sure. why not.

I also like "tags" of old hymns somehow incorporated into modern songs as well. e.g. "God of Wonders"

@silvervknight@xanga - oh, yeah, In Christ Alone is a wonderful hymn too!!! didn't know it was a hymn tho

because i don't usually sing hymns in english at Church, some songs are just favorite worship songs to me and i don't perceive them as hymns.

Although I go to a Non-Denominational church, where we sing more modern music, I still LOVE the "oldies"! My Favorite? "HOW GREAT THOU ART". PEACE!!

@zenichka@xanga - That's cool. Wait... you don't sing songs in English? What language do you speak or sing in?
Oh yea, In Christ Alone was written in 2001, quite new for a hymn (since we usually associate hymns with tradition, liturgy, and the word 'ancient', haha). The song is supposed to be written in the style of a Irish hymn I think.
Because I lead praise at church and people around me have a negative view of hymns, I usually introduce them as just praise songs, lol. I avoid using the word hymn. Some people don't even realize it. haha. Sometimes, songs like "As the Deer" sounds so hymnish anyways. What's the difference?

Anyways, praise God that we are united under Christ and we can sing wonderful, beautiful songs to Him :D Yay!

@naphtali_deer@xanga - well, technicaly Jesus was never just one person, but the combining efforts of Josephus to put 22 different men together into one person, therefore making it seem like tere was just one Jesus. So, really, every single person prayed the hymns because thats what they knew. It's like Chicken Soup for the Soul for them.

Jesus couldn't have been gods son because he was never real to begin with. And why does godet to have sex with humans before he's married to them anyway?

@silvervknight@xanga -  I was going to ask you about your previous comment: "I am the praise leader currently at my church's English ministry, so I don't get too many exposures to hymns even though I love them" and why you didn't do more hymns since you are the praise leader... but then your next message gave more insight into the situation.

It sounds like you are taking a good approach to introducing hymns, and being loving and respectful of the people in your congregation. So very important! You can have musical talent, insight, etc., but if you don't have love....

Some people have negative connotations of things old just because they think church worship is all about what's been happening in the last 5-10 years, but if we take that attitude, there are years and years of tradition we simply dismiss sight unseen/ and hearing unheard (I couldn't think of another way to put that). I'm not saying that just because something is old it is necessarily good since that isn't the case. But when a church goes for all contemporary music, they miss out on a lot. And I would also say that when a church goes for all hymns, they miss out on a lot.

Of course, we do need to be all things to all people and bring the message of Christ to them in a way that is relevant to them without compromising the truth of the message...so we should seek to use any musical style that is God-honoring and lifts up the name of Christ. It's hard to strike a balance but I do think if you give people a taste of good hymns done well/arranged well along with some theological explanation/Scripture readings/meaty sermons to go with, they'll come to begin to appreciate them and start asking for more.

Many people have a negative view of hymns due to their connection with cold, dead orthodoxy and liturgy and joyless, bland worship. They've come out of negative church experiences and just want to jettison all that. So many hymns are heart-stirring because they are full of Gospel truth, but they sometimes don't come across that way because of the way in which they're arranged and sung.

@naphtali_deer@xanga - Thanks for the comment and the encouragement :) Even though I don't get to enjoy hymns at congregational worship, personally, I love the richness of hymns. Sometimes, as I'm sitting in front of the computer with cyberhymnal as my friend, words of "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" just "melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away" for me every time I sing to it.

Unfortunately, I'm not a very talented musician. I became Christian in college (almost 5 years now), picked up guitar for the first time soon after, and (small church, workers were few) soon I found myself leading praise. That doesn't stop me from trying to introduce a wide variety of Christian praise songs though. For example, I'm going to introduce "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" this week. Hopefully it'll be well received, but I know it's a song that speaks the truth of God's love and faithfulness regardless of how the people receive it.

I noticed some people, my girlfriend and I included, love and dwell in the richness of the lyrics of the songs while others need the melody that directs them to worship. I can complain all I want about what's important in worship and bust out theological arguments for songs, but ultimately, you put it so well here when you said, "we do need to be all things to all people
and bring the message of Christ to them in a way that is relevant to
them without compromising the truth of the message...so we should seek
to use any musical style that is God-honoring and lifts up the name of
Christ." That reminds me. I think Sovereign Grace Ministry does a great job striking the balance with their songs.

Anyways, all this is to say "thanks!" I just want to affirm your encouragement and let you know that your comment is very much appreciated and enjoyed by me, heh :)

@zenichka@xanga - Amen :) It's awesome to hear from a fellow sister in Christ from across the globe. Does the whole Russia-Georgia conflict bother you guys over there in Ukraine?
And I guess English is also taught and spoken there too?

lovelovelove them. :] and new songs. i don't see why everyone has to make it such an either-or deal.

oh, some of my tops are "it is well", "be thou my vision", "come thou fount"..and lots of lesser-known ones as well..

First, is the Doxology, then I have a difficult time picking my favorites. All is well with my Soul is one, What a Friend we have in Jesus.  too many to list.

I love praise Choruses.  It is definitely calming to me.

I LOVE hymns. They are my favorite type of music.
A couple of the reasons I love them is because they say so much and contain so much of the gospel in them.
Some of my favorites are:

Be Still My Soul
What a Friend we have in Jesus
Rock of Ages
I Need Thee Every Hour
Doxology
Just as I Am
I'm A Pilgrim and I'm a Stranger
A Child of the King
Jesus Loves Me
O Sacred Head Now Wounded
Jesus Lover of My Soul
The Hour in Gethsemane
Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross
Joy to the World
Away in a Manger
Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us
......and I could go on........