Sam,
Great video and I’m glad that you and I share the same perspective on hymns. They are wonderful songs
with lots of powerful theological and doctrinal practicality, but I feel that better songs have been written
since and that better songs will continue to be written in the future.
Tradition is a beautiful thing, but I believe that most of the hymn writers would have been sorely let down
and very disappointed if the progress that has been enjoyed since they were alive and offering their songs to the church and to the Lord had not taken place. Some hold onto tradition for the sake of nothing but itself,
but they are missing out on loads of powerful and life affecting songs that are being written today.
God has always been relevant to the people and the cultures and the societies that He’s dealt with over the centuries and I believe that He hasn’t changed in that respect. When Jesus ministered to fishermen and to communities surrounding the fishing industry, He used fishing terms and jargon. When He ministered to communities surrounding the care and raising of livestock, He used terminology familiar to and practical for shepherds and their families. When He talked to Jews, He used terms and illustrations that would be easily understood and related to by them and the same was true of the gentiles or Judea, Samaria, Rome and so on.
The English language has evolved in many ways since the writing of most of the most recognized and treasured old hymns and the language that they were written in is no longer used, is often misunderstood and is applicably irrelevant to today’s church and to the lost who may hear them in a evangelistic outreach
venue. It’s important that we use language that is time and culture appropriate and practical so that the maximum impact may be felt by those singing the songs.
If we’re to worship in spirit and in truth, I think it only makes sense that we actually use language that is honest and understood by those singing the songs as they’re offered in a worship situation to the Lord as we reach out to touch His heart with our words and actions. Words and grammar that are familiar and are
regularly used will provide a more fluent and real environment for communication than those that may require interpretation or too much thought to decipher the intention and direction of the writer’s heart as he penned the songs of old.
Sam,
Great video and I’m glad that you and I share the same perspective on hymns. They are wonderful songs
with lots of powerful theological and doctrinal practicality, but I feel that better songs have been written
since and that better songs will continue to be written in the future.
Tradition is a beautiful thing, but I believe that most of the hymn writers would have been sorely let down
and very disappointed if the progress that has been enjoyed since they were alive and offering their songs to the church and to the Lord had not taken place. Some hold onto tradition for the sake of nothing but itself,
but they are missing out on loads of powerful and life affecting songs that are being written today.
God has always been relevant to the people and the cultures and the societies that He’s dealt with over the centuries and I believe that He hasn’t changed in that respect. When Jesus ministered to fishermen and to communities surrounding the fishing industry, He used fishing terms and jargon. When He ministered to communities surrounding the care and raising of livestock, He used terminology familiar to and practical for shepherds and their families. When He talked to Jews, He used terms and illustrations that would be easily understood and related to by them and the same was true of the gentiles or Judea, Samaria, Rome and so on.
The English language has evolved in many ways since the writing of most of the most recognized and treasured old hymns and the language that they were written in is no longer used, is often misunderstood and is applicably irrelevant to today’s church and to the lost who may hear them in a evangelistic outreach
venue. It’s important that we use language that is time and culture appropriate and practical so that the maximum impact may be felt by those singing the songs.
If we’re to worship in spirit and in truth, I think it only makes sense that we actually use language that is honest and understood by those singing the songs as they’re offered in a worship situation to the Lord as we reach out to touch His heart with our words and actions. Words and grammar that are familiar and are
regularly used will provide a more fluent and real environment for communication than those that may require interpretation or too much thought to decipher the intention and direction of the writer’s heart as he penned the songs of old.
Just some thoughts,
Kevin Gallagher