Day Sixty Seven - A Sermon or a hymn?

The hymns of the Moravian church in the 15th century may not be as musically satisfying or visually stimulating as those we are currently using from YouTube for our online services. However plain the Moravian music, devotional Christianity in song and hymns was an important part of learning the truths of the gospel for these Bohemian/Moravian followers of Czech Reformer Jan Hus. The term ‘Singstunde’ or sermon in song was a way of weaving together verses from different hymns entailing a musical theological journey. Much later trombones were incorporated to announce deaths of church members or to be played during high and holy days instead of bells.

Across the many traditions of global Christian believers today the range of music and songs of praise is enormous and yet the simple medieval chants, continue to remain popular. I have many favourite hymns old and new, but I must confess to being Moravian-like in my tastes. Those which have a basis in Scripture or in doctrine mean the most to me. Although the old hymns speak volumes, contemporary hymns are meaningful and prophetic too. Who cannot be moved by the words of hymns composed by Graham Kendrick, Stuart Townsend, Matt Redman, Don Moen, Steve Bell, Rend Collective, Keith and Kristyn Getty to name a few? Music and singing is one way of creating unity in diversity. For the 500th anniversary of the Reformation held in Strasbourg, I was hugely blessed to be singing along with 8,000 other Christians, in French, the well-known ‘We are marching in the Light of God’ – the atmosphere was electric. In much smaller numbers for regular Sunday morning worship at my local church I love singing the same song titled Siyahamba in Swahili.

In the Bible we read of angels and all manner of beings worshipping God forever and ever and it is wonderful to think that a multitude of the multilingual dead in Christ have already joined those heavenly choirs and musicians. So, for those of us still beset by worries that we do not have a good singing voice or any musical talent, let me remind you that the only instruction we have is to make a joyful noise unto the Lord - I am sure the Throne of Grace is more interested in intent than performance!

Then I looked again, and I heard the singing of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus.

The Lamb is worthy – the Lamb who was killed. He is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing. Revelation 5:11-13

In talking about lyrics with a powerful scriptural basis, it would be remiss of me not to mention Charles Wesley who, along with brother John, encountered Moravians on a perilous sea-crossing to America. While the English passengers screamed in terror as waters engulfed the cabins, the Moravians continued singing - men, women and children - seemingly untroubled. And we know the effect this had on John Wesley.

One of Charles Wesley’s 6,000 hymns is a favourite all-time hymn of mine, peppered as it is with scriptural references its focus is on a revelation of personal salvation.

And can it be that I should gain

An interest in the Saviour’s blood?

Died He for me, who caused His pain,

For me, who Him to death pursued?

Amazing Love! How can it be,

That thou, my God, shouldst die for me.

And if that isn’t worth singing about then nothing is. So whatever language or instrument we use, whether we sing baritone, soprano, alto, bass or tenor, whether we sing in the shower or sing in a choir or even don’t sing much at all, let us remember to continue to simply make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Amen.

Elisabeth Sweeney-Smith

For a short history of the Moravians