This past weekend we sang a hymn in church! Imagine that… a hymn at Mountain Lake Church! The church that has as it’s byline “We’ll change the way you think about church.” We sang a song written in 1905 – I Stand Amazed in the Presence.
Shawn and the team get it as far as I’m concerned!
We don’t sing songs based on when they were written! We sing songs based on their theology! We sing them because of what they say and this song says a lot!
The old argument about hymns vs. “contemporary” songs is a ridiculous expenditure of time and mental capital. This weekend proves that in an environment where the target is disconnected people… you can play secular music (Losing my Religion by REM) AND a hymn in the same context… not based on when they were written or who sang them but based on what they say!
Filed under: Mountain Lake experience, Theology
Money quote; “We don’t sing songs based on when they were written! We sing songs based on their theology! We sing them because of what they say and this song says a lot!”
Worship wars are nothing more than power grabs to cater to a person’s (or group’s) personal philosophy or comfort zone. Let’s lead songs based on the content and not on the style. I’m here to tell you that there are a lot of hymns that I don’t lead because of the trite lyrics or irrelevant message. The same is true for contemporary hymns and choruses. You know, this whole idea really applies to the broader scope of ministry as well. Content, content, content! (Scraping noise and faint thump as I jump off of soapbox)
Praying for you, bro.
Agreed and AMEN!
I had too much to comment about this one, so I blogged about it over at my place. Check it out…
I love the hymns, good, rich theology. But I appreciate groups like “Indelible Grace” who take these old, rich hymns and put them to new tunes. We mix both hymns and contemporary music. The best way to describe our worship at Big Creek Church is, to borrow a phrase from Robert Webber, “Ancient Future”.
Oops! I forgot to give you the link! http://mirroredgrace.wordpress.com/2007/07/31/church-music/
Do you know that since I posted the first comment, my blog has gotten over 50 hits today? That is an all-time high for me.
But Alas! No one has left a comment…