ChosenRebel's Blog

Sunday Afternoon Musings

Worship is the priority of the church. It is fuel for evangelism. It is often neglected in private and unattended in public. But it remains a priority for the church. Which is why, when I saw this article in the Winter issue of Trinity Magazine, I knew I wanted to get it out to the widest audience I could through whatever means I could. Keith and Kristyn Getty recently visited Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield. The article is a synopsis of what they said. After the article I have attached a video of one of the most popular modern hymns by Stuart Townend sung by Kristyn Getty.

I hope that God will raise up a new generation of Hymn writers who will give the whole of their lives and talent into the writing great theology into beautiful lyrics and passionate music to tell of the greatness of our God to a new generation.

Keith Getty: On Modern Hymns and Worship

Trinity welcomed world-renowned hymn writers Keith and Kristyn Getty during Inauguration Week for an afternoon symposium on the place and importance of musical worship in today’s churches, as well as an evening concert of worship and celebration.

During the symposium, Keith gave three convictions he and his wife take into modern hymn writing.

1. God’s people learn their faith in large part through song.
   • Even as early as the book of Exodus, songs have provided a way to organize, preserve, and acknowledge theological truth. Hymns effect every aspect of the Christian life as they instill and reinforce the most cherished beliefs of the faith. Getty went on to suggest that the new trends towards shortened songs underestimate a congregation’s abilities to process deeply theological lyrics and thus end up working against the goal of discipling Christians.
2. The holy act of congregational singing is exactly that–holy.
   • The Bible speaks of a time when all nations will sing the praises of the Lord, and congregational worship allows us to glimpse into that glory. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, singing was both a “duty and a delight,” something both required by God as well as joyously sought out by people. All aspects of congregational worship (instruments, leaders, etc.) are to be designed to encourage the congregation to engage in the holy act of worship together, as well as to help them to perform it the best they can.
3. Songs need to stick with people.
   • There was a time when people found hope and truth in songs that stayed with them and encouraged them in various seasons for their entire lives. A growing problem in church worship today is the adoption of the legitimate tool of using popular worship songs to get people in the doors of the church who might not otherwise attend, neglecting the creation of a rich, theological tradition of songs that will aid the believer for life.