Reflection

Philosophy of Hymn Singing

Resources exploring the theology and philosophy behind hymn singing.

Listening

Essays

Books

Additional Resources

Note: Some resources we haven’t fully vetted - use discernment when reading.

Why Sing Hymns (Specifically)?

Hymns are very simple and accessible—they’re well known and have simple melodies. They were designed to assist Christians in their devotions by turning their minds to Scripture (rich language—reflect Scripture). We sing them for a similar reason to why we read old books—they’re tried and true and have stood the test of time. The hymns that have been passed down through the ages are the best of the best, the ones that most deeply reflect truths about God and how they relate to our situation. They’re universal, not confined to just one time or place or situation. We praise the same God as those who sang the hymns hundreds of years ago, who experienced the same sufferings and joys and the same saving grace of Jesus. The God we praise is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

On the other hand, modern worship songs haven’t gone through the same refining process of the passing of time. They tend to have much less of a foundation in Scripture, and they lack much of the rich language of hymns that reflects the richness of Scripture. Modern worship songs aren’t inherently inferior, but on average hymns are better. Our club also fills a niche—Soma already does modern worship songs, but there isn’t any organization that regularly sings hymns.

On the incarnation—reading old books is good because it takes you out of yourself—even more so for Christianity because it is not for one time place or anything. It is universal. It is also the truth for sure. And the same God is the same God being praised. God for time eternal who has always been even before the world existed.

There is such richness to the language—reflect scripture.

You just stay awhile and sing hymns for 1 hour, 2 hours. Glorifying God. \o/

Why Study Hymns?

By pointing to scripture etc. draw out something richer and deeper that can keep in mind while singing so that it is sung from the heart which is important because it’s to God. → richness in own life. Keep in mind scripture. Concision.

Hymns sung from the heart (Ephesians 5). It’s not just music. This is really important to us because the founder wasn’t a Christian at first, but now he is.

Difference Between Bible/Hymn Study

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Why Do Performances?

Can’t really converse with very elderly folk (many have lost faculties of speech/memory etc.), but they still remember hymns and deeply appreciate when they’re sung.

Anecdote: Old lady wanted to talk but couldn’t speak, so I asked her if she wanted me to sing hymns and she nodded. After I sang to her she started crying and kissing my hands out of happiness.

Perspectives from Club Members

Ellia

Colossians 4:2-5 - “A door for the word”—This is the primary aim of hymn singing and the Christian life at large. We eat and drink and work and rest all to the glory of God so that we may present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable as our spiritual act of worship: opportunities for the word of God to be spread. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). Beautiful as the poetry and the music of hymns are, they will pass away; yet their service in opening doors for the word of God to the minds and hearts of people will, if blessed by God, not pass away. Hymns are songs of praise that reflect on all different aspects of the Christian life and hopefully accompany the believer through all the remarkable and unremarkable events of life. We are commanded by God to worship him, and while hymns are not equivalent to worship, we are commanded to worship God through song and through singing. Hymns are meant to facilitate that for the entire body of Christ, from the most unmusical person to the most well-trained musician. Thus hymns strive to be very simple/accessible, without compromising depth of truth and beauty found within scripture.

The goal in singing, studying, and composing hymns is ultimately simply to dig into the truth of God’s word deeper and deeper and to come at it from as many angles as possible. When we participate in this re-creational activity, we are seeking to reflect God’s nature and his word: digesting, assimilating, and reflecting it (on it).

I don’t know what the effects of music are on humans, but we are commanded to do it, and we generally take pleasure in it. It is somehow tied to the affections and desires of our heart, and has some power to mold them. An appreciation for music is often a door for the word if it is directed towards that end. For those who physically cannot communicate in any other way, it is a huge blessing. Whatever the case, singing is not optional, but integral in the training of God’s people to love him and to learn his word and law.

Hannah

Why and HOW do we sing?

God gives Christians thankful hearts that naturally sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to the Lord (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:18-20).

VERTICAL PLANE: We are singing to God.

Matthew 18:20 - “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

  • Recognition of God’s presence lends a weight and seriousness to praising God
    • Is what we sing pleasing to God?
      • Does it align with His Word?
      • John 4:23 (“worship the Father in spirit and truth”)
        • Am I singing with my mind? (1 Corinthians 14:15 “What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.”)
        • Am I singing from my heart?
  • Recognition that it’s also to God and through Christ that we sing anything at all!

HORIZONTAL PLANE: We are singing to edify each other for the glory of God! Colossians 3:16

  • Singing hymns is fundamentally communal. This does not mean we cannot or should not do it when alone, but it most fully occurs as a church.
  • Singing hymns is a ministry of the Word (see questions from VERTICAL PLANE)
    • Is it biblical?
    • Is it profitable for training in righteousness?
    • Is it just about me or does it include my brother in Christ next to me?
      • Sometimes this may not be explicitly in the words, but at minimum we should acknowledge this in our hearts

Why do we sing hymns?

Important clarifications and distinctions

STANDARDS

  • Worship is NOT to please us but rather God, so the decisions we make should reflect not what we like but what God likes. This can never be a mere matter of personal preference.
    • “Luther did not argue that a prayer or hymn had to sound contemporary; he argued that it had to be intelligible, and therefore conducted in the vernacular language”
  • 1 Corinthians 10:23 - “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.
    • Considering what is permissible is NOT the consideration when worshiping God.
    • Rather it is “whether it is appropriate”
      • “God Himself is our aesthetic standard, just as he is our ethical standard… have we made something well, as God makes things well?”
  • Standards for good hymns:
    • Theologically orthodox AND significant lyrics
      • What do we do if a hymn is not biblical? How do we determine this?
        • May need statement of faith
    • Literarily apt and thoughtful lyrics
    • Well-written music
    • Music appropriate to lyrics
    • Lyrics and music appropriate to church gathering
  • Would this song stand still if you completely cut out the music?

DEFINITIONS

  • Hymn is not defined by time but rather by musical style: musically accessible (typically regular meter, simple tune), emphasis on communal singing rather than personal singing (no exorbitant musical flourishes).

Music is NOT insignificant

  • God institutes, commands, and provides examples of songs.
    • We create music and words because God creates. When we do so it is an act of imitating God, so the music matters and should be good. (see 1 Corinthians 10:23 under STANDARDS)
  • Modern music considerations:
    • Music ≠ amusement (root: not given much thought); “pop culture is essentially trivial”
      • Music = self-expression
      • Immanent (not transcendent), monogenerational (not multigenerational), trivial (not significant), individualistic (not communal)
      • “Relating” is highly valued
    • Would it not naturally follow that sacred music would be somehow distinct from nonsacred music?
      • Or at the very least, why would it be weird or bad if it were different?

History

History of hymn singing

  • Luther brought back to vernacular language during Reformation
  • Isaac Watts brought back composed hymns, not just psalms in English-speaking countries

Why and HOW do we study hymns?

Follows from prior two sections. Only use Scripture.

Stephen

Why do we sing?

Firstly, singing is a commandment (Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19, James 5:13, Psalm 13:6, Psalm 100). However, it’s not a dreary obligation—it’s something that we Christians should want to do. Praise for God and His wonderful goodness to us should flow naturally from us. Singing helps us focus our minds on God—who He is, what He has done for us, and what He will do for us. Singing can also be a form of prayer; many of the Psalms and many hymns acknowledge our weaknesses and struggles and cry out to God for mercy and grace. When done from the heart, singing looks outside of ourselves to God in worshipful expressions of prayer and praise.

Why sing hymns specifically?

Because singing should focus our minds on God, we should sing songs rooted in God’s Word, and in general, hymns have rich Scriptural foundations. They express deep truths about God—who He is and what He’s done—and their relevance to our situation. The hymns that have stood the test of time are the best of the best; people from different cultures across many generations have found them to speak profoundly about God throughout the many different joys and sufferings they’ve experienced. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and so a hymn that expresses a truth about His goodness/mercy/etc. will remain relevant even after centuries have passed.

In comparison to modern worship songs, hymns are usually more accessible. They have simpler melodies and rhythms, which helps keep the individual/congregation focus on the text and what it says about God rather than the music or the performers. Additionally, hymns usually have a stronger Scriptural basis and possess a richness of language that reflects the richness of Scripture.

Why study hymns?

A good hymn will be full of Scriptural truths, so studying hymns carefully can enhance our understanding of Scripture and God. Studying hymns also helps us see why we sing those hymns—what are they exactly saying about God, and how does it apply to my situation? Can I sincerely sing these words from my heart? It’s so easy to sing hymns (and any other songs) without really thinking about what they’re saying, and studying helps us overcome the tendency to just sing nice tunes—it brings out nuances of the text that can be easily overlooked.

Alex

Verses Relevant to Singing and This Club

  • Colossians 3:16 - Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
  • Ephesians 5:19 - Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord
  • Hebrews 2:12 - He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.”
  • Psalm 104:33 - I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
  • Psalm 105:2 - Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.

What We Aim to Do

  1. We aim first and foremost to give the Lord the praise due Him and to follow His commandments. Singing God’s praises and truths He has revealed accomplishes both of these goals.
  2. We aim to draw near to God (James 4:8) through worshiping Him and reminding ourselves of His word by singing hymns.
  3. We seek to bless those in the community through singing worshipful and truthful hymns, especially older folks who may have fewer opportunities to be encouraged and are more familiar with the hymns we sing.
  4. We strive to learn some about the heritage of American Christianity by singing and studying the hymns that taught and sustained the saints of this great nation.