I have purposely waited to weigh in on this issue, but would like to do so now. Next month, I will be 69, so I am a "senior saint." I spent nearly 4 decades in full-time ministry--most of it pastoring, but with two extended periods as an associate--and led both church and camp meeting choirs.
I agree with Pastor Dan Lewis, "Is this up for a vote?" That implies that we are dealing with an "either-or" situation, that a church must commit to either contemporary/choruses OR to hymns/congregationals. (Just a point: most of what many people call "hymns" are really "congregationals." To me, by defnition hymns are historical church music while congregationals were written only a decade or so ago. Not the same thing.)
In both Ephesians and Colossians, Paul wrote of "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs." In my humble opinion, "psalms" refers to Scripture songs, the Word put to music[--including many choruses. "Hymns" are just that: the traditional, historical music that connects the church of today with the church of yesterday. "Spiritual songs" (to me) are songs saints are singing NOW, current music that is flowing out of the hearts of modern-day Christians.
As both a Worship Leader and Senior Pastor of (a couple of times, both) I have found that it is possible to successfully combine the two. I have heard it more than once: "Choruses don't teach theology like the old hymns do." But that is not true! Many of them do teach theology and sound doctrine.
As for the "7/11" comment one person made, if I didn't know the writer, I would take strong umbrage at that. As any teacher knows, repetition is one of the ways to fix an idea in the heads of the hearers. I fear it was an attempt to trivialize what is, for many churches a real problem--and one that is NOT the real problem! Many of those who reject the "new" in favor of the "old" are longing for their younger days when they and their friends were in charge of what the church sang and taught. It is a struggle with the loss of influence.
I actually had a man tell me, "I never thought I would see this in MY church!" When I told him, "It never WAS your church; Jesus said that He would build HIS church." He did not take it very well.
Let's put aside the "worship wars" and, as Pastor Dan put it, "worship God and our Savior and glorify Him" no matter what the style of music. At the bottom of it all, that is what is involved: individual taste and preference with regard to music style.
I agree with Pastor Dan Lewis, "Is this up for a vote?" That implies that we are dealing with an "either-or" situation, that a church must commit to either contemporary/choruses OR to hymns/congregationals. (Just a point: most of what many people call "hymns" are really "congregationals." To me, by defnition hymns are historical church music while congregationals were written only a decade or so ago. Not the same thing.)
In both Ephesians and Colossians, Paul wrote of "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs." In my humble opinion, "psalms" refers to Scripture songs, the Word put to music[--including many choruses. "Hymns" are just that: the traditional, historical music that connects the church of today with the church of yesterday. "Spiritual songs" (to me) are songs saints are singing NOW, current music that is flowing out of the hearts of modern-day Christians.
As both a Worship Leader and Senior Pastor of (a couple of times, both) I have found that it is possible to successfully combine the two. I have heard it more than once: "Choruses don't teach theology like the old hymns do." But that is not true! Many of them do teach theology and sound doctrine.
As for the "7/11" comment one person made, if I didn't know the writer, I would take strong umbrage at that. As any teacher knows, repetition is one of the ways to fix an idea in the heads of the hearers. I fear it was an attempt to trivialize what is, for many churches a real problem--and one that is NOT the real problem! Many of those who reject the "new" in favor of the "old" are longing for their younger days when they and their friends were in charge of what the church sang and taught. It is a struggle with the loss of influence.
I actually had a man tell me, "I never thought I would see this in MY church!" When I told him, "It never WAS your church; Jesus said that He would build HIS church." He did not take it very well.
Let's put aside the "worship wars" and, as Pastor Dan put it, "worship God and our Savior and glorify Him" no matter what the style of music. At the bottom of it all, that is what is involved: individual taste and preference with regard to music style.