Thy Name We Praise

One of the most controversial elements of the modern church centers around what the congregation will sing.  Instead of concentrating on the teaching of God’s word or the sanctity of Christ’s church, we are lost in an argument over what shall we sing next.  Some people point to the clear scriptural teaching that we should sing a “new song” while others insist on the equally scriptural admonition that we walk in the “ancient paths”.  Even Solomon could not unravel this one. 

It is a simple fact that the church has been singing a new song since its inception.  The history of Christian hymnody traces new musical systems and hymns sung in the church since the second century AD.  In the seventeenth century Isaac Watts stirred things up in a big way by introducing the modern English hymn.  Luther had brought the German church alive a century and a half earlier with his and his associates’ hymns.  All these new hymns met with both a positive and negative response.  Still, we sing both the hymns of Luther and Watts in our churches today because they convey eternal truths about the Triune God, His work, His glory and His praise.  Their work carried on in the spirit of the oldest hymns of Christendom. 

It was the content of the hymns that was enduring.  It was the heartfelt expression of God and of our response to His amazing grace.  This is the essential point on which music for the Church of Jesus Christ will be evaluated by future generations.  What did it do for the glory of God, the praise of His name, His work and His grace?  Such hymns will enrich all believers and can enrich our churches for today and tomorrow. 

One of the earliest known hymns of the Church is quite simple.  It extols God, honors His glory, recognizes the Trinity and calls upon His people to praise Him.  It isn’t sung anymore in our churches, but it is the pattern for all true Christian hymns.  Its simplicity and beauty are timeless.  Here it is, and let us all rejoice to learn this “new” song.

.. Let it be silent       Let the Luminous stars not shine,

Let the winds and all the noisy rivers die down;

And as we hymn the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

Let all the powers add "Amen Amen"

Empire, praise always, and glory to God,

The sole giver of good things, Amen Amen

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You may also find some of my selected daily devotions at http://blog.febc.org/