Church Music, again

Sent in my direction by several people, and too good not to share (highlights, as is usually the case here, are mine).

Somebody remind me again of why we have Church Fights over such things —

I was at one of our churches today here in Tennessee where the founding pastor has come out of retirement to temporarily lead the church until they find a new pastor.

The pastor retired in order to take care of his wife, who suffers from dementia. Although she is still able to attend church, she sits very quietly in service for the most part , with little expression.

This morning during service we stood to sing a congregational song from the red back hymnal, “The old account was settled long ago”.

I heard a beautiful alto voice behind me, singing every single word of every verse, beautifully.

When I turned around to see who it was, to my surprise, I discovered it was the pastor’s wife – her face with a brightened look, singing every word and every note with confidence, from memory.

With a mind that fails to remember so many things, still the song lives on.

Let me be clear : I am all for a variety of music in our worship services.

I don’t think that just because a song is not my “cup of tea”, that it’s sinful.

I am all for introducing new songs in our worship, because God is still anointing song writers, and all classic hymns were at one time new songs as well.

With all that said, I STRONGLY BELIEVE that there needs to be a place in our worship services for the old, traditional hymns.

Because of their doctrinal integrity, because of their durability, and because there is a generation of saints who have paved the way, paid the bills and kept the church doors open who love them, who are blessed by them, who WANT TO HEAR THEM.

No, you are not going to run all your young people away just because you sing “How great thou art” or “Love lifted me”. (You may discover those young people like some of those “golden oldies” as well!)

In our drive to keep our churches current and relevant in this modern day, let’s not sacrifice the sacred hymns of the past on the altar of the “cool, hip, and trendy.”

I was reminded in a powerful way this morning – there’s still life, power and relevance in those precious old songs.