Praise and Worship Songs


It's been a while since I got myself into any trouble, and I can't stand it any longer. So…I am going to share with you some thoughts concerning the bouncing ball on the big screen, seven-eleven ditties we sing at church.


Let me start by firmly stating I love my church and my minister of music. I love our music program. The only thing I cannot get into are these little un-musical, un-metered, un-rhythmical, un-flowing and un-rememberable song-ites or whatever they are that we sing way too many of each Sunday.


In their defense the lyric is inspiring, and if they were they read like poetry they would have a greater impact. But when you try to sing them the music is awkward. You'll never leave the service humming one.


I have ask a simple question; Why? The stock answer is they attract young people. Since I have spent my entire life in the Gospel/Christian music industry, I must say" not true." A Choir and congregation singing these seven-eleven songs does not attract young people. One could maybe sell the theory they make for a more contemporary service, but that's about as close as one could get to an explanation.


If the church creates or books professional artists or groups of young people who gear their program to the youth market and add them to the service, then yes they will attract young folks; however, these artist will not be singing seven-eleven songs. Their music, style, lyric and instrumentation will be totally different.


Next answer to Why? They tell me the hymns are old. My answer, not anywhere near as old as the Bible. Lord knows I hope we don't have to throw the Bible out to attract young people.


Next answer to Why? I'm told The Praise and Worship lyrics are more up to date and young people enjoy the Praise and Worship lyric themes more than the old hymn lyrics.


So I got out the "old" Red back hymn book and took a look at some lyrics. The Red Book does not have the words Praise and Worship on the cover, but I sure found a lot of Praise and Worship lyrics inside.


Here is some lyrics from the first song I turned to.


"Standing on the promises of Christ my King. Thru eternal ages let His praises ring, Glory in the highest I will shout and sing standing on the promises of God."


"Standing on the promises that cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, by the living word of God I shall pre-vail, standing on the promises of God."


"Standing on the promises I can not fall, listening every moment to the spirit's call, resting in my Savior as my all-in-all standing on the promises of God."


Now unless I can't read or understand what I am reading, I don't see anything in this "Old" hymn but Praise and Worship. Old, Yes. Russell Kelso Carter wrote this song in 1886; however, like the words in the Bible, lyrics taken from and based on Bible teaching is eternal.


Now I don't want to get e-mails accusing me of not caring about reaching our youth. I am not anti-youth. God has very strong words for those who would cause even one of these to stumble.


I have been told we need to be doing anything to get our youth in church.


I have a suggestion. Try doing what my mother and daddy did. Get up, get dressed and take them to church and Sunday school.


Personally I believe the problem is a parenting problem more than a youth problem.


Prov. 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.