I will definitely be around. I enjoy your posts.

Brent

First of all let me say that what you are doing with blending styles and music is a terribly difficult task. I’ll be praying for your creativity and longevity in this process. It sounds like your heart is in the right place to learn through it all.

One thing about this discussion of Hymns and Praise choruses. I grew up in a Baptist church, so I am very familiar with the traditional and the modern/contemporary clashing. One thing that I think we tend to do though is defend our side. Hymns versus Praise Choruses. In doing so, we find all the things wrong with both genres. I think it would be more appropriate to discuss, as you have here, the depth and theological insights of songs. I think if we went back in time, we would see there were songs(Hymns) that were extremely shallow(repetitive and all) and songs that were right on and had great depth. Just like now. Some songs are very shallow and repetitive and others seem to be very heartfelt with great wisdom.

There’s our argument. Let’s continue to fight for songs with depth and wisdom and great theology and not fight over styles or genres. I think when we do that, most people appreciate the intelligence and maturity of song selections on Sunday morning and may even “allow” more freedom in our song choices. The only time I ever get a complaint about “today’s” choruses is when they are pretty shallow and pointless. Of course the argument is “I don’t like today’s music”, but I think the argument is that they didn’t like how little the song had to actually offer them spiritually and intellectually.

Sorry if this was long, but you brought some great thoughts to the table!

It’s an interesting shift in recent years. Many modern worship songs are about our personal response to God and our feelings about him. Songs in times past – whether they be hymns or choruses of the 80s to early 90s – where usually more about declaring truth about God. This is probably a reflection of cultural/sociological shifts in other areas as well though. Modern generations are touchy-feely and wary of turh.

Personally I think both these types of song are good and have their place, but I am wary of emotional response without truth to respond to. That’s not to say all songs have to be theologically deep and complex, but it should mean – as you suggest – that you have a good balance in a set-list.

Thinking about songwriting, many of the all-time great praise and worship choruses have verses which declare truth and choruses which express a response. Without getting too formulaic about it, that’s a great combination.