Hymns Attacked/Defended Pt. 1

Proverbs 22:28 “Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.”
Proverbs 23:10 “Remove not the old landmark…” 

The old hymns are being attacked like never before in most of our so-called fundamental churches. Faster than you can blink, the average ministry has removed the ancient and old landmarks given to us by our Christians fore-fathers through song. Most don’t even notice and chalk it up to nothing important. But as we have methodically noticed throughout these articles, music is powerful, Satan is musical, and the enemy knows what He is doing in replacing the old hymns in our homes and churches. 

The excuses for removing and replacing or simply ignoring the old hymns are too numerous to deal with. However, we will address some of the more common ones we’ve heard and think important to address. 

Hymns Attacked: “Most hymns are too slow. They put people to sleep. We need more upbeat congregational songs.” 

Hymns Defended: John 4:23 “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” 

At times through the years, I have been in charge of a church’s song service. One of those times, I was pushed by leadership to not use slower hymns. Only upbeat, faster-paced hymns were acceptable. I am not against more upbeat hymns like “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” and “Nothing But the Blood”, but there must be balance (Ecc. 3:1, 4). The “slower” hymns are written as meditative and heart-searching songs. Christian music can uplift and excite us, but it must also teach and admonish us (Col. 3:16). The reason why many in Christianity choose more faster-paced congregational music is for the express purpose of waking up the people in the pew. However, that is focusing on the body/the flesh which brings death (Rom. 8:6), does not please God (Rom. 8:8), and is unprofitable (Jn. 6:63). Modern Christianity has had plenty of time to prove that focusing on fleshly music does not bring revival. You cannot just excite your people to revival. We need the inner life of Jesus. God is only and truly worshiped through the spirit (Jn. 4:23-24). You may be satisfied by seeing your people physically excited and awakened by the music. They may draw nigh with their mouths, but their hearts may also be far from God (Mt. 15:8). We need the old hymns that focused on the soul of man to be revived! This will bring about true inner and outer excitement/joy for Jesus (Ps. 85:6)!