Sing the Old Hymns
Please don’t throw out the old hymns, dear Church. While we appreciate the great newer worship songs with lively beats and fresh expressions of praise, we still want to hear and sing the “oldies”—those hymns that have drawn us so much closer to God over the years.
We love to offer our Father, and our Savior, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit worship and adoration as we sing classic hymns like, “Holy, Holy, Holy,” “How Great Thou Art,” “Crown Him With Many Crowns,” “He Arose,” “He Lives,” “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.”
What about “Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” written in 1860, known today as the “Navy Hymn” which was played at President John F. Kennedy’s funeral by the Navy and Marine bands on November 24,1963.
“A hymn lifts the heart in praise, it strengthens the soul in prayer, and it provides hope for the future. All we can say is thank God for simply-stated gospel songs that minister in a very heart-felt manner to the spiritual needs of people in every generation,”1 writes Kenneth Osbeck.
Congregational singing accompanied great revivals and spiritual awakenings such as evangelistic meetings in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Charles Wesley, (1707-1788) who, with his brother John, founded the Methodists, wrote 6,500 hymns to “arouse sinners, encourage saints, and to educate all in the mysteries of the Christian faith.”2 Those he wrote now familiar to us include “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” and “O for a Thousand Tongues.”
Although Fanny Crosby, (1820-1915) one of America’s greatest contributors to Christian hymnody was blind, her grasp of memorized Scripture inspired her to pen between 8,000 and 9,000 texts which composers set to music Most were written in the decade of the l870’s. Her poem “Saved by Grace” became a popular hymn during the Dwight L. Moody/Ira Sankey evangelistic meetings, as well as “Praise Him, Praise Him.” One of hers, almost forgotten, “To God Be the Glory” became well known after it was sung at Billy Graham crusades in Great Britain in 1954, sparking a sense of revival. 3
Sometimes hymns help us express our appreciation for God’s grace toward us as sinners. The popular “Amazing Grace” is one. Written by John Newton (1725-1807), former slave trader turned abolitionist and Anglican pastor of the Church of England, his song became one of the most beloved hymns of the Christian church. Once when I heard “Amazing Grace” played on bagpipes in Scotland, it was so moving I cried. He also wrote others including “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken” and “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds.”
Contemporary worship song books include more recently written ones which I enjoy and appreciate. Jack Hayford’s “Majesty, Worship His Majesty” from 1977 moves my heart in adoration. Another favorite is “Because He Lives,” written by William and Gloria Gaither, in 1969 after the birth of their son, Benjamin. Even when uncertainties face us and fear tries to grip our thoughts, these lyrics lead us to sing that we can face tomorrow. “And life is worth the living, just because He lives.” 4
Of course, there are thousands of other great hymns/choruses for us to sing in corporate worship. You have your favorites. Please hear my heart. I am not advocating doing away with any contemporary Christian music, just hoping we don’t abandon the beloved older hymns that express the nearness of God. Some were birthed or sung during the Great Awakenings.
Quote: “A Christ-centered picture of redemption is the scarlet thread running through these hymns.”5—Mark A. Noll
Prayer: Father, thank You for hymn writers and musicians of the past who have given us such wonderful words and music, helping us express our heartfelt praise and worship to You. May hymn writers today and in future continue to be inspired to write songs that help Christians worship You in deep ways. We pray for the Holy Spirit to guide and enable them as they blend their varied talents and creativity to accomplish this. In the name of Jesus we ask, Amen.
Scripture: I will sing unto the Lord As long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. (Psalm 104:11)
Footnotes:
1.Kenneth W. Osbeck, “101 More Hymn Stories,” (Grand Rapids, MI., Kregel Publications, 1985), 311.
2. Ibid, 13.
3. Robert J. Morgan, “Then Sings My Soul, Hymn Volume II” (Canada, 2004,) 147.
4. Ibid, 299. Lyrics by William and Gloria Gaither, Copyright 1971.
5. Mark A. Noll, Christianity Today magazine, July 12,1999, p.39.
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