Hymns, Songs and Spiritual Songs

Basically, I'm a product of the 70's. I went through Jr. High, High School, and College all through the '70's. I loved most of the music then, certainly the music of the '60's, and, as a young adult, the music of the '80's. I've been through the '90's and well into the new millennium and there is a lot of music - folk, rock, and alternative - that I like. There has and is some I can't stand but generally, I like most of it.

Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), as it is called, started to come into it's own in the late '60's but I really didn't discover it until I was in Jr. High. I don't recall who I first heard that caught my attention - "ah, songs about Jesus that have a beat" - but I realized that CCM consisted of a little more "depth" than the (non-Christian artists) Doobie Brothers' "Jesus Is Just Alright With Me" or Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky," to name just two. And yet, even if they lacked "theological depth" they had great catchy music and singable lyrics.

My first exposure to CCM was at Jr. High summer church camp, when the "speaker" consisted of a folk rock trio. They were REALLY good, funny, and sang - and not just "Christian" music - all in the context of a message and, to my surprise, worship. It was a new experience to me and I LOVED IT, as did the rest of the camp. What a let down it was to come home and find yourself back to singing from the hymnal, with piano and organ, songs that, if they caused any swaying, was from boredom, not from rhythm.

So, I embraced CCM and bought what I could get my hands on. For thought provoking and challenging lyrics, it was Larry Norman and Randy Stonehill. For sweet, uplifting songs, it was Honeytree. Maranatha was on the rise as the worship music leaders. Love Song, Phil Keaggy and Paul Clark had depth both in their musicianship and lyrics. Resurrection Band gave a rockier edge to their music, as did DeGarmo and Key. This was who and what I listened to then. Now, well, the list is way too long. But then, often, I would almost prefer the secular music over the CCM because the music seemed fuller, harder, more expressive, experimental. I remember a friend who bought a new CCM album by some artist that was being praised as the best new CCM artist out there and, upon listening, took off the LP and threw it out the window. "Yeah, their right, he does make the best CCM Frisbee out there!" Any question about what he felt?

All this to lead me here: after all these years, there is still this ongoing discussion about hymns (the traditional, from the hymnal, kind) and contemporary worship music. There are still those who are adamant about using ONLY hymns/gospel music in church and those who don't want anything resembling a hymn sung in their service. Then there are people like me who say, "I want both."

And here is why. Typically, most hymns have far more depth and theology than most contemporary worship music. When you sing a Charles Wesley hymn, you get a treatise on salvation and grace; when you sing a cont. worship song, you get praise and adoration but not much theology. Both have their place, both must have a place in worship. My issue is more about musical STYLE when it comes to "traditional" verses "contemporary." I love the piano and organ but after a while it can feel like your at a funeral.

Worship should be expressive, should have a feeling of life in it, should involve our senses. I mean, c'mon, we're worshiping our holy, magnificent God who has given us life and salvation. That should keep us on our feet and clapping for at least a minute or two! "Contemporary" music (aside from the lyrics) at least offers a little more energy than "traditional" music does over the long haul. Usually. I agree with Larry Norman, who sang in his song, "Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music":

I ain't knocking the hymns,

Just give me a song that has a beat.

I ain't knocking the hymns,

Just give me a song that moves my feet.

I don't like none of those funeral marches

I ain't dead yet!

Now, if my mother were to respond to this (and probably my Dad), she would disagree with me (and I know I will hear from her about this), and she would be right. This is my opinion as it comes out of my experience. Hers is very different from mine. She loves the hymns, she loves the choir, she loves the gospel songs, she loves the sound of piano and organ working their way through a hymn, culminating in a crescendo on the last verse. And so do I.

But there sits in every congregation people with varying backgrounds and musical tastes. Do we not have an responsibility in our churches to do all that we can to offer different "aspects" and "styles" in the worship experience that people can at least find something to connect with? It may be contemporary, it may be gospel (southern and otherwise), it may be traditional, it may be country (is there such a thing as country worship music?), it may be jazz, etc.

(Just a side note: the new Baptist Hymnal (it's also called the Worship Hymnal) is one of the best I have seen of late. It is a great combination of traditional, gospel, and contemporary, with many opportunities to segue from one style into another. United Methodist Hymnal Committee, take notice!)

Of course, music is just one component of the worship experience but it is a huge part that can, no, does have a huge impact on the spirit/feeling/experience of worship. If the music is bad, boring, slow, then the service will often be perceived as the same.

But we must not just settle on worship "lite" - songs that have very little theological depth. Simple does not have to mean "shallow." But "depth" doesn't have to mean boring. What message do we send about our faith in Christ when that is how our worship experience comes across? Again, to quote Larry Norman:

I want the people to know that he saved my soul

But I still like to listen to the radio.

They say rock 'n' roll is wrong,

we'll give you one more chance.

I say I feel so good I gotta get up and dance.

I know what's right, I know what's wrong,

I don't confuse it.

All I'm really trying to say

Is why should the devil have all the good music?

I feel good every day

'Cause Jesus is the rock and he rolled my blues away.

To close, I invite you to read the following article: "Your Guide to Contemporary Music."

I have no doubt you will find it very insightful and inspiring!

So, let us take our hymnals and turn to page....