Modernized Hymns: Hymns, or Contemporary Songs with Old Words?

If you would describe your rendition of the song as hip, fresh, remixed, updated, or contemporary, you’re singing contemporary songs with old words.

I once had a pastor demand I do my best to modernize the hymns we sang in one of our traditional services, because he just knew an updated sound would “connect” with the congregation better. (Of course, when I asked for the music, he sent me some mp3 files!) I guess I didn’t do a good enough job, because he eventually took that service away from me and gave it to the contemporary person who brought in guitars and percussion. But these modernized settings killed the singing. It took songs written specifically to be sung by congregations, and forced them into contrived commercial forms. The congregation lost their voice!