|
Day 28
Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs
By Al Menconi
For
years now, churches have been debating
and struggling with the issue of hymns
and choruses. Which is better for the
church to use? Typically, the older generation
believes the church is missing the “foundation
of the Faith” if they don’t
sing hymns. And nearly everyone else
believes they will lose the younger generation
unless they “change with the times.”
I believe both are correct. Let me
explain. Both Ephesians 5:19-20 and Colossians
3:16 urge believers to sing psalms, hymns
and spiritual songs. These passages indicate
three types of songs we should be singing.
I believe each type has a specific purpose.
Psalms are
described in Scripture as music that
gives praise to God, accompanied by the "plinking
of stringed instruments" (Psalms
33:3, 43:4, 71:22, and others). King
David is well known for playing a stringed
instrument while singing praises to God.
In fact, when he played his harp for
King Saul, the evil spirits would flee
(I Samuel 16:18 , 23). David set the
pace in using psalms to praise God, and
God called him a man after His own heart
(I Sam. 13:14 ). The longest book in
the Bible is a book of songs of praise
to God. It should be clear to every Christian
that singing praises to God has a definite
place in our effort to worship Him.
Hymns can
be simply described as songs about HIM!
While psalms are praises to God,
hymns are songs about Him! Hymns
remind us of His attributes, what He
has done for us, and Who He is. They
basically teach doctrine. Read the words
to some of the great hymns of faith and
you will see what I mean: “A Mighty
Fortress is Our God!” “Great
is Thy Faithfulness!” “Amazing
Grace, how sweet the sound that saved
a wretch like me!” The list is
goes on and on. Should we ignore these
great truths of the faith? May it never
be! We need to continually be reminded
Who made us to praise Him. Hymns are
the foundation of our praises.
Spiritual songs can
best be described as songs that deal
with life from a biblical perspective.
There are many issues in life that we
need to hear from a Christian point of
view. If Christians don’t sing
about issues like love and romance, hope,
racism, and abortion, then the only songs
on these issues will come from an ungodly
perspective. Look what happened to movie
and television programming when Christians
shunned Hollywood instead of working
within it! Now we are trying desperately
to have our voice heard in these godless
mediums. This is just as true in the
music industry.
While the purpose of all this music
may be clear, many in the church struggle
with the beat or drive of some songs.
Think about it this way. Praise music
tends to call for an active response
from the singer: “I Could Sing
of Your Love Forever,” “I
Just Want to Thank You,” “To
be Like Jesus is My Desire,” etc.,
the accompanying music is often more
active. Some people refer to this as
music with a beat or tension.
On the other hand, hymns don’t
usually call for an immediate response,
but teach doctrine to be absorbed by
the listener. So hymns generally have
very little tension in their music. (The
main exception that comes to mind is
a march like “Onward Christian
Soldiers”).
It should be clear that we need a combination
of psalms, hymns and spiritual
songs in our Christian lives. What we
struggle with is the best way to use
them. Could I suggest incorporating all
three forms of music in your life? Use
hymns to remember Who God is and what
He has done for you. Use praise songs
to remind you to “get off your
comfortable seat and live what you have
been taught.” And use spiritual
songs to remind you that God cares about
the issues you face in this life and
has something wise and promising to say
about them.
Reflection: The Bible
says to come into His presence with singing
(Psalm 100:4). Have you sung praises
to God today?
Response: Out loud?
Verse of the Day: 2 Timothy 3:16-17
"All Scripture is God-breathed
and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting, and training in righteousness,
so that the man of God may be thoroughly
equipped for every good work." (NIV)
Since the first century, it’s
been common practice to sing songs to
the Lord by simply adding a tune to Scripture.
With that understanding, it could easily
be said that Christian music could have
the same purposes as Scripture—to
teach, rebuke, correct, and train in
righteousness, as well as to pray and
praise God.
Psalms and hymns are often sung in
a reverent, worshipful attitude. But
contemporary songs that correct, train,
and rebuke are often loud and don’t
seem to have a worshipful attitude. Does
that mean they are less worthy? I don’t
believe so.
What parent uses the same tone of voice
for every command given to their children?
Do they use the same tone to say, "Let’s
pray" as they do to say, "Stop
messing around, and clean up this room!
NOW!"? No they don’t. You
use a soft voice to encourage an attitude
of prayer, and a stern voice to show
a sense of urgency.
Since that is true, why should all
Christian music have the same tone if
it also has different purposes? Music
to encourage an attitude of prayer and
worship should be reverent and without
tension. But if the music is to challenge
the Christian to get off his spiritual
duff and quit messing around with sin,
it could and should be delivered with
tension and often an increased volume
to show urgency. It sounds like a description
of a Christian rock concert, doesn’t
it?
[Home]
[Previous]
[Table of Articles]
[Next]
[About FTMC]
[Contact Us]
|
