Importance Of Hymns In The Chu Term paper
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Importance of hymns in the Church
The Importance of Hymns in the Congregational Church " Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." Colossians 3:16 (NIV) The Congregational Church is not a new religion in the United States today. This early denomination dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries, a time in which England was involved in a revolt against the Established Church. This congregational way held new principles and views than the beliefs of the English church, many so radical that the followers were called Independents or Separatists. I have been raised in the Congregational Church, and it is truly a wonderful opportunity for me to describe here the practices and beliefs of the place where my faith was nurtured, and also incorporate the significance that hymns have played in my worship experiences. The central understanding in Congregationalism is that each local congregation is self-governing, which necessitates the full autonomy of the local congregation in matters of faith and doctrine as well as in other matters of governance. It acknowledges no authority outside of the local congregation, neither bishop nor presbytery. The Congregational Church is reluctant to give binding authority to creeds, for this is the ground on which they broke free from in early England. Preaching is extremely important, for the Word in Scripture is thought of as the constitutive of the Church. Ministry also derives its authority from the Word, and in my own church is a very vital part of our mission. Baptism and The Lord's Supper are practiced, although there is still an argument present on the baptism of infants. Church meetings, such as my church's Annual Meeting, are key, as all church members have the right and responsibility to participate in decisions. Another significant aspect of the Congregational Church is the singing of hymns in the worship service. Hymns, psalms and spiritual songs all date back to the Bible, and they prove to be a serious part of Congregational worship and reverence of God (Johansson 126). God s people for inspiration, guidance, and expressing praise and devotion to God sang hymns regularly. This premise is confirmed by the more than two hundred references to singing all throughout the Bible, by the Jews, the New Testament Christians and the early church(Ashton 92). In my church we always sing at least two hymns every service, one usually relating to the theme of the sermon. The hymn is concerned first with rational content artistically revealed so that its performance would have an emotional impact based on a concrete objective worth. The hymn's particular balance between reason and emotion makes it unsurpassed as a vehicle for praise, adoration, exhortation, education and narration. Many of us that have been exposed to hymn singing in church have groaned more than once when a is announced. We tend to think that the music and lyrics are so outdated and old-fashioned. These were words that our great- grandparents may have sung, and this fact turns many off. Yet, as part of the Congregational faith, it is important to not focus on how boring the songs are, for we are singing them to God(Syndor 17). The hymn has many spiritual merits that I was not even aware of before I researched for this paper. One of the main reasons that I chose this topic was because I have always been the one to complain in church of the necessity for these ancient songs. As I looked over the values of hymns in my general, I could see where they became incorporated into my own church and its distinct worship service. To begin, hymns allow Christians to express their feelings and ideas. The individual Christian in worship holds converse with his or her Creator and with the rest of the worshipers. Therefore, many complex feelings and ideas are developed in a true worship experience. Personally, a well-known line of Charles Wesley says " O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise" illustrates this point for me. The Christian singing these lines can show a joy in the faith that they have in Christ. Emotions may be better understood and accepted if they are first vocalized in a hymn(Syndor 18). Another way in which hymns are important in the Congregational Church is that through their singing, Christians can tell others what they believe. Many people are attracted to music because of the love and beauty is at the heart of us all. When texts that portray the message of the Gospel are sung with a real emotion, the effect on the listeners is amazing. John Calvin once said in his 1542 psalter: " In truth we know by experience that song has great force and vigor to move and inflame the hearts of men to invoke and praise God with a more vehement and ardent zeal." This statement is very true, and proves that hymns can be a strong witness tool. My cousin Emily from Ottawa once visited my church on a Sunday morning and she was very impressed with the manner and praise in which the hymns were sung. This opened up the doors for me to talk to her about the Gospel. Hymns are not merely old songs that are collecting dust in a pew, but they are alive and active in the Church. Fellowship is a very important aspect of the Congregational church that I have grown up in and hymns can also serve as a means to bind the members in closer association. When a group of Christians sings with energy, thinks and feels the same ideas and emotions during the act of common praise, it becomes evident that each is drawn closer in spirit and brotherhood. Hymns...
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