Hymns; What Are They And Why Should We Still Sing Them? Part 2
In part 1 of this 2-part series, I shared the biblical precedent for the continued use of hymns. Feel free to head back to read that last post, but in this article I’m moving on to share a clearer definition, explaining specifically what a hymn is—including 4 typical distinctive qualities and benefits that make hymns still valuable for us today.
So what even IS a hymn?
Often people think hymns are just especially old, perhaps slightly dull religious songs. Or we might understandably assume hymns are the songs collected in our hymn books. But actually, neither of those things are true. When a song is written, has nothing to do with whether it is a hymn or not, because actually new hymns are being written all the time. Hymns can be “contemporary”, which is why the comparison or contrasting of “contemporary” worship songs versus “hymns” is not necessarily appropriate. Not only that, but many of the tunes found within our “hymn” books are actually not hymns; often hymn books include other types of worship songs. So what then actually qualifies as a hymn? What’s the distinction? I’d like to clear away some of the confusion on this topic and also show several reasons why specifically singing hymns is a valuable practice for us today. However because music is an art, there are definitely exceptions to what I will share, so these are not hard and fast rules. Not all hymns fit my description perfectly, but I found at least four typical distinct qualities of hymns that are worth understanding:
1-A classic hymn is strophic - which means it has multiple stanzas with the same melody. As a result, hymns are typically fairly simple in form. This provides easy singability for anyone and everyone. A classic hymn then doesn’t have, for example, a bridge or a refrain (though more contemporary hymns or non-traditional hymns may). This simpler format provides for easier singability; they are less complicated to learn or to remember for singing later. In addition, the vocal range from high to low (within a traditional hymn) is typically around just one octave, so it doesn’t ever reach too high or too low. This helps to make hymns singable by the entire congregation and not just a select few amazing singers sharing a performance. They are specifically designed for congregational singing to include and be singable by anyone. Again, if a song goes beyond one octave, it is typically a contemporary hymn rather than a traditional hymn. In contrast to this, many worship songs today originally began as pieces written for one very particularly talented voice, or for a specific professional musical group to sing before an audience. Those popular songs then work their way into our church services later in time. Most people today often first encounter worship songs and music through some type of recording as for example on Spotify, rather than through sheet music like a hymnal. So we often sing songs in worship settings from pieces we have already heard, (often multiple times) through previous listening. This can be extremely helpful in learning the piece since we often already know it from listening, but we are not necessarily able to sing its entire range or vocal complexity well. In other words, they weren’t designed for an entire congregation from the start, so they aren’t necessarily singable by just anyone the way hymns are. So before you toss out those old hymns, thinking they are dull or too simplistic, I encourage you to take a closer look to see the beauty and purpose in the song’s simplicity. Though classic hymns keep a simple rhythm and musical framework, they find their complexity not so much in the elaborate music, but in the deeper truths being shared and through the listed harmony parts. Hymnal song pages usually include different parts (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass) within the sheet music; this is provided for those of various voice ranges who are able to add in harmonizing parts for complexity and beauty, but this is totally optional. In contrast, contemporary worship songs (which are not hymns) usually have much less emphasis on harmony, with more complex melodies, and simpler, often repeated truths or phrases. They typically develop interest in a more complicated rhythm. This can be a beautiful expression of worship as well, but it becomes a challenge when only a few people are able to actually sing the entire song well. This also becomes an issue I think when people in the congregation simply quit trying to sing the songs, since they (often the deeper-voiced men) just can’t match the tune or vocal range, and instead un-engage with the singing, and sit back to listen merely as a spectator.
2-The lyrical content or words of a hymn are typically first written as a poem that is significant in its doctrine and is theocentric. This simply means they are based on deeper biblical truths, they are God-centered, and focused on praise or thanksgiving of or to God. The word “hymn” comes from a Greek word (“hymnos”) which literally means “song of praise”. But now you might say, “Aren’t all worship songs God-centered and biblical songs of praise?” And the answer is, not necessarily. Hymns are more often directed to or about God rather than self-reflective, me-centered or about any one person’s unique personal experience with God. Hymns more simply share praise or thanksgiving either spoken directly to God or proclaimed in the song about God—His wonderful character or actions based on truths we ALL can or do share. This upward focus often actually helps to refresh us better by helping us to see ourselves and our situations in the right perspective. Obviously there is room for a variety of musical topics and genres, but the further we get from focusing on God in worship, I think the further we are from our greatest joy in worship. Hymns provide a beautiful and often deeply theological perspective in their messages. In contrast, more contemporary songs share often simpler, more self-focused and repeated phrases. A recent example of this is Hillsong’s song, “Who You Say I Am”. The second two-thirds of the song helps to exemplify this.
“I am chosen, not forsaken
I am who You say I am
You are for me, not against me
I am who You say I am
I am chosen, not forsaken
I am who You say I am
You are for me, not against me
I am who You say I am
I am who You say I am
Who the Son sets free
Oh is free indeed
I'm a child of God, yes, I am
In my Father's house
There's a place for me
I'm a child of God, yes, I am
In my Father's house
There's a place for me
I'm a child of God, yes, I am
I am chosen, not forsaken
I am who You say I am
You are for me, not against me
I am who You say I am
I am chosen, not forsaken
I am who You say I am
You are for me, not against me
I am who You say I am
I am chosen, not forsaken
I am who You say I am
You are for me, not against me
I am who You say I am
Oh I am who You say I am
Yes, I am who you say I am
Who the Son sets free
Oh is free indeed
I'm a child of God, yes, I am
In my Father's house
There's a place for me
I'm a child of God, yes, I am”
(Source: Musixmatch Songwriters: Reuben Timothy Morgan / Benjamin David Fielding
Who You Say I Am lyrics © Hillsong Publishing, Hillsong Music Publishing Australia)
Many people love this song, as it drives home an important point, but its focus and repeated emphasis on I or me is strong. It may be an appropriate song to sing or listen to if you are struggling with knowing your image-bearing worth or identity in Christ, or to encourage a congregation in this truth, but in contrast with hymns, it is much more self-focused in its posture and exemplifies this repetition of simpler phrases. Personally, I wish a few of those “I am who you say I am” phrases were turned around to say “You are who You say You are”.
Of course, hymns can certainly be poorly written or musically dull, so they can have their weaknesses, but hymns tend typically to have less repetition and provide deeper, god-ward, biblical truths. My hymnal actually lists a related biblical passage at the top of each hymn, broadening the depth and richness of the piece.
Singing a hymn can be like sharing another sermon, yet spoken through song—and sometimes, as when we sing together in a church service, this message is not just spoken by one person, like a pastor or worship leader, but by the whole congregation, which of course carries another dimension of powerful encouragement to my soul, when I can hear those surrounding voices joining in singing their truths.
I often encourage singing all of the stanzas of a hymn, because there is usually a significant message within the song’s lyrics, and if you only sing the first and fourth stanzas for example, you may have just eliminated the middle of the message, sort of like only listening to the beginning and ending of a sermon. This isn’t necessarily always true, but something to notice when you are deciding how much of a particular hymn to sing, ask yourself, “If I cut off some stanzas, will I lose important pieces of the song’s message?”
3-Hymns rely on the collective voices of the congregation with little to no emphasis on instruments and technology. Because of this, hymns can be sung without depending on the presence of a specific set of instruments, setting, or technological assistance, but simply on the singer’s voices to carry the tune. They can be sung at home, in the car, in the middle of the night, or in a small group of completely unmusical individuals. Instruments and complex rhythms and technology are wonderful tools for expressing worship, and can be added to hymns, but there is also something particularly wonderful about simply hearing the pure collective voices of those around us singing in worship to God together. Often when we worship with contemporary music including lots of technology and loud instruments, the sound of the worshiper’s voices is drowned out by the drums, guitars, and sound systems and we aren’t even able to hear and enjoy our collective voices rising to God together. God calls us to join together to be with others in worship for a reason. I certainly do enjoy moments of introspective contemplation and personal communion with God in worship. However, even more, I appreciate it when I am not artificially isolated in my seat at a larger worship gathering by technology, loud instruments, and dimmed lights. I love when I can see and hear voices of the full congregation surrounding me and collectively reminding me that I am part of something larger than myself. I am encouraged by the faith and voices of those all around me spurring me on to faithful living and trusting Jesus, and not just the few faces and voices of those on the front stage.
4- Hymns are meant to share timeless truths and tunes - to span the generations beyond the come-and-go songs of our current cultural moment. It is a unifying and beautiful thing when I can know, love, and sing the same classic songs alongside my parents and grandparents, as well as with my children and grandchildren.
It encourages me and is a powerful thing to know the same songs that were written and sung long ago (even hundreds and hundreds of years ago) by trusting and persevering saints, are still ministering to me today. For example, “Joy To The World”, (which is based on Psalm 98), was written by Isaac Watts in 1719 and is being regularly sung now, over 400 years later. “Amazing Grace”, by John Newton, was written in 1779, and the words to the beloved Irish hymn “Be Thou My Vision” were written some time between the 6th and 8th centuries! I am a part of an enduring faith.
There was a time during the pandemic, when my missional community gathered for a brief, spontaneous overnight retreat. We had all been struggling for weeks with the imposed pandemic isolation, and gathering like this was such a gift. Hungry for fellowship and collective worship, we took time on one of our days together to hike over to a small chapel on the retreat grounds. We spread throughout that tiny arched sanctuary and spontaneously sang a cappella songs of worship with no microphones, no instruments, no worship leaders, not even a song sheet. And yet it was one of the most beautiful experiences of worship which I will never forget. What would you have sung at that moment? Would we have been able to belt out a worship song, with various aged members, and all know the same words and tune? The songs of praise that focus on God drew us most. We sang the tunes we could remember from years and years of singing them together. Often, it was the hymns. When trouble comes—as in Jesus’ life and Paul and Silas’, we need songs of depth to minister to us and remind us of God’s sovereign power and goodness. What songs do you reach for when you are feeling troubled? We must reach for God’s word, but also songs infused with truth from His word are a great comfort and encouragement. I love contemporary music and all sorts of spiritual songs written and played and sung in our current culture. But the ability of various generations to sing the same familiar songs and hymns from memory is a precious experience and something that used to be common within the church—not to mention, hymns especially minister to our beloved older brothers and sisters in Christ. But like the gospel, this knowledge and ability can be lost in one generation if we don’t pass on those truths and songs to the next.
I hope you consider or reconsider the gift of this genre of music, and commit to learning and continuing to sing and share at least some of them in all their beautiful simplicity and depth—in your churches, and your homes and family worship, and in your personal, private communion with God.
Warmly,
Anne