hymns

I am at a conference for Christian camps from all over the Northwest right now, and tonight there was a musical performance following a time of worship.  I was struck anew by the difference in lyrics between the catchy, cliche driven praise choruses we sang corporately and the contemporary hymn performed by our musical guests.  

I'll confess, I really love theology.  I get a kick out of critical thinking about God; His character, His nature, His purpose, and our relationship with God.  I don't want to vilify contemporary praise music sweeping evangelical circles.  I've been a worship leader in various settings and churches since high school, involved in bringing that music into the fold of those communities.  However, I've started to think about lyrics these days when just a handful of years ago I was more concerned with the music those words were set to.  And I've started to notice that proclamation and talk of God is limited in praise music these days.  The church has interacted with music as a teaching tool throughout its history, and it seems we are drifting from that quickly.  We sing often about how we feel or what we want.  We don't speak about God's character as often.  Discussion of God's nature is scarce.  Therefore, those little musical sermons and treatises called hymns can fill a big gap.  

Theology is hard, God doesn't always make sense, and folks are good at believing most anything they here.  What do these hymns offer?  Answers, solid theological statements, and most importantly maybe, the questions they raise.  I don't get them all, and am constantly engaged to think when I sing those lyrics.  

So, not to say that a praise chorus doesn't provoke thought for some.  Not to say you are a sinner going to hell because you are an evangelical with a band and not a choir.  I don't even think you have to like hymns, or feel closer to God when you sing them.  Do look at one and think it over.  Read it as a poem, maybe sing it, or research the story behind it, and ask yourself if you agree.  Does it reflect the God found in the Bible?  Just think!  We need Christian thinkers and hymns are great texts to interact with...with or without the music.