Thus says the Lord: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.
But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'" --Jeremiah 6:16

 

11 October, 2006   comments: (0) Today's Worship   Ten Hymns the CCM Crowd Couldn't Even Dream Of If you've ever received one of those flyers in the mail inviting you to the new cookie-cutter-church in your neighborhood, you probably remember some slick marketing that went something like this: "We're not your grandmother's church. We have relevant talks, cappuccino, fun kids activities, and music from this century!". It's in vogue these days to slam old music, and yet old music is often a carrier of old truth. In fact, when it comes to some of the biblical ground covered by the old hymns, contemporary Christian music won't dare go there. If you've jumped onboard the "newer is better" bandwagon, here are ten examples to remind you why music is often in a category with aged cheese and vintage bordeaux. -- It struck me a few weeks ago during one of my church's worship services, how the song I was singing may as well have been written on another planet, in comparison to the lyrics that I was lead to sing in the Seeker Driven church of my past. I mentioned this to my pastor, who has been giving history introductions for the great hymns, and asked if he could give me a few more contrasting examples. Incidentally, I don't remember this happening, but somebody apparently snapped this photo of us having that very conversation, at our church. Sorry, I just knew that's what some of you were thinking a Reformed church looked like. Besides, I couldn't let the TeamPyro guys have all of the photo fun! So with that in mind, here are my hymn choices for what would be the Top Ten Most Out-of-Place Lyrics in Contemporary Christian Music: 1) "God Moves in a Mysterious Way" by William Cowper Topic: The Providence of God Discerned in Trial Why CCM Couldn't Write It: Acknowledges existence of trials Most Non-CCM Quote: "Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace; Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face." 2) "Whate'er My God Ordains is Right" by Samuel Rodigast, translated by Catherine Winkworth Topic: Submission to God's Sovereignty Why CCM Couldn't Write It: Acknowledges God's sovereignty over trials Most Non-CCM Quote: "Though sorrow, need, or death be mine, Yet am I not forsaken." 3) "Tis Not that I Did Choose Thee" by Josiah Condor Topic: Election Why CCM Couldn't Write It: Too theological and too self-abasing Most Non-CCM Quote: "Thou from the sin that stained me Hast cleansed and set me free; Of old Thou hast ordained me, That I should live to Thee." 4) "Let Us Love, and Sing, and Wonder" by John Newton Topic: Christ's Atoning Work Why CCM Couldn't Write It: Way, way, way too theologically intricate Most Non-CCM Quote: "Let us wonder; grace and justice Join and point to mercy's store; When through grace in Christ our trust is, Justice smiles and asks no more." 5) "Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted" by Thomas Kelly Topic: Christ's Death Why CCM Couldn't Write It: Presents the spiritual aspect of Christ's suffering Most Non-CCM Quote: "Ye who think of sin but lightly Nor suppose the evil great Here may view its nature rightly, Here its guilt may estimate." 6) "Day of Judgment, Day of Wonders" by John Newton Topic: Final Judgment Why CCM Couldn't Write It: Topic is final judgment Most Non-CCM Quote: "Careless sinner, What will then become of thee?" 7) "How Sweet and Awful" by Isaac Watts Topic: Conversion and the Church Why CCM Couldn't Write It: Acknowledges our real disposition toward God and knows the meaning of "awful." Most Non-CCM Quote: "Why was I made to hear Thy voice, And enter while there's room, While thousands make a wretched choice, And rather starve than come." 8) "No, Not Despairingly" by Horatius Bonar Topic: Sorrow Over Sin Why CCM Couldn't Write It: Presents sorrow over sin before joy in Christ Most Non-CCM Quote (tie): "Sin hath gone over me" (or): "Lord, I confess to thee Sadly my sin." 9) "Sometimes a Light Surprises" by William Cowper Topic: Sustaining Grace in Trial Why CCM Couldn't Write It: Acknowledges sovereign reason for unanswered prayer Most Non-CCM Quote: "It can bring with it nothing, But He will bear us through." 10) "The Sands of Time" by Anne Cousin, based on letters of Samuel Rutherford Topic: Reflections on Heaven Why CCM Couldn't Write It: (besides the obvious fact that they haven't read Samuel Rutherford's Letters): Not enough time spent comforting the struggling saints Most Non-CCM Quote: "It were a well-spent journey, Though seven deaths lay between." Additional Information and Resources: Was that song written to "Jesus or My Girlfriend?" - P1, P2, P3 Paul S. Jones: "Hymns are effective carriers of Christian doctrine" Book Recommendation: 101 Hymn Stories Rick Warren is leading the charge in the opposite direction Posted by: Jim B.   Link: http://www.oldtruth.com/blog.cfm/id.2.pid.480   Be the first to post a comment about this article        Home  |   About  |  Videos   |  Calvinism