Why are more and more churches abandoning traditional hymns?

Question

I think its terrible. My church just recently sold our betiful organ, threw out the hymmnals and now just sing so called priase chorus'and play modern so called christian music. Those of us who protested this move were told to get with the times. Christians are supposed to be a light in the darkness, not add to the darkness

I wrote about rhe church being a light in the darkness because I feel , as others have already stated in their answers, that not just my church, but many churches are triying to build up their numbers by adopting the ways of the world instead of standing on biblical principles.

Answer 1

It's time for a change. If you want your church to keep growing, you need to make it interesting for the younger generation. They don't want to sit there and sing hymns that are ages old. Just because a church does not sing hymns does not mean they are adding to the darkness. Maybe they are right. It's time to get with the times. If you don't like it, change churches. No use complaining if you aren't willing to change it.

Answer 2

I'm a Catholic, and go to church at the CATHEDRAL so ALL we get is the 'old hymns' ... and I also like some of the newer (and ever-so-slightly more modern) music too ... so to 'hear that' I go sometimes to a different (but still Catholic) chuch to worship sometimes.
You can do the 'same thing' and can even join the 'new church' if you feel EVERTHING IS AS GOOD AS OR BETTER THAN your church is now. Or, you could 'ask around' and if you find 'enough' (even 5 is enough) people who 'agree with' you then you could start a 'Choral group' just to sing the hymns you love (and maybe your preacher will invite your group to sing during a service sometimes), or you can 'petition' the other congregants to 'change the music back' ...
You can also 'just complain' and not be willing to actually DO anything about it ... but what good does that do YOU or ANYONE?

Answer 3

You make an astute point. This trend has been in progress over the past 25 years or so. You may also have noticed that the altars have been removed from many churches...after all, who needs to pray when you can stand and sing choruses for hours? Out with the old and in with the new. Most hymns are prayers set to music and folks don't care to get that deep in the Lord...too close for comfort, perhaps. To actually get closer to God in a personal relationship would challenge the way we live; some can't handle the truth and want no change. So, "church" has devolved for many to an emotional musical exercise class to get that superficial "feel-good" buzz. So sad...and so shallow. The Pastor's annointed message for the hour used to be the entire focal point of each service. All other activities would point to and compliment that message. Not so much, any longer. Many ministers have become fat and lazy in the pulpit, content to stand aside and collect the fruits of the "feel-good". Why feed the flock...when you can just fleece them? Why spend hours in prayerful exegesis of the Holy Scripture to obtain that golden nugget to pass along? That takes far too much work and time away from all the more enjoyable "church activities."
There are still a few good church groups out there that have not sold out to "getting with the times". They still follow Jeremiah 6:16...STOP now, go get your Bible and read this one verse. Then, ask yourself...Where should I go to church? Then, get busy and stop supporting so-called houses of worship that have gotten too far from the throne.

Answer 4

I don't think that singing praise songs is stepping into the darkness. Many in the early church bocked at the introduction of musical instruments in the first place. Some far right churches still see it as a step into the world and away from Christ. I on the other hand welcome everything that brings people to Christ. This isn't to say that the old hymns are out of step with today. I happen to think all music is a prayer to God. I say sing the praise music but give me the quiet worship I get out of the Hymns as well.... Jim

Answer 5

I think it's a matter of choice. I have never known a church to toss out all of the old and just do the new hymns. We have a beautiful organ that's 100+ years old I would surely miss it if someone tossed it out. One one in the church could have salvaged this? I like the new music and I love the old music I don't think either are adding to the darkness, God says to take His word every place there is a need. To speak to some of the people these days you have to speak to them in a language they understand. New gospel
is that voice that reaches many. So sorry about your organ.

Answer 6

I completely agree with you. I'm glad that I go to a church that still uses a traditional hymnal, but I've been to a number of ecumenical services and funerals in other churches where this was a problem. I find so many of the modern "praise lines" to be boring at best and anything but inspirational. I especially dislike it when a church doesn't even give the congregation the music, but just posts the words on a screen. It's like they have an "in group" that anyone new cannot be a part of.

Answer 7

There was a similar uproar when people introduced organs into churches several centuries ago. These great noise machines obliterated the beautiful simplicity of Gregorian chant.

The main reason for change is usually that the old way doesn't work any more. It could be that the people haven't been taught how to appreciate the values of the older music but in any case, it simply doesn't speak to them. It isn't prayer to them but interruption.

One of the distressing aspects of some of the "new" music is its relentless emphasis on "praise", at the expense of the other forms of prayer (petition, contrition and thanksgiving). Praise is actually the most passive form of worship. We require nothing of God and acknowledge nothing of ourselves to God. We simply cheer for God's greatness. It's an indication of the isolation and emotional distance growing in our culture. There's plenty of enthusiastic feeling, but no call to self-examination, spiritual conversion or community service.

But even the old music can become an exercise in emotional nostalgia, an entertainment rather than a challenge to live one's faith beyond the church walls. If the people aren't singing along, either they must be invited and shown how, or the music must change into a form they can respond to. No musical form is "sacred" or profane. It's a matter of what draws people into prayer. If they ARE singing along, you can gradually introduce a variety of forms to expand their understanding.

Answer 8

Fads come and go just like clothing styles do. Many people in the churches now days are younger so they are trying to make their church more appealing. Do I agree?? No. Some churches, like the one I belong to offer 2 services. One in the early morning that is more modern, and the one in the late morning which is traditional.

Answer 9

I, too, prefer the hymns of yore; I don't mind praise/worship music, but I don't like that it has totally displaced the traditional hymns in my church. However, I don't feel that this is some kind of sin, or wickedness, but just a move towards modernity. After all, don't you think that the hymns replaced something that came before them?

Answer 10

It is a shame that people threw away music that people still identify with. for many youth and young people, however, traditional hyms make no sense, or have very little meaning. They are too frilly, without enough depth. If you are so offended by this, maybe you should switch churches. Also it doesn't make sense to me that you said "Christians are supposed to be a light in the darkness, not add to the darkness" This is true, but completely irrelevent to the question of "traditional" or "contemporary" music. Traditional music was quite contemporary at one time, and contemporary music still uses God's word and many verses from the Bible in their lyrics. So, I personally don't understand the big issue of this.