I love hymns. Yes, hymns. Those beautiful pieces of music full of melody, verse and theology.
Recently, I was at a church service at the senior citizen center where I live. We were using a 1991 Baptist Hymnal.
We sang hymn after hymn a cappella. And we did not need the hymnal except for the third verse. Did Baptists ever sing the third verse of any hymn except “Just As I Am?”
As we sang, coming there from different churches, we bonded together as fellow Christians. How many memories “flooded my soul?”
In a world filled with so much noise, what a blessing it is to sing these great hymns of our faith and really listen to the words.
Reviving hymnal interest
As a child I remember singing “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” The second verse talks about raising my Ebenezer. What in the world is that? Fortunately, the scriptures tell me (1 Samuel 7:12).
“Blessed Be the Name” is right out of Philippians 2:9. “Love Divine All Loves Excelling” is based on 1 John 4:16. Over and over, we find theology in these hymns coming right out of God’s word.
What can we do to revive interest in these great musical testimonies? How can we be sure the scores of great hymns are not lost on upcoming generations?
I would suggest having at least one hymn at every worship service. Worship leaders might be surprised to see smiles on the faces of those 60 and above. Are we trying to convince young people? Of course. Are we trying to inspire older people? I hope so.
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Training in hymns
Baptists always have been singing people. Many of us grew up singing in graded children’s choirs. Then youth choirs. Sometimes youth mission choirs.
Where is the training ground for adult choirs today? Do we have adult choirs who sing the great hymns of faith? I remember when adult choir specials would try to match the sermon topic for the day. Music helps us to remember.
Hymns are about Jesus, from “Away in a Manger” to “He Leadeth Me,” from “Faith Is the Victory” to “I Love to Tell the Story,” from “Footsteps of Jesus” to “ Higher Ground,” and of course, “When We All Get to Heaven.”
These hymns and hundreds of others tell the story of our salvation. I love hymns.
Patsy Williams Davis is a charter member of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, where she “memorized the pages numbers” of the hymns in the Baptist Hymnal.
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