Beyond Style: Why Young and Old Need Historic Hymns

Over the past few weeks, as I have read from - and listened to - my normal pool of both old and dead theologians, I have noticed a common denominator: many of them regularly reference hymn texts in their writings and speaking. Of course, the theological topic being discussed will lend itself to specific hymns, but what I have noticed is an overarching knowledge of hymns that comes out in every facet of their lives. 

Why is this important? And why would I notice it? Let me try to answer these questions below.

A favorite quote of mine comes from the Trinity Hymnal (1961), which reads, “It is well known that the character of its song, almost equal with the character of its preaching, controls the theology of a church.” If I asked you to take a survey of the songs your church has sung on Sunday mornings over the past six months, how many of those songs could you say were written prior to 2000? Or, better yet, prior to 1900?

Before I get much further into this post, let me clarify that I am not against new songs! There are songs that have been written in this century that have already stood the test of time. In Christ Alone (2002) is a stalwart hymn that beautifully encompasses the Gospel. Is He Worthy (2018) is an antiphonal hymn that focuses our eyes on God’s eternal reign. There are many other good hymns being written today. Please do not hear me say that we should not sing new songs. In this post, however, I am advocating for the centuries of hymns written prior to 2000 to not be neglected. 

As I mentioned, many theologians reference hymns in their sermons and books. This is not accidental, nor is it frivolous. It is apparent that these men have sung many hymns across the expanse of their lifetimes, wedding the hymns to their hearts. These hymns have been sung corporately and privately, revealing their place in both corporate and private worship.

A hymn has been defined as “a poetic statement of a personal religious encounter or insight, universal in its truth, and suitable for corporate expression when sung in stanzas to a hymn tune” (1). Hymns are deep, theological truths set to beautiful verses. The beauty and artful technique applied to hymn texts allows the form to carry the weight of the text. A rich hymn text needs the support of a beautiful melody to find an appropriate marriage. 

Why is it important that we sing hymns written in prior centuries?

When we sing the same hymns week-in and week-out, they form us. As stated above, hymns have the power to control the theology of the church. We take these theological snapshots into our everydays because they have become familiar to us in gathered worship. We can join our voices with saints of the past and sing:

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,

   pilgrim through this barren land.

I am weak, but Thou are mighty;

   hold me with Thy pow'rful hand.

When we sing truths like this, we remind ourselves that “there is nothing new under the sun (Ecc. 1:9).” The woes that we experience today have been experienced by centuries of Christians. Hymns allow us to sing the exact same words that have encouraged believers across the globe and across the centuries. 

Hymns that have stood the test of time have done so because of the truths they espouse and the form of the verse. The hymn “is one of the most difficult of all poetic forms to master, for its small palette and vast subject matter make demands on technique which give pause to the great poets”(2).  Hymns sound strange to our modern ears because we do not use the same language in our everyday conversations. Take this stanza from The Church’s One Foundation, for example:

Tho' with a scornful wonder,

   men see her sore oppressed,

by schisms rent asunder,

   by heresies distressed,

      yet saints their watch are keeping,

          their cry goes up, "How long?"

      And soon the night of weeping

          shall be the morn of song.

I would argue that it is for our benefit to sing songs that use artistic, beautiful language. God communicated his Word to us in many different literary styles. Scripture includes prose and poetry, encomiums and proverbs, satires and drama. It is good for us to use higher language in our songs to God because he is worthy of our highest thoughts. By only using conversational language with God, we can be tempted to pull him down to our level. Hymns allow us the opportunity to use the words of gifted poets to elevate our prayers.

By singing songs from the same canon (hymnal) across decades, the theological truths flow from our hearts in times of joy and times of distress. If I have sung William Cowper’s great hymn God Moves in a Mysterious Way for many years, then I can sing this to myself when I am tempted to doubt God’s sovereignty.

God moves in a mysterious way

   His wonders to perform;

He plants His footsteps in the sea

   and rides upon the storm.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

   but trust Him for His grace;

behind a frowning providence

   He hides a smiling face.

If I have spent time with this text both corporately and privately, the words overflow when I need them. However, if I have a steady diet of newly-composed songs, then I do not have a deep well of songs from which to draw. This is a vital reason for children to learn these hymns. What we learn in childhood stays with us longer than what we learn as adults. The importance of teaching these treasures to our children is of utmost importance. We need to equip them for the totality of the Christian life, and hymns have the ability to easily carry biblical truths to our hearts. 

Why would I notice that theologians use hymns in the writings and preaching?

It used to be commonplace for pastors to utilize hymn texts in their teaching. Look at the sermons of the Puritans, Jonathan Edwards, John Newton, or Charles Spurgeon and there you will find hymns. Look at the sermons and books of contemporary pastors and theologians such as Sinclair Ferguson, Alistair Begg, Tim Challies, and many others and there you will find hymns. These men have had the benefit of singing from the same canon of hymnody across the years and it is evident in their lives. They breathe in Scripture and sing out hymns. What a model to imitate.

If you find yourself at a church that does not utilize a canon of hymns that extends back prior to 1950, let me encourage you to speak to your pastor about this issue. Theological truths wrapped in beauty are important in the life of the believer to fully form us toward Christ. 

If you are looking for a hymnal to add to your daily devotions, let me suggest the following:

(1) Lovelace, Austin. The Anatomy of Hymnody (Chicago: GIA Publications, 2008), 5.

(2) Lovelace, The Anatomy of Hymnody, 5. Kim lives in Oklahoma with her husband Jason and they have one adult son. She is Visiting Professor of Music and Worship at Oklahoma Baptist University and enjoys teaching classes on various aspects of worship studies. Kim completed her Ph.D. in Church Music and Worship from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and also holds degrees in Music History and Piano Performance from other universities. She enjoys spending time with her family in God’s creation, quilting, reading, and drinking good tea.