I love old hymns. I have so many hymnals on my bookshelf - Baptist hymnals, Methodist hymnals, Catholic music, all the Lutheran hymnals. While I certainly don’t think that historic hymns are the only thing we should sing in corporate worship, I feel that omitting older hymns in our gatherings silences the rich voices of church history. There are churches out there that seem uninterested in any song that is more than two years old, much less two hundred years. Yes, the church will continue to write and sing new songs (Psalm 96:1), but it is also good and helpful for us to sing old songs.
Our society is fixated on what’s new and what’s next, but the importance of hymns reminds us that what’s next is not always what’s best. Singing the historic hymns of our faith reminds our congregations that we are not the first generation who have wrestled and prayed, asked and believed. We are not the first to write hymns of praise to God. We walk gladly in the footsteps of our fathers who have written praises to Christ that have stood the test of time.
Here are 4 reasons you should keep singing hymns in church:
Hymns Teach Us - Hymns are portable sermons that articulate, exegete and pronounce biblical truths.
Hymns Admonish Us - Throughout the week, other things call for our praise, attention and affection. Singing hymns of God’s character reminds us of his greatness.
Hymns Inspire Worship - We should choose historic hymns that provoke thankful hearts. The aim of singing hymns is engaging both the head and the heart.
The New in the Old - the hymns recorded for us in Scripture are meant for singing in church. In these songs of praise and prayer, contrition and confession, we see the breadth and inclusiveness of the hymns the church has sung for ages.
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
—Isaac Watts, 1719
That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.
—Martin Luther, 1529
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise him all creatures here below,
Praise him above ye heavenly hosts,
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
—Thomas Ken, 1674
Check out the rest of this article by Matt Boswell => Reasons for Hymn Singing
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