I enjoy reading hymns and often flick through my copy of 'Christian Hymns' for some encouragement.
Try this while you read on: 'I Hear Thy Welcome Voice' sung by the Morriston tabernacle Choir, Swansea.
A good hymn lies not in the tune, chorus or the gusto with which it can be belted out in the shower... but rather in its theology and wording. I'd argue that the hymns which touch our soul are the ones that correctly convey Christian doctrines and the true message of the gospel.
Sure some hymns and choruses can be catchy, emotive and exciting, but worship is not about the 'I'. Any worship which is 'I' centred is defamatory and self absorbed, rather like the prayer of the Pharisee in Luke 18: 9 - 14.
There is a huge and ongoing argument about praise in Churches all over the world - what is seemly? What is respectful and 'good ordered'? The instruments used or unused, the contrivances of 'performance', the starchy stiffness of older hymns, the loose casualness of new choruses, what is contemporary... what is acceptable?
It isn't an argument I am fully persuaded about by any camp to be honest. I know this - I scrutinise carefully the words of any Christian music I listen to and consider its motivation. If it is theologically sound and worshipful of God, not man... then it goes on the ipod.
After that its a matter of weeding out the ones which make me sound like I'm in pain when I sing them!
I am currently reading 'Grace, grit and Gumption' by Geriant Fielder which is an account of John Pugh's hand in the South Wales revival of the late 1800's. Helped in no small way by two of my home town's favourite sons Seth and Frank Joshua. It is an excellent and challenging read - though be warned you may feel the urge to start preaching outside pubs!
Seth Joshua wrote an article on congregational singing and it is quoted in part in the book. It makes some comments on worship which I hadn't considered before. He compared the congregation's singing with that of a choir or soloist. Here are a few quotes.
Some good thoughts there. My tuppence worth is that any song or hymn of worship should at first be theologically sound. Any instrumentation must be used in support of the worship in a church service, not used as a performance. Once the performance and selection of praise leans primarily toward the abilities and preferences of the instrumentalists the true motivation of worship is lost.
As I commented to a family member some while ago "You can praise God any way you want during the week, but come Sunday it should be done in the Lord's way." I said it rather flippantly at the time, but maybe there's some truth in it?.. that doesn't however answer the question 'what is the Lord's way?'
Try this while you read on: 'I Hear Thy Welcome Voice' sung by the Morriston tabernacle Choir, Swansea.
A good hymn lies not in the tune, chorus or the gusto with which it can be belted out in the shower... but rather in its theology and wording. I'd argue that the hymns which touch our soul are the ones that correctly convey Christian doctrines and the true message of the gospel.
Sure some hymns and choruses can be catchy, emotive and exciting, but worship is not about the 'I'. Any worship which is 'I' centred is defamatory and self absorbed, rather like the prayer of the Pharisee in Luke 18: 9 - 14.
There is a huge and ongoing argument about praise in Churches all over the world - what is seemly? What is respectful and 'good ordered'? The instruments used or unused, the contrivances of 'performance', the starchy stiffness of older hymns, the loose casualness of new choruses, what is contemporary... what is acceptable?
It isn't an argument I am fully persuaded about by any camp to be honest. I know this - I scrutinise carefully the words of any Christian music I listen to and consider its motivation. If it is theologically sound and worshipful of God, not man... then it goes on the ipod.
After that its a matter of weeding out the ones which make me sound like I'm in pain when I sing them!
I am currently reading 'Grace, grit and Gumption' by Geriant Fielder which is an account of John Pugh's hand in the South Wales revival of the late 1800's. Helped in no small way by two of my home town's favourite sons Seth and Frank Joshua. It is an excellent and challenging read - though be warned you may feel the urge to start preaching outside pubs!
Seth Joshua wrote an article on congregational singing and it is quoted in part in the book. It makes some comments on worship which I hadn't considered before. He compared the congregation's singing with that of a choir or soloist. Here are a few quotes.
" 'And they ministered... with singing' (1 Chronicles 6:32). Thus the families of the Levites served. They minsitered with singing. We must go back to the Old Testament times to find a true conception of congregational singing. The preacher ministers to the congregation in his preaching, and is often dismissed for careless preparation, but the congregation ministers in singing to the Lord and often deserves dismissal for the same reason. Here is the root weakness of much of our congregational singing. It is so thin and heartless just in proportion as it lacks the Old testament conception."
"Singing will be transformed from a mere item in the programme of a service into a sacrifice of praise..."
"This did not happen if a choir took precedence. Choirs and their conductors could rule the roost then as music groups and their worship leaders can do today. ' There is a possibility of a trained choir being more of a curse than a blessing. Preparation, choice, selection is made out of regard to the capabilities and tastes of the choir, rather than the ability of the congregation."
"As a rule there is better theology in the hymn than in the sermon. At any rate our Welsh hymnology is the theological backbone of the nation. It is to the Church what colour is to the cheek. It indicates health or weakness. Our Lord is worthy of our best. Let us all minister to the Lord in singing."
Some good thoughts there. My tuppence worth is that any song or hymn of worship should at first be theologically sound. Any instrumentation must be used in support of the worship in a church service, not used as a performance. Once the performance and selection of praise leans primarily toward the abilities and preferences of the instrumentalists the true motivation of worship is lost.
As I commented to a family member some while ago "You can praise God any way you want during the week, but come Sunday it should be done in the Lord's way." I said it rather flippantly at the time, but maybe there's some truth in it?.. that doesn't however answer the question 'what is the Lord's way?'
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