Does your church still use hymnals?

[Matthias]

From my X / Twitter “Following” feed this morning -

“The singing before the preaching of the Word should prepare God’s people to listen to Him and express their submission and delight in His will.”

https://x.com/expositcllctv/status/1939966533003857982?s=61

I suggest combining this observation with the general point expressed in post #40.

 

[Jay Ross]

Worship today is like chanting 7/24 words 24/7 times. It is called 24/7 worship.

Many of the songs repeat "we want to" and God is asking what it is that you are wanting to do, and their response is, "we want to worship/love/praise you" and God's one word response is simply "when."

The non-threatening language is also prevalent in the prayers that people present "relevantly" to God. It goes something like this, "Lord we want to pray to your today for . . . ?

Oh well, perhaps it is stepping stone to a deeper relationship with God.

The best way of worshipping God is to sing songs that leave the words "want to," out of the lyrics all together.

Our worship and prayers are like this because we are the puppeteer and that you are our puppet whose strings we can pull to fill our needs and desires and remove our fears.

 

[Matthias]

Also not helpful when AV guy (me) has to page back several slides to get to the refrain, and then page forward to verse (n+1).

 

[Matthias]

From my X / Twitter “For you” feed this afternoon -

“Reformed folks: I have terrible news. … The one we sing was translated by a Unitarian … “

https://x.com/dbryanrhodes/status/1956901825535242600?s=61

Does “your” Hymnal contain “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”?

If so, you might be, and probably are, singing the Unitarian version.

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

As strong as this “battle hymn of the Reformation” is in our English, it is even stronger in its original form.

www.desiringgod.org

 

[Matthias]

This hymn was written in 1876 by George W. Warren, Episcopalian.

Does anyone know which Episcopalian hymnal this appeared in? I haven’t been able to pin it down but would like to.

 

[Matthias]

 

[Matthias]

From my X / Twitter “For you” feed this morning -

“Church History Fact:

Arius spread heretical teachings about Jesus in sermons, but even more popularly, through songs.

Banquet (Thalia) was a collection of contextually adaptable songs that taught common people deceitful teachings.

Worship lyrics matter.”

https://x.com/pastorjgkell/status/2026044153050562898?s=61

Worship lyrics matter. We should think seriously about what we’re singing.

 

[Berean]

It Is Well With My Soul

 

[Berean]

My Favorite Hymn - HE KNOWS

 

[Matthias]

“Show me a church’s songs and I’ll show you their theology.” - Gordon Fee

 

[Matthias]

More leadership, less performers.

 

[Matthias]

From my X / Twitter “For you” feed this afternoon -

“Read old hymns slowly. Not to sing them. Just to think with them. They’ll teach you theology your systematic textbook won’t.”

(Scott Aniol)

https://x.com/scottaniol/status/2038648282604281912?s=61

I purchased an old hymnal that was published in 1954 by the John T. Benson Publishing Company - Power and Praise - at my local library a couple of weeks ago for 10 cents with that very thing in mind. Has anyone else here read a hymnal not for the purpose of singing but just for stimulating thinking and learning?

 

[Matthias]

 

[Matthias]

“Never underestimate the power of songs in shaping one’s theology.” - Sylvester Tonderai Faravadya

 

[Matthias]

“Christians don’t tell lies they just go to church and sing them.” - A.W. Tozer

 

[Matthias]

“There is no excuse for singing doctrinal error no matter how attractive the tune may be.” - Joel Beeke

 

[Matthias]