I looked up the term “the old, familiar hymns” as a theme for this reflection. The exact match came in a surprising place, a teaser to an article in the Christianity Today Library.
I’ll get back to that after this.
On Tuesday morning I was in a conversation with Linda, a woman at one of my employment networking groups. I mentioned that while I’m a geek during the week, I’m also an Anglican Priest. She told me that her church, North Dallas Community Bible Fellowship in Richardson, was having a special presentation comparing old hymns to new ones. The subject of hymn sources, contexts, and intentions is one that holds my interest, so I made plans to attend the Wednesday evening presentation.
The first thing I noticed was that where we sat when we entered the sanctuary. We went to an empty row and took our seats in the middle of it. There was no strategic 50-yard-line advantage to this, as they had projectors and screens all over the ceiling and we’d be able to see everything relevant to whatever was going on. But Linda chose to sit in places other than the first two seats on the aisle.
I’ve always wondered why people will enter a church, find an empty row, and sit so close to the aisle that you can’t slide a razor blade between the person and the end of that pew! Then the next person comes to the row, already disgusted that there aren’t any aisle seats left, and grumbles under his breath because he had to climb over that inconsiderate person who sat next to the aisle. But where does that second person sit? Right next to the aisle-sitter, of course! Then the third person comes in, totally disgusted with those two rude men who sat so close to the aisle, and climbs over person one and person two to sit where? You guessed it: in position three!
OK, this is not isolated to the churches. Walk into a movie theater, and the same thing happens. I suppose the early arrivals want to dash off to get popcorn when the movie they paid $10 to see has a dull spot or a social message? Who can guess?
All right, back to church we go. It’s Wednesday evening at an African-American church. Linda and I are sitting in the middle of the row of seats, looking forward to a comparison and contrast of hymns or praise songs from different eras. So we have a presentation about three pairs, and I can only remember some by title or content. Here’s what we got:
“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!” as the traditional, set beside a more energized hymn with a comparable theme
“Majesty, Worship His Majesty!” as the traditional, set beside a more energized praise song with a comparable theme
Two reverent songs essentially expressing “There’s Something About That Name [Jesus]”
I enjoyed the presentation, but what struck me is that “Majesty” and “There’s Something About That Name” were considered “Traditional”! The first time I heard -- or heard about -- either of these was in the second half of the twentieth century! Just how young are these people, that these are “traditional” musical offerings? (Or just how old -- oh, forget it, ha ha!)
Now back to the Christianity Today Library teaser. The leaders of a congregation are arguing over the worship leader’s choice of music. One of them complains “If he'd just play some of the old familiar hymns once in a while. Those new tunes are so difficult to sing. When he gets going on that instrument, it seems like he's in another world.”
The argument took place in 1730.
Please take time to enjoy some of the old familiar hymns.
Charles+
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