What we want to know is whether untrained communal singing is in itself any more edifying than other popular pleasures. And of this I, for one, am still wholly unconvinced. I have often heard this noise; I have sometimes contributed to it. I do not yet seem to have found any evidence that the physical and emotional exhilaration which it produces is necessarily, or often, of any religious relevance. What I, like many other laymen, chiefly desire in church are fewer, better, and shorter hymns; especially fewer.
—CS Lewis in Christian Reflections
I like the classic hymns that contain a sense of awe, mystery, and majesty….not to mention poetic beauty. What I can’t stand are the present-day, praise choruses that reflect a Jesus-is-my-boyfriend kind of theology. Hello?? I’m a middle-aged, married man. I don’t want a boyfriend….even if his name is Jesus.
David,
I agree. I actually like some of the modern music also, as long as it is rich in content and theology. I think that CS Lewis wasn’t exactly right in this of his. He never really mentioned the ability of music to teach us and help us remember Scripture and theology. In this way, music can be very edifying.
I’m not a big fan of new songs sang in church. They are often based around ‘I’ and about feelings. I have not been a regular church goer for the past 6-7 years and I can’t sing these songs because of where my relationship with God has been/is.
Songs about God’s character are not based on feelings and I can always sing these no matter the state of my relationship. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem that many of these type of songs are wrote any more.
My 2nd point about singing in church that to the unchurched singing is weird and scary. It can be off putting for those not yet saved.
Keith,
Great points.
Of course, don’t unchurched people sing at concerts? It’s not really the same, I suppose, but there is somewhat of a parallel….
I thought I was the only one who called them “Jesus-is-my-boyfriend” songs until I saw Jeremy blog on it one day. David Mercer, Amen!
Pam,
I give credit to Michael Frost for that idea….
Anyway, here are the posts you may be referring to:
A Letter to Christian Songwriters
How Women Help Men Find God
I guess I am the exception then. 🙂
Matt,
Well, I don’t fully agree with CS Lewis either. I just thought it was interesting. See my reply to David Mercer about where I think Lewis missed the mark.
When I went to a Baptist church as a child, we sang 200 yr old hymns. While I like them now, I never really saw it was “worship”. When I hit my 20’s, I attended a Pentecostal church, and when I sas that they were worshipping and praising Jesus for 45 minutes traight sometimes, I loved it. While the old hymns are more theologically thorough than many of the modern worship songs, when my daughter sings “I love Daddy”in her room by herself, I feel more honored tan when she sings a thorough treatise, ya know? I listen to praise music pretty much all the time now. While even studying the Bible can be an act of worship, I found “hymns” too stoic, even though I’m German ;0)
Music can be very worshipful. At times, I enjoy it myself. I don’t think Lewis was against music, just against being forced to sing it in church. It sounds like he would love to hear some good, quality, professional music.
it’s like reading the King James bible. the old hymns are not for today
It is much easier to sing along when it’s more contemporary. MERCY ME is all ways good early Sunday morning.
Jason,
I like Mercy Me too.
I actually find today’s more contemporary praise and worship music much more easier to sing, understand, and not to mention much more culturally relevant. Never could understand half of the lyrics in the old hymns written over 100+ years ago (after all what in the heck is, “Here I raise my Ebenezer.” supposed to mean?). Much like I can’t understand the King James Version Bible with it’s antiquated, Shakesperean, English. Part of the problem with Evangelical Christianity is that many wish to stay comfy in the dusty pews of centuries old Christianity rather than getting their toes wet by dipping their lives into today’s uncertain post-modern society. Nothing wrong with tradition and singing old hymns every once in awhile. But, as a once non-believer for many years, some of this ancient churchy sounding stuff is just plain ol’ scary and intimidating.
Greg,
Good points, all. Many of the contemporary songs are definitely easier to sing. I wonder what Lewis would say about them?
Regardless, whether they are hymns or contemporary songs, I think the words should help teach and encourage people. Some hymns fail at this miserably, as do some contemporary choruses.
Ok so now that I have returned from todays service I must comment again. We recently started attending a new church, after having went to the same one for 10 years it has been a huge change. Both are First Baptist churches and share the same doctrine. The old church had a great topical preacher and an awesome praise team with a good mix of music. The new church has a hard core expository pastor that really gets deep in the Word and with no doubt has the Holy Spirit working through him. On the other hand , the music is only bearable because we know the sermon is going to be Awesome. …. This morning was the worst music Ive ever actually sat through, it was hard not to pretend I needed to use the restroom until the pastor began.
Jason,
I have done that “bathroom” thing…. even when I was the Senior Pastor! There have been times I just wanted to go up front, waving my arms and say, “Enough! I think even God is covering his ears!”
Was the sermon Awesome? Who is your pastor?
Really need to read the whole article.