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2 Comments

  1. Roy Hartzler
    29 July 2014 @ 11:47 pm

    I hate it when some hymnbook editor decides to change the words of some of our great hymns. Totally disgusting. And while being on the subject of music, I don’t think much of bringing the modern jungle beat music into church, either. It’s getting harder and harder to find churches that stick with good music.

    • rcottrill
      30 July 2014 @ 7:27 am

      H-m-m… Yes, I agree in general with your comments, though you perhaps state them a little more strongly than I would. It is definitely unfortunate that many churches have largely forsaken the treasury of hymns and gospel songs from the past. The congregations are poorer as a result.

      Editors change the wording of old hymns for a number of reasons. Occasionally it is because the original says something that is doctrinally questionable. Other times, it is an attempt to modernize the language. The examples cited in the above hymn seem to be intended to remove references to the blood of Christ (which God’s Word says is “precious,” I Pet. 1:18-19). How sad! In most cases, I’ve convinced the words are better left as they are.

      As to music styles, to insist that we must have music that is excessively loud, or punctuated by a dominant and incessant drum beat–that style may belong in a nightclub, but I’m convinced it should have no place in a church. Instead of the church being a force for God in the world, too often the standards of the world have been welcomed into the church.