Many “modern worship” churches are returning to the use of hymns in their weekly service – the reason: they work! Somehow, an appropriate hymn tucked into the “set list” has the ability to reach a congregation in a unique way. In fact, the singing of hymns is at the forefront of the current “Ancient/Future” push among new church plants as well as young churchgoers. A look at why may help you to decide that it might be a good thing to keep singing hymns as part of your church worship service.
Of course, there’s always Colossians 3:16 for impetus: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Here are a few reasons why churches are dusting off their hymnbooks:
1. Hymns connect us…
Many hymns are part of our church culture – past and present. Like old friends, they bring a smile to our face and comfort to our hearts. Churchgoers who left in their teens and twenties now return with children in tow wanting to sing the songs of their youth and not just modern praise and worship songs. Many hymns have stood the test of time and have been written and sung by our forefathers in the faith…they have been passed to us, and we pass them on. They are timeless because their Subject is Eternal!
2. Hymns teach us…
Hymns taught faith and theology at a time when many common folks couldn’t even read, let alone own their own Bible. Believers from the 2nd Century onward could tell you the Gospel story because they learned it in a hymn. Many came to recognize the promises of God’s word through a hymn. The lyrics of hymns have schooled untold millions in God’s character, creation, redemption, love, and grace. Even now, they teach us. Whether set to a modern tune or in its original setting, the beauty of language from another era causes our minds to take note as we sing truth between the staffs.
3. Hymns speak to us…
The Holy Spirit has used the lines of hymns to draw throngs of people to Christ Jesus. Whether as an invitation to salvation, a time of prayer, rededicating oneself to the Lord, a funeral, a wedding, a baptism, etc., hymns speak to us as verse upon verse and line upon line lays out a story – our story. We find ourselves, our lives, in these songs, and that is why they have staying power. While modern churchgoers love all the praise and worship music you can throw at ‘em, they see no reason to not have hymns as part of the weekly liturgy.
Hymns are the old new songs in a lot of places, and the marketplace is full of some great recordings of both traditional and contemporary melodies. Get up to speed with what’s available and go for it. You might be surprised how many people welcome the change.
The following resources are helpful for using and learning more about hymns:
Wonderful Words of Life: Hymns in American Protestant History and Theology by Richard J. Mouw and Mark A. Noll (William B. Eerdman Publishers 2004)
Ancient Future Worship: Proclaiming and Enacting God’s Narrative by Robert E. Webber (Baker Books 2008)
DAVID M. EDWARDS is an award-winning songwriter, worship artist, author, and adjunct professor of worship at Regent University, School of Divinity. His new worship project, HERE WITH YOU, is available at Maranatha! Music.
