I find it interesting when fellow Christians discuss worship, particularly when they say that they prefer hymns of old instead of contemporary worship songs. I too love the old hymns, but I also love the new hymns.
You see, “old” hymns like “Amazing Grace,” “A Mighty Fortress,” or “For a Thousand Tongues To Sing,” were at one time in Church history equivalent to “God of Wonders,” “Jesus, Lord of Heaven,” etc.
Saints, a hymn is simply a song about HIM! Be it soft, be it loud, be it acapella, or with one instrument or an entire worship band, a hymn is about HIM!
The important thing about worship as far as we are concerned is a worshipful life based on the Spirit and Truth. “Sing to Him a new song” is what hymns are all about, and if we are not worshipping Him in our marriages, at work, at school, alone with the television or head-phones on listening to music or surfing the net, then any hymnal, old or new, is hypocritical.
True worship is a matter of the heart. So don’t be the worship police; be a worshipper!
Pastor Ray,
The “God Speaks Through the City” article in The Father’s Heart Newsletter link below deals with this very topic:
http://www.thefathersheartroc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Fathers-Heart-May-June-2016.pdf
It is interesting to watch people respond to different styles of worship music. When we go to Latino neighborhoods and play black gospel music, the crowd stands there, practically immobile. Switch to Christian salsa, the crowd smiles, and moves to the beat. Go to black neighborhoods, same in reverse.
One time as I played a christian rap video done by brother rapper Charles, a pastor said: “Christian rap has its roots in sin”. He may be right- some bad stuff out there. On the flip side, my own roots go back to Adam and Eve so Christian rap and I have that in common.
There is a great ministry called “Bibles for Pakistan” run by a dear brother named Aamir. I have played some of their worship to people, who are surprised that the music and instruments sound “Indian”. Yes, it does not remind me of Chris Tomlin. Still, in Pakistani sinners are attracted to Jesus by that worship music and what it proclaims. Isn’t that what it’s all about?
If we went to an inner city outreach, playing Handle or Bach would not work too well. Rap would not work well if we ministered in upper income neighborhoods. We are all different and God leads us in different ways. He sent the peoples of Babel in different directions. But He does not judge or choose the Christian rapper or the choir singing Handel’s Messiah over the other. We are all different. Our tastes change as time goes by. But He never changes and His grace accepts all our languages and musical styles in praise of Him.
Blessings,
JoseM