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….

 Loading InLinkz …