I’ll never forget my first Torrey session with Dr. Isaac Blois. After our usual devotional, he passed out tiny slips of paper with lyrics, pulled out a guitar and led us through a hymn. It was wonderful. Sweet simplicity marked the moment and the song ended with a room full of soft smiles.
This was the first of many such experiences. Blois brings his guitar to every session, always prepared with lyrics related to the book of the day. I’ve grown to treasure the sound of the cohort’s chorus in these age-old songs.
I didn’t grow up singing many hymns. In my Assemblies of God church, we tried to keep our music diverse, but contemporary Christian worship certainly got more air-time than any other style, which I didn’t mind. Upon coming to Biola, a whole new realm of worship was opened to me. These sessions with Blois played a role in that expansion, but much of my newfound affection is due to my friends who admire hymns. I’ve found that many students on campus feel deeply connected with hymns, some preferring them to contemporary worship.
One such student is Nathan Hollister-Fisch. Hollister-Fisch, a junior philosophy major, grew up occasionally singing a few of the classic hymns: Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, etc. However, when he joined the Anglican Church in college, hymns became his primary expression of worship.
“Hymns are evangelicals’ greatest invention,” Hollister-Fisch said.
Hymns can be traced back to antiquity. They have long been a feature of the Judeo-Christian tradition, but they exploded in popularity during the Reformation, and converted congregational singing into a defining aspect of Protestant worship.
Today, hymns boast a variety of attributes that make them exceptionally valuable to the Christian life. Hymns are typically deeply rooted in Biblical texts, and possess a theological clarity that is not guaranteed in modern worship. There’s a certain safety about their lyrics that makes the heart of Scripture accessible to all who sing along. Hymns present scriptural ideas in such a way that even those who are new to the faith and unfamiliar with the Bible can absorb and understand. Hollister-Fisch called them “the greatest tool of Cathecesis.” What better way to learn the Bible than to sing of its truths?
Not only do hymns connect us to scripture, but they connect us to each other. Hymns have an inherently communal quality. They are meant to be sung together, and the simplicity of their form allows for them to be sung across cultures and languages. When we sing hymns, we join the chorus of nations, and the chorus of history.
Hymns have endured the test of time and invite participants into the practice of the historical Church. When we engage them, we come alongside hundreds of years of voices lifted unto the Lord, and I’ve decided I want to step into that timeless ensemble. I still quite enjoy modern worship songs. Bethel and Maverick City make frequent appearances in my playlists, but people like Hollister-Fisch and Dr. Blois have inspired me to learn and sing more hymns.
Biola’s unique, non-affiliated evangelical culture draws students from a variety of worship backgrounds. While some students, like Hollister-Finch, grew up in more traditional forms of worship, others, like me, are newer to the hymn scene. Though general worship at Biola doesn’t tend towards liturgy or hymns, I’ve still found ways to explore more traditional forms of worship on campus.
Fives Chapel is a way students can engage with more liturgical practices, such as hymns, on a weekly basis. While Fives is an opportunity to engage in more consistent liturgy, its engagement with hymns varies on the worship set. Last week, Biolans had a special opportunity to connect with hymns through the world premiere of Blessed Assurance, a play written and directed by Dr. Rachel Tracey. From March 26th-29th, community members learned about the faith and legacy of hymnist Fanny Crosby, who wrote over 5,000 hymns during her lifetime. Christian worship can happen in many forms, not just through song. The play was an example of this: engaging worship through performance and audience reflection. Attendees witnessed an invigorating presentation of Crosby’s life that ended with a communal singing of “Blessed Assurance.” Students, professors, alumni, and people from distinct walks of life shared a precious moment in God’s presence. I walked away feeling moved by her inspiring story, the beautiful words of her hymns, and the uniting effect of the whole experience.
We may come from different worship backgrounds, but the God we’re worshipping is the same. Our preferences for hymns, contemporary worship songs or otherwise emphasize the richness and diversity found within the Body of Christ. There’s not a “one size fits all” style of worship and that’s wonderful.
If you’re like me and not from a hymn-rooted background, I encourage you to explore more traditional forms of worship. If you had a more traditional upbringing, consider engaging with contemporary forms of worship too. You may not resonate or understand certain forms of worship, and that’s ok. You can still hold fast to your convictions while respecting the Christian worship practices of others. Our differing convictions reflect the multifaceted character of God and the diversity of His Church. I look forward to seeing how God continues to shape my spiritual life as I engage with both hymns and contemporary worship. The Lord is at work in both spaces, even though they are musically distinct. Though you may never be led in worship by Blois, God can still use your time with both hymns and contemporary worship for His glory, just as I’ve seen in my life.
