- 111, Pickhurst Lane
- Hayes
- Bromley
- KENT
- BR2 7HU
Minister's LetterDear Friends,
I was very struck by Teresa’s comments in the May newsletter about the words of some of our favourite hymns, and how they can be as meaningful as what is said in the sermon. I also think that the marriage of words and music can form one of the most uplifting experiences as we worship God Sunday by Sunday.
Sadly, in some churches (though not, I believe, in Hayes Free Church) music – and words – can be a divisive area. In the past, issues of doctrine divided Christians; but today music can be a cause of discord. For some, traditional hymnody is like a distant planet, unexplored and presumed barren. For others, modern choruses are anathema, representing froth rather than substance, superficial emotion rather than faith rooted in history. I would suggest that the polarisation that can develop around this is wrong.
Of course, we all have our own tastes and preferences in words and music, but is one inherently better than another? Some songs may be linguistically more polished than others and some tunes may be catchier, but as far as God is concerned that counts for nothing. What matters is the sincerity with which we sing, and whether our lives measure up to our words.
Consider Psalm 95 verse 1 and 2:
“Come let us sing for joy to the Lord,
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song”
As the Psalmist reminds us, our songs are sung not for our own benefit but as an offering of worship to God. Whether it is a hymn or a chorus, a chant or an anthem, what matters is that we sing to the Lord. Without that, our songs are meaningless.
I would like to finish on a personal note. As you know, I lead worship on the first Sunday of each month. This means that I choose all the hymns, and sometimes that makes me feel uncomfortable. If any of you would like to request a personal favourite at any time, please let me know and I will do my best to include it.