old hymns for current needs
"Inclusive language" and "political correctness" are two important issues in any type of writing these days.
But what about the old hymns that fail miserably on this score? Do we stop singing them, or edit them to meet current standards? And what about central Christian doctrines such as the Fatherhood of God, and our sonship in Christ? Do we avoid these doctines in our sermons and songs because they might offend? What role should songwriters and worship leaders play in this regard?
I believe many of the old hymns were truly inspired. Still, there's no sense in singing them, unless they serve a useful purpose in today's Church.
Rewriting an old hymn isn't always the solution, though. It tends to alienate those who are familiar with the original, and too often the hymn is "emasculated" in the process.
A better approach is to infuse the hymn with meaning, to restore its original potency. This can be achieved in a number of ways. Here are some suggestions:
- Provide some background information about the hymn (circumstances surrounding composition, biographical details of composer, etc), and some comments on noteworthy aspects of the music and/or lyrics. This could be done briefly before singing the hymn, or in more detail in a church bulletin or newsletter.
- Ask someone to give a personal testimony about the hymn's significance in their life.
- Use the hymn as the basis for the sermon.
- Draw the parallels between the old hymn and a contemporary hymn or spiritual song.
- Initiate a competition or series of articles for your church newsletter translating old hymns into contemporary prose.
- Use the hymn to talk about Christians then and now, and what essentially binds Christians throughout the ages.
These are just some ways in which the old hymns can be revitalised and become suppositories of spiritual truths, as they were to earlier generations.
irene bom ~ songwriter © 2022