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Music Matters

November  2007
The Faith We Sing...

What we sing has a long-lasting impact on what we believe. Just think about the songs and hymns you sang as a child—and how easy it is to bring them back to your memory. Perhaps some of the words are missing, but the basic memory is still there.

So how do we help our congregations select music that will have a positive impact on today’s generations? that will have a positive long-term effect? Where do we select it from?

There are some good praise choruses whose value lies in helping us memorize Scripture. The music line is simple and easy to learn, and the repetition burns them deep into our minds. Many can be found from Maranatha Music (found in Sing a New Song):

  • I Love You, Lord
  • As the Deer
  • Lord, I lift Your Name on High
  • Seek Ye First
    •

    There are many Taize songs that may be helpful. They also have simple music lines and easy texts to remember. Two found in Sing a New Song are

  • Eat This Bread
  • Jesus, Remember Me
    •

    To limit our singing to things that are simple, though, shortchanges us both as individuals and as a congregation. There are many “good old hymns” that have stood the test of time and that have value as well. But how do we select the best ones?

    As with any materials we use in our congregations, the words we sing need to be consistent with our theology, message, and mission. This means that some traditional hymns may no longer fit. Using the most recent version of the denominational hymnal is a good place to start, since the songs in there have undergone significant discussion and consideration as to how they align with message and mission.

    Here are some helpful guidelines to consider as you help your congregation think more clearly about the words they sing:

  • Are the words consistent with the church’s faith-and-belief statements?
  • Are the words consistent with the denomination’s Christology? (Christology has to do with how the human and divine co-exist in the person of Jesus Christ.).
  • Are the words consistent with the church’s stand on scripture?
  • Do the words align with the message, mission, and identity of the church?
  • Is the hymn free from stereotypes?
  • Does the hymn use inclusive language?
  • Do all of the stanzas fit the message of the service? Encourage worship planners to read all the words, letting them know that it is permissible to use selected stanzas.
    •

    Hymnals have sometimes been referred to as “additional books of scripture.” They are “the faith we sing”—and the words that are burned into our memories will be there for a lifetime. Let’s make sure they are consistent with our beliefs.

     

    —Pam Robison


    If you have suggestions or ideas for future columns, please contact:
    Jan Kraybill
    Principal Organist and Director of Music
    Community of Christ Headquarters
    Independence, MO, USA

    Please visit our FAQ page.