"Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart." Ephesians 5:19 ESV
I come from a musical background and I was introduced to the Anglican Church Choir at the age of 8 years because the Vicar spotted that I had a talent. I joined but it was so stuffy and old, and the sopranos hurt my ears! To be honest the only reason I stayed until I was 13 was because I made friends with the organists’ daughters. I was brought up on Elvis, Rock and Roll, The Beatles, 60’s and 70’s music and Country music so it was a culture shock at first.
When I was in my 20’s, after my accident when I was feeling lost, I was teaching the guitar to someone who introduced me to The Jesus Centre and this amazing music that was like pop and rock and I thought it was amazing, I never knew that Church could be like this. I started playing in the band and later became a worship leader. For a long time though I still felt that there was something missing.
During this time of lockdown our Church has been on Zoom and you just can’t play a song on Zoom so I have been uploading music from YouTube with the lyrics and I was reminded of what I was missing between hymns and songs, it was the words. The old hymns I used to sing in the choir were like hearing a sermon and although some of the modern songs have great words sometimes they are repetitive and, in my view, not always Biblically accurate.
I love this quote:
"What a way to learn great theology! That's what comes to mind whenever I sing one of those old hymns. "And Can It Be" is like putting the doctrine of salvation to music. "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" is a melodic lesson in grace. No wonder good hymns make for strong faith!"
Joni Eareckson Tada
It sums up how I felt when I was a boy that although the music wasn’t and still isn’t my kind of thing the words spoke to me. I’m not saying I don’t like hymns and I always have hymns on Communion Sunday, but I am still a Rock Guitarist!
I often hear complaints about songs and hymns - “I didn’t know one of the hymns today” and I say, “well you do now”. And for a preacher that has spent hours working on the sermon the one thing that bugs me is when someone says, “lovely hymns”, ahh!! I want you to talk about the sermon, but maybe that is what they are saying in a roundabout way. And you know what, I do not think that hymns and songs are for us: “I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.” - Psalm 104:33 ESV.
When we sing praise songs, that is what we are doing, praising God. We are not at a concert or a show, the band are not performing, they should be worshiping and praising too. So, sing you heart out to the Lord in praise and thanks giving.
Justin Lunniss