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

The point is this. Yes, it’s important that we sing good texts, but the way we sing them is also theologically important. The real danger with commercial pop music in church is not that the words can never be good, but that its supporters must deny the fact that music carries meaning, and that the way we do music carries meaning. And they must deny that vigorously. If you take away the egalitarian presumption that all musical styles and preferences are equally valid and acceptable for congregational singing, commercial Christian worship loses one of its favorite supporting arguments.

Instead of insisting our music needs to be marketable, maybe it’s time we just let our congregations sing.

Ultimately, if the congregation’s voice is inconsequential, it’s all for show, no matter how old the words are.

Photo:
Flickr, Chris Gray, creative commons 2.0
Flickr, Derek Swanson, creative commons 2.0
Flickr, Jlaren Lau, creative commons 2.0
Flickr, David Joyce, creative commons 2.0
Flickr, Jena Murphy, creative commons 2.0
Flickr, Thomas Beck, creative commons 2.0
Flickr, Ian Rutgers, creative commons 2.0