreciate your comments on “Joyful, Joyful”. We are a Doctrines of Grace church in AL but do sing that hymn. So does Bethlehem Baptist (per their song list at their website). We see it as more of a celebration of God’s general grace. We won’t build a whole song service around it, but it does make a good statement to God’s gracious hand in creation. We always sing of specific grace in every song service, centering on redemption through Jesus Christ and His Cross and Blood.

Thanks for all you do!

By: Joshua

Joshua — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 19:05:02 +0000

Thank you kind sir for your continued desire to worship as He desires and not man. Your writings and heart are transparent and desirous of many.

Respectfully,

Joshua

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 12:48:08 +0000

There are some in our Church that think the hymns are to be worshiped. It is refreshing to read an article that essentially says that no song is above admonition. I agree…

By: Aaron

Aaron — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 05:05:25 +0000

Great article, Bob. At times it seems that people see leaders of congregational song as a worship music juke box. Just put a request in with your tithe and we’ll play your song. I’ve received several requests on our website for particular songs. My favorite was “Do, Lord.” A woman had recently heard a cd of Johnny Cash singing it and thought it would be good on a Sunday morning.

On a serious note, Michael Bleecker of The Village Church has done some fine modern arrangements of “One Day” and “Wonderful Grace of Jesus.” You can check them out for free on itunes.

I’m praying for a productive, God-honoring time of writing for you this week.

Joyfully His,

Aaron

By: Eric Barnhart

Eric Barnhart — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 02:52:49 +0000

Hope your retreat is/was productive. I’ve seen and done “Alas And Did My Savior Bleed” to the tune of “Foggy Dew” as one way to change the tone of the music to something perhaps more complementary to the lyric. I’m sure there are others.

I see you’re listening to the Koln Concert - I haven’t had a chance to check out his latest solo concert in Carnegie, but i’ve heard it’s pretty good.

By: Fred McKinnon

Fred McKinnon — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 00:15:41 +0000

Great article - thanks for posting it. Recently, I started a new position as Worship Director of a local church and on my first Sunday a nice, older lady approached me and said “just fyi, you MUST sing at least one hymn every sunday”.

Thanks for mentioning some of the titles as well!

For the Kingdom,
Fred McKinnon