Author	Thread: Does Anyone Listen to Hymns Anymore?
IaoKim View Profile History	Does Anyone Listen to Hymns Anymore? Posted : 24 Apr, 2011 06:11 PM Being Easter Sunday, I visited a close friend of mine at another church. I was pretty disappointed in the worship -- like 90% of the people in the pews weren't even lip syncing. I've noticed that participation in worship tends to be lower on average with contemporary worship than in those churches that do more traditional forms of music. Don't get me wrong, I like contemporary worship music, but for me nothing beats some of those awesome hymns of the faith. Before anyway gets the wrong idea, I know I am being pretty general when I saw these things. I have been to churches with contemporary worship with great participation and traditional churches with bad participation but the trend I have noticed personally tends to favor those traditional churches. I have nothing against contemporary worship just the apathy I sometimes see associated with it. :) I grew up listening to a bunch of those hymns packed with powerful words of truth with minimal musical instruments as distractions. It has been a long while since I have attended a Church that sang hymns on a regular basis, but I can still remember singing those hymns like it was yesterday. I don't know about you, but some of these contemporary worship songs these days I can't even remember five minutes after there over! It seems to me that nowadays with all the lights, computers, soundboards, etc. that the focus is on making everything sound good instead of focusing on the purpose for it all -- worshiping. I have visited several churches where 80% of the people aren't even singing along like they are afraid to chime in because they will ruin the perfect tone and pitch of the lead singers. I can't help but think: "Wake up people we aren't watching a performance or a concert we are supposed to be worshiping with a joyful noise whether we are tone deaf or not!" When I was a kid, if the church didn't get up and sing you wouldn't be able to even get the song off the ground because all we had were hymn books, people in the pews, and one classy organ! Anyway /rant . . . The main purpose of this topic is just to point out some of my observations on recent trends I have noticed in some of the churches I have visited. Mainly I just wanted to say I like hymns and I miss them! It is sad I think when I have to choose between going to a church with a decent young adult population or going to a church that actually still plays hymns. :) I could list a ton, but these are some of my favorite hymns! 1. Be Thou my Vision 2. It is Well with my Soul 3. A Mighty Fortress 4. Just as I Am 5. Amazing Grace 6. How Great Thou Art 7. Just a Closer Walk with Thee 8. Softly and Tenderly 9. The Old Rugged Cross 10. There is Power in the Blood 11. Rock of Ages 12. Fount of Every Blessing So is it just me or are there some in my generation that have yet to completely forsake hymns? :waving: Post Reply
View Profile History	Does Anyone Listen to Hymns Anymore? Posted : 24 Apr, 2011 06:15 PM I love Hymns, and I agree with you. I'd take one voice or the voice of a choir singing Amazing Grace than beats and lights and sounds, it's better when it's as close to natural as you can get. Post Reply
IaoKim View Profile History	Does Anyone Listen to Hymns Anymore? Posted : 24 Apr, 2011 06:15 PM Forgive some of the typos . . . I have this tendency to say one thing in my mind and then type a completely different word than the one I intended. . . I usually check before I post, but I was negligent this time. :angel: Post Reply
View Profile History	Does Anyone Listen to Hymns Anymore? Posted : 24 Apr, 2011 06:29 PM I absolutely LOVE hymns!!! :applause: And I love to sing! But I'll only sing in front of people in church. Haha! And that because it's not about sounding good, it's about how it makes you feel. :yay: I don't know about y'all, but it does my heart good to see the others too. :) Thank You! Great Post! :) Post Reply
View Profile History	Does Anyone Listen to Hymns Anymore? Posted : 24 Apr, 2011 06:31 PM Did any of you see ACM Girls night out on TV Saturday night? Showstopping performance by Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill slaying "How Great Thou Art" live at the 2011 ACM Girl's Night Out Show. How great is Carrie Underwood ladies and gentlemen? It was sooooo powerfu land the whole world got to hear":How great thou art" Here`s the link to copy and paste. It`s a must see and hear. http://www.topcountrymusicvideos.com/2011-acm-girls-night-out-vince-gill-honoring-carrie-underwood/ Post Reply
View Profile History	Does Anyone Listen to Hymns Anymore? Posted : 24 Apr, 2011 06:34 PM I haven't read your question entirely through yet, but I quickly wanted to say that my children and I regularly sing Psalms from a psalter. By doing so, my boys and I have memorized many of the Psalms written in scripture which has proved to be an incredible blessing. :winksmile: Post Reply
View Profile History	Does Anyone Listen to Hymns Anymore? Posted : 24 Apr, 2011 07:22 PM I didn't grow up going to church. I started going to church when I was 15 and I usually only went to youth group where they sang the contemporary worship with all the fancy lights and the soundboard and instruments. For most of high school the only reason I went to youth group was because I had friends there and it got me out of my house and away from all the constant fighting. I hardly ever sang though because I was so worried about what others would think if they heard me sing, but I felt better about singing if there were a lot of noisy instruments because I thought that my voice would be drowned out by them. The church I went to in college alternates between the modern contemporary worship and the traditional hymns and I loved it! I would always leave church singing the hymns to myself all day long! Post Reply
View Profile History	Does Anyone Listen to Hymns Anymore? Posted : 24 Apr, 2011 08:02 PM Katiekatie21, I have got to thank you for your openness and transparency here on the forums. You come across to me as being brave, genuine and honest...3 qualities that stand out in the woman spoken of in Proverbs 31 ;) Thank you very much! Post Reply
Tulip89 View Profile History	Does Anyone Listen to Hymns Anymore? Posted : 24 Apr, 2011 09:06 PM I listen to almost entirely hymns. I'm a songwriter by avocation, and I can't stand the lyrics to most contemporary songs. It takes almost no talent. As far as I'm concerned, most of what comes out these days may as well be some variation of, "God you are awesome/God you're amazing/God you are so cool/My God I love you." The focus is not on what's being sung, but the emotions that the music and the lights and the fog machines can give people. Sure there are some modern songs that I like, but 90% of them are just not my thing, especially within the Hillsong/Passion set. There's no poetry in praise anymore. That said, a lot of the old hymns' melodies were rubbish. There are a number of groups that are working to update such hymns. Go to GrooveShark and give Red Mountain Church, Ascend the Hill, and Indelible Grace a listen to get an idea of what I'm talking about. Aaron Keyes is pretty good too. Post Reply
View Profile History	Does Anyone Listen to Hymns Anymore? Posted : 24 Apr, 2011 10:14 PM Tulip, I would think that you've sang Psalms from a psalter as well, yes? Maybe not... And your response pretty much described a lot of "churches" today in general. A lack of truth and a whole lotta emotional smoke - much like an AA meeting. A social event that lacks the substance of Christ... Post Reply
bcpianogal View Profile History	Does Anyone Listen to Hymns Anymore? Posted : 25 Apr, 2011 06:13 AM I personally love hymns, and would prefer to attend a church that has a more traditional worship service. I grew up singing hymns (I was even the pianist for 10 years), and I feel the most worshipful in that sort of setting. Right now, though, I go to a church that has only contemporary music. I'm not crazy about it, but at least the praise team is good, and to my surprise, people actually sing along! I've never been in a contemporary worship service where people sing as heartily as if they had a hymnal in their hands, but it's nearly that way at this church. Some of my favorite hymns include: 1. Nearer, Still Nearer 2. Be Thou My Vision 3. Take My Life and Let It Be 4. Amazing Grace 5. The Old Rugged Cross 6. How Great Thou Art 7. It Is Well With My Soul 8. Blessed Assurance 9. Amazing Love 10. Wonderful Grace of Jesus 11. Saved, Saved, Saved 12. Nearer, My God, To Thee 13. There Is a Fountain Filled With Blood 14. Jesus Paid it All 15. Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus 16. Crown Him With Many Crowns 17. Holy, Holy, Holy 18. Praise To the Lord, the Almighty 19. Marvelous Grace 20. Love Lifted Me 21. and many, many more that I can't think of right now! Post Reply

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