It’s time to play a game. Here are some phrases from both hymns and contemporary worship songs. It’s your job to distinguish between the two. The answers are at the bottom.
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“That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth; The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth: Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also; The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever.”
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“I am a friend of God. I am a friend of God. I am a friend of God. He calls me friend”
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“Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!”
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“Oh, I feel like dancing – it’s foolishness I know; but, when the world has seen the light, they will dance with joy, like we’re dancing now.”
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“Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small; love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. ”
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“Come, now is the time to worship; come, now is the time to give your heart; come, just as you are to worship; come, just as you are before your God; come.”
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“’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed!”
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“When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh may I then in Him be found. Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.”
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A Mighty Fortress by Martin Luther (hymn)
- Friend of God by Israel Houghton (contemporary worship song)
- Christ the Lord is Risen Today by Charles Wesley (hymn)
- I Could Sing of Your Love Forever by Delirious (contemporary worship song)
- When I Survey the Wondrous Cross by Isaac Watts (hymn)
- Come Now is the Time to Worship by Brian Doerksen (contemporary worship song)
- Amazing Grace by John Newton (hymn)
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My Hope is Built by Edward Mote (hymn)
My issue is not that contemporary worship songs are intrinsically bad, but I think they should be saved for one’s quiet time. The lyrics of contemporary worship music can be very self-centered, and lacking in theological richness. To get the best of both worlds, check out adaptations by Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman and Kristian Stanfill, although those men are not without fault. Listen to Redman’s “Heart of Worship” to find the irony behind singing about how “a song in itself is not what you have required.”
Hopefully you’ve seen the changes over time that evangelicals have made, namely the sacrifice of theologically sound, majestic music at the expense of becoming “relevant.” Usually, when Christians try to be relevant, they aren’t. This tardiness to catch up with the culture ends up makes Christian music cheesy, and worse, when it does become good it usually ends up becoming a concert with a light show, instead of its original purpose, which was to lead others in worship.
