Hymns express our theology
One of the saddest features of contemporary
worship is that the great hymns of the church are on the way
out. They are not gone entirely, but they are going. And in
their place have come trite jingles that have more in common
with contemporary advertising ditties than the psalms. The
problem here is not so much the style of the music, though
trite words fit best with trite tunes and harmonies. Rather
it is with the content of the songs. The old hymns expressed
the theology of the church in profound and perceptive ways
and with winsome memorable language. Today's songs reflect
only our shallow or non-existent theology and do almost
nothing to elevate one's thoughts about God.
Worst of all are songs that merely repeat a trite idea, word
or phrase over and over again. Songs like this are not
worship, though they may give the church goer a religious
feeling. They are mantras, which belong more in a gathering
of New Agers than among the worshipping people of God.
- James Montgomery Boice, Here We Stand, Cha. 8, Reformation in Doctrine, Worship, and Life.
