How often does the church you attend sing a traditional hymn or vintage gospel song during services?

SI surprises me in many ways. I am surprised by both the changes I see and the changes I don’t see,

In this poll, I would like to see how the churches we attend view the types of songs we sing as a congregation. This is a bit tricky.

For example, does a Getty song count as a “traditional hymn or vintage Gospel song?” No. This poll is not so much about style or meaning as it is about the use of the traditional hymns and gospel songs.

I personally prefer a blend of the old and new. Although I have long advocated contemporary choruses, I have not wanted to completely displace the old hymns and gospel songs. Some of those hymns and songs are second only to Scripture in helping people get through rough times.

“His Eye is on the Sparrow,” “It Is Well With My Soul,” “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” or “What A Friend We Have in Jesus” are not doctrinally deep, but they can be comforting in ways that newer choruses are not.

What are your thoughts?

[Andrew K.]

[Ed Vasicek]

SI surprises me in many ways. I am surprised by both the changes I see and the changes I don’t see,

In this poll, I would like to see how the churches we attend view the types of songs we sing as a congregation. This is a bit tricky.

For example, does a Getty song count as a “traditional hymn or vintage Gospel song?” No. This poll is not so much about style or meaning as it is about the use of the traditional hymns and gospel songs.

I personally prefer a blend of the old and new. Although I have long advocated contemporary choruses, I have not wanted to completely displace the old hymns and gospel songs. Some of those hymns and songs are second only to Scripture in helping people get through rough times.

“His Eye is on the Sparrow,” “It Is Well With My Soul,” “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” or “What A Friend We Have in Jesus” are not doctrinally deep, but they can be comforting in ways that newer choruses are not.

What are your thoughts?

Hard to complain about a song not being deep when the lyrics are so Scriptural:
““Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father, (Lamentations)
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.” (James)
Thou changest not (James)
Thy compassions they fail not (Psalm 136)

…and so on. :)

Most songs, including the newest and shallowest, have a Scriptural basis, whether it be “God is Good” or “Mighty is Our God.” But there is a difference between a correlation with a Scriptural truth and doctrinal depth. For example, “Holy, Holy, Holy” could be a shallow hymn if that’s all it addressed. But when you bring in “God in Thee Persons, Blessed Trinity,” it gains depth. Actually there is a lot of theology in that one (including man’s sinfulness). In contrast, songs that just sing “Holy is the Lord” and nothing else are in line with Scripture, true, doctrinally correct but shallow. At least that is my view. And I am not against some shallow songs that make an important point, as long as it is not one shallow song after another (or seemingly endless repetition). We need to be delivered all the way around from the “more is always better” philosophy, no matter what we do.