The Truth About Hymns
I didn’t grow up singing hymns.
My small church didn’t even own a piano – we had an acoustic guitar, bass guitar, and a drum set…At some point we had a keyboard, but it wasn’t often played.
And I wore things like athletic shorts to church because I could and partly because it was a safe way to rebel – to say I was above the need to dress better for God. . . but that is probably a different post.
When we visited churches who sang hymns I felt confined and rigid in worship. I struggled to connect. Perhaps it was the organ…I didn’t even have one played at my wedding because…well…it isn’t my favorite instrument.
So it took me a long time to get comfortable with hymns. But sometime in the 30 years I have been walking with Christ something shifted. Hymns became tolerable. You know the cool ones like Amazing Grace and It is Well with My Soul. And slowly…very slowly hymns began to mess with me in a way most praise music just doesn’t.
There is a depth to hymns that few praise songs reach. Don’t get me wrong not all hymns nor all praise songs are equal. I still love singing “O happy day, You washed my sins away. O happy day, I’ll never be the same…”
But singing, “O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be…Prone to wander Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love…” is a different kind of depth of honesty. No, I’ll never be the same now that Christ is in my life, but I will still struggle and need God’s grace daily.
Perhaps it is in the honesty and scriptural richness and dare I say deep theological truths that are in hymns that draw me to them…I don’t know, but I know this… I love hymns.
And recently I discovered or rediscovered some modern-day hymn writers. Keith and Kristyn Getty. Their music is blessing me and messing with my heart in all the best ways. Check out this song:
What do you think about hymns?
Ok…It is your turn to link-up your post…How did God get you this week? I can’t wait to hear….
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When I was growing up, hymns were purely sentimental, if anything. I didn’t “digest” them … but now, they force my mind and heart to slow down, to go deeper, and to speak words of truth back to the Lord and into myself. Now I love them with you. But I still don’t love the organ … makes me have flashbacks to the merry go ’round. 🙂 But I LOVE the new approach to old hymns on instruments that were often left out!
Yes organs remind me of funerals…or bagpipes…I wish I could like it, but I just can’t.
Yes I love the new approach to old hymns and the new hymns that are being written. So rich and deep and full. Thanks for joining in Julie!
Mine is the opposite. I grew up sitting in the third row, organ side! I love the old hymns. They stir in me the spiritual heritage I received from my parents and grandparents. I cannot sing The Old Rugged Cross because I cannot sing and cry at the same time. Loved this, Angela!
Same here Lynn! There are some that I just can’t make it through without some tears being shed!
Thanks Lynn. I love that hymns are so rich. They often bring me to tears too.
Great post!!! I love hymns! There is such a depth that does pull you in and close. Also I love it when my sons say I really like that song when they are introduced to one they had not heard or one that they hadn’t heard in a long time.
I would love to hear your thoughts on the clothing and “rebellion”.
Yes…clothing…Coming up today friend.