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NASB | John 12:32 "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 12:32 "And I, if and when I am lifted up from the earth [on the cross], will draw all people to Myself [Gentiles, as well as Jews]." |
Bible Question (short): Where have all the old songs gone? |
Question (full): I hesitate to return to this subject. I understand that there is some problem among Christians about the music being used in church. I imagine there are threads on this forum discussing this issue. I have not looked at them. However, I have spent the last several days listening to the modern music on the radio. I confess that I feel the same, that the majority of these songs are shallow. I can understand that these people, I guess they are young people, enjoy listening to these songs. It is my understanding that non-believers also enjoy them. The emotion in the voices seems to indicate that the singers feel something, and I can imagine that the listeners do as well. I have one question. Why do these stations play all of the new songs and none of the old songs? I have noticed that some stations specialize in the old songs. Yet some of the new songs graduate to their play list. I want to say that this makes sense. They listen to the songs very carefully and finally choose them, not as a group but one by one. I imagine that the words, the tunes, the beats, the lifestyles of the authors all play a part. It’s like a canon of songs being established. Let them first be proved. Test all things, hold on to that which is good. I do not see anyone being against the new songs as such. But why are some discarding all the old songs? I employ singing in my counseling and I have many song books in my offices. But I find that the young people do not know the songs in any of the hymnbooks. It seems to me that if the older folk are willing to sing some of the new songs, the young people should be singing some of the old songs. Can it be that they don’t find them to be meaningful? I hesitate to name songs here, but the old songs cover a wide spectrum, from classical Bach and Handel types to Southern gospel bluegrass types. There are songs among them that have brought tears to our eyes and weakness to our knees. The modern songs generally lift us to our feet, and bring us to rejoicing. Is it that the young people do not feel the need to cry or to kneel? I am aware that there are some among us who believe only the 150 psalms should be sung. Are there also some who believe that only the modern songs should be sung? I visit many churches. The ones with hymnbooks sing a few of the new songs. The ones with the projectors and no hymnbooks sing none of the old songs. Please, please, please, please. Think with me and wonder why. I am not saying that all our songs have to be deep. We have always had choruses for the children, and we have sung with them. But for some of our churches I wonder where growth and maturity is reflected in the songs we sing. This is not meant to spark any debate. It is not a matter of right and wrong. But there has been a shift, it seems, and a change is taking place, and part of it is reflected in they songs we sing. |