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There is an ongoing debate on Facebook (at least, in my newsfeed - don't know about yours...) which really is decades old. The 2 main sides of the debate are quite polarized, each with vehement arguments and opinions as to who is right, and who is a heretic.
Ah, yes.
The old "Hymns" vs. "Modern Worship Songs" debate.
I have done my best to keep out of it. I certainly have my own views, but people don't want to hear my perspective. Probably because (a) it's biblical, and (b) they wouldn't agree with the premise anyway.
"Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels." (2 Timothy 2:23)
Of course, there are those who would immediately counter with the "this is out of context" argument, or be quite offended that I would consider such a seemingly important topic as music style in worship to be "foolish and stupid".
But really, it is. Foolish and stupid, that is.
Paul goes on to state in verse 24, "The Lord's servant must not quarrel". What does this whole hymns vs worship songs debate result in? You got it: quarrels. Of the worst kind. "My music is best, it is more biblical than yours!" "Yours is irrelevant to today's youth! We have to target the youth!" "I can't worship to your music, I can't stand it!" "I can't stand your music, it's boring!"
There is a much bigger question to ask: What does God think? Does He have a preference regarding the kind of songs we sing?
I would dare to answer that question with a resounding "NO."
"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord..." (Ephesians 5:19)
Did you get that? All styles of music are acceptable to God *if* you are making music in your heart to the Lord. For The Lord does not listen to what is coming out of our mouths, or our instruments, he is listening to what is coming from our hearts. If we are just making music because we like that style of music and we enjoy it, then we are no more worshiping that if we were reading a romance novel. True worship comes from a contrite heart, one that is focussed on The Lord, not on whether we like this tune, or if the chord structure is interesting or boring, or if this was written by Charles Wesley or Chris Tomlin.
In the grand scheme of things, the style of music doesn't matter. To argue that hymns are better than worship songs for "true worship" is a foolish and stupid argument, because everyone has their own preferences. God's only requirement for worship to be acceptable is that we bring our best from our heart and lay it at His feet.
If there was one thing that Paul emphasized repeatedly in his letters, it was the necessity of unity in the church. If we allow debates, such as the style of music used in worship, to divide our churches as deeply as they have been, then there is no way the church can survive. There is no possible way that every member of every church is going to appreciate every song that is sung in a particular service. It just isn't going to happen. The challenge is to not allow our focus to be taken away from worshiping, by a difference in personal preferences.
Because if we continually allow that to happen, the divided church will fall.
Ah, yes.
The old "Hymns" vs. "Modern Worship Songs" debate.
I have done my best to keep out of it. I certainly have my own views, but people don't want to hear my perspective. Probably because (a) it's biblical, and (b) they wouldn't agree with the premise anyway.
"Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels." (2 Timothy 2:23)
Of course, there are those who would immediately counter with the "this is out of context" argument, or be quite offended that I would consider such a seemingly important topic as music style in worship to be "foolish and stupid".
But really, it is. Foolish and stupid, that is.
Paul goes on to state in verse 24, "The Lord's servant must not quarrel". What does this whole hymns vs worship songs debate result in? You got it: quarrels. Of the worst kind. "My music is best, it is more biblical than yours!" "Yours is irrelevant to today's youth! We have to target the youth!" "I can't worship to your music, I can't stand it!" "I can't stand your music, it's boring!"
There is a much bigger question to ask: What does God think? Does He have a preference regarding the kind of songs we sing?
I would dare to answer that question with a resounding "NO."
"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord..." (Ephesians 5:19)
Did you get that? All styles of music are acceptable to God *if* you are making music in your heart to the Lord. For The Lord does not listen to what is coming out of our mouths, or our instruments, he is listening to what is coming from our hearts. If we are just making music because we like that style of music and we enjoy it, then we are no more worshiping that if we were reading a romance novel. True worship comes from a contrite heart, one that is focussed on The Lord, not on whether we like this tune, or if the chord structure is interesting or boring, or if this was written by Charles Wesley or Chris Tomlin.
In the grand scheme of things, the style of music doesn't matter. To argue that hymns are better than worship songs for "true worship" is a foolish and stupid argument, because everyone has their own preferences. God's only requirement for worship to be acceptable is that we bring our best from our heart and lay it at His feet.
If there was one thing that Paul emphasized repeatedly in his letters, it was the necessity of unity in the church. If we allow debates, such as the style of music used in worship, to divide our churches as deeply as they have been, then there is no way the church can survive. There is no possible way that every member of every church is going to appreciate every song that is sung in a particular service. It just isn't going to happen. The challenge is to not allow our focus to be taken away from worshiping, by a difference in personal preferences.
Because if we continually allow that to happen, the divided church will fall.
I'm glad I'm not there to be tempted to join the debate. And it would be difficult to take a side anyway....I like both. :-)
I think what blinds people though--and it's like that article I sent you--people have been duped into thinking that if the music is not moving their emotions, then they aren't worshiping, and therefore can't worship to that style. They put the blame on the style of music and not where it belongs...
I'm actually probably going to end up writing a short series on the whole church-as-entertainment (or, as I've heard it called, "worshiptainment") thing. I find it rather frustrating and downright distressing to see the direction in which the church seems determined to go.....