Where are the battle songs? To some extent, in the older hymnals.
I’m looking at one with copyright 1957, printed in 1981, which has “How Great Thou Art” pasted onto the opening fly leaf, and “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” as hymn 1. It contains “Onward Christian Soldiers” but also has “God Will Take Care of You.”
In other words a balanced mix of hymns. Subheds on the contents page include God the Father, Jesus Christ the Saviour, The Holy Spirit, Worship and Praise, The Holy Scriptures, The Church, The Gospel, The Christian Way of Life, The Eternal Life, and Special Subjects and Occasions.
I’m old enough to remember singing many of the songs in this book. A few have survived to date but many have been replaced by contemporary music, some of which is good but some of which is questionable at best.
I don’t think it’s the songs today as much as the attitude of song leaders. Of course I prefer the traditional hymns, especially in worship services, but I do listen to CCM on an iPod while driving. The church I currently attend has a mix of traditional songs with one or two newer songs included.
I personally avoid churches the size of a convention center that require a potentially ear-splitting sound system, but I have attended a service or two in such facilities. I suppose that could be included in “being all things to all people in order to save some” but it’s not something I would want to do regularly.
And finally, it’s ultimately the attitude of the worshipper that matters, which comes through in David’s psalms as the author notes.
Where are the battle songs? To some extent, in the older hymnals.
I’m looking at one with copyright 1957, printed in 1981, which has “How Great Thou Art” pasted onto the opening fly leaf, and “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” as hymn 1. It contains “Onward Christian Soldiers” but also has “God Will Take Care of You.”
In other words a balanced mix of hymns. Subheds on the contents page include God the Father, Jesus Christ the Saviour, The Holy Spirit, Worship and Praise, The Holy Scriptures, The Church, The Gospel, The Christian Way of Life, The Eternal Life, and Special Subjects and Occasions.
I’m old enough to remember singing many of the songs in this book. A few have survived to date but many have been replaced by contemporary music, some of which is good but some of which is questionable at best.
I don’t think it’s the songs today as much as the attitude of song leaders. Of course I prefer the traditional hymns, especially in worship services, but I do listen to CCM on an iPod while driving. The church I currently attend has a mix of traditional songs with one or two newer songs included.
I personally avoid churches the size of a convention center that require a potentially ear-splitting sound system, but I have attended a service or two in such facilities. I suppose that could be included in “being all things to all people in order to save some” but it’s not something I would want to do regularly.
And finally, it’s ultimately the attitude of the worshipper that matters, which comes through in David’s psalms as the author notes.