Hymns; What Are They And Why Should We Still Sing Them? What Does The Bible Say? Part 1

As a Christian educator using the Charlotte Mason method of teaching, hymns have been part of our family’s monthly rhythms for years. But if you are a younger parent or educator, perhaps less convinced over the purpose or value of hymns, or maybe you think of hymns simply as old, outdated songs, I’d like to take a moment to share a few words in the hopes that I might win you over to seeing their value. I love to encourage families to infuse their ordinary days and family culture with worship, and one simple practice I like to include and encourage is that of singing hymns. In this 2-part message, I will begin first by including some biblical precedent–sharing some of what the Bible says about hymns and worship. In part two, I will share a brief explanation about what even IS a hymn, along with a few unique distinctive qualities and advantages that hymns offer to our life of faith. 

I love that Christians are uniquely known as a “singing  people”, as the Bible actually contains over 400 references to singing. Its longest book, ”Psalms” was originally considered a book of songs. So here are a few brief observations regarding worship, and specifically the inclusion of hymns in our regular worship practices: 

1st, As it says in Romans 11:33-12:1, all that we are—mind, body, and soul, belongs to God (not just our voices and musical choices), so worship includes all aspects of our lives, from what we eat, to our thoughts, our desires, our greatest hopes and dreams, and also to our outward actions. Romans 12:1, says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Here we see that spiritual worship is a whole life, body and mind experience of sacrifice in recognition of God’s mercy. This includes songs of praise, but our goal is to experience a whole life of surrender to Him. So I am not saying that singing hymns is the ultimate in worship, but simply that singing hymns is one expression of worship. 

2nd, Jesus says in John 4:23-24, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” So we see that we are to worship God in spirit and truth and that God is actually seeking those who will worship Him in this way, which I take to mean our worship must be God-focused, it must be genuine and truth-filled (both inwardly genuine in our affections and attitudes, and outwardly truthful in what we are speaking), and then also to be led by the Holy Spirit. 

But the handful of biblical passages that actually specifically mention hymns speak further on this topic: 

1-The first, is from the two gospels–Matthew 23:30 and Mark 14:26 which are stated almost identically saying, “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” 

So we see in these two accounts, that singing a hymn together is what Jesus turned to with his disciples during the last supper–just before he (and they) faced his betrayal at the Mount of Olives, and his execution on the cross. Hymns often buoy the soul for times of suffering. 

2-The second passage comes in ACTS 16:25 where it says, “About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” Here Paul and Silas were encouraging their own hearts with hymns as they faced the trial of prison, and their singing was also in itself a voice of witness to the other onlooking prisoners. 

3-Then in the epistles, in Ephesians 5:18-19, we are instructed to sing hymns. Listen to this: 

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in Psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with  your heart.” So here, along with “psalms” and “spiritual songs” Paul instructs believers to sing heartfelt hymns. 

4-And finally, in Colossians, 3:16, Paul says again, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” So here again, along with the word of Christ, we are told to sing hymns as a form of teaching, and as a form of praise, and we are told to do this with thanksgiving and with one another.

As Christians, we aim for all of our lives to worship God, and to do this both in spirit and in truth. We see that Jesus turned to singing a hymn, and offered a hymn to his disciples before heading to the cross. Paul and Silas sang hymns while in prison for their faith, and we are repeatedly instructed to include hymns in our lives–along with God’s word, psalms, and other spiritual songs.

So now hopefully you see there is biblical precedent for including hymns in our personal, family, or corporate worship. But perhaps you are still wondering WHAT EVEN IS A HYMN?? If you want a clearer answer to that question, please come back to read part two of this series, where I will share further explanation of their unique qualities and the benefits of including hymns in your life of faith!