Singing Through Clinched Teeth Is Very Difficult

[Nelson Bradford]

Twice now, within the past six weeks or so, we’ve attended the “hymn sings” at our local church and it’s been good - singing the old hymns from the Nazarene hymnal.

During those two hours of singing - for each time it’s been a one-hour session - we’ve sung some of my very FAV hymns. “My Jesus I Love Thee.” “Wonderful Grace of Jesus” “Glorious Freedom” and “There is a Fountain” to list a few. I think we must have sung 20-25 hymns this past Friday night, alone.

But, my friends, as much as I enjoy singing the old hymns of the church, I’m finding it very difficult to sing with my teeth clinched together.

Lemme explain, may I?

I’m sure you’re wondering what I’m talking about.

Don’t worry. I wonder myself, quite often.

I’m not really sure who is responsible for these hymn sings but we’ve heard some quite loud voices proclaiming their distaste for most of the music at church these days. They’d rather not have any of the contemporary praise choruses, no “words on the wall” and use the hymnals only, thank you very much.

We’ve also heard these hymn sings promoted - with attendance almost a “command performance” - and I’m “saying” this carefully, but the announcements of these sings are almost said with the hidden message, “We’ll show them! They won’t sing ‘our’ songs during our Sunday morning worship services, so we’ll have our own service and that’s all we’ll do - and we’ll sing the hymns of the church!”

And I can almost see their teeth clinched together in disgust and determination.

Do I enjoy the singing of the old hymns of our beloved Zion?

Of course I do, you already knew that. Good grief! That’s what I’ve been posting here for close to four years.

But do I appreciate the very obvious attitude and motivation behind those hymn sings.

No.

And you knew that also, didn’t you?

So what is the answer?

I do not know.

I suppose there’ll be another hymn sing some day, perhaps after the 1st of the year, and it’ll probably be pretty well attended, like the other two, but will we go?

I am not sure.

For I find it very difficult to sing with my teeth clinched together.

-neb

ps - Isn’t God good?!

[Alisa Stoll]

And I thought your teeth were clinched because of Michigan's defeat at the hands of my beloved buckeyes

[Nelson Bradford]

Well, that, also!
:)

[Brad Mercer]

In my own view, it doesn't matter what problem is under discussion, the solution is always more love.

Brad

[Ian Gentles]

My own view of much of modern church music is, its lacking in theology, often over sentimental, and often lacking a good tune!

[Judy Hamilton]

Hi Nelson

i along with other Naznetters enjoyed tremendously worship last Sunday withsome of our very dear SNU-BNC classmates, We worshipped with the inner city Nazarene Church in OKC. The praise and worship was mixed with hymns and chorouses (posted to read)

and with each song, be it a Hymn or a contemporary chorous or song...this daughter of the Most High God..melted into falling in love all over with the Lover of my soul...and my heart was/is wide open to give and recieve

thanks for the post...i am thankful that my jaw is not dead set against whatever melodies flow during the songs of the worship service

Judy

[Christine Kelly]

Hi Nelson! We do the "hymn sings" every Sunday evening during the prayer service. We are a blended Sunday morning worship, but we do the old hymns every Sunday night.
The movement of the younger generation is different in worship, music, and style, but the message is the same. I think that if we are reaching those through new songs and worship styles, then the Spirit is definitely working in us.
I believe that there are times for the hymns, but the new worship styles and songs can touch someone the way that the hymns cannot. Anyway, it is and will be a never ending difference in the church.
Christine

[BobHunt]

One of the things that attracted us to the COTN was the choruses they sang. But every once in a while, maybe once or twice a year, they would have a Sunday night hymn sing. That was special too! Then each Sunday they would weave in a hymn, maybe if it was only a couple verses or so.

[Marsha Lynn]

Interesting, Nelson. I appreciate your perspective.

My daughter went to the first hymn sing after she started at Olivet. She loved it. It brought home to her. I know this because I read it on her blog (http://sonjoylyn.blogspot.com/2005/09/victory-in-jesus-old-rugged-cross.html) . You might enjoy reading her comments as she compares it to her "small, dysfunctional," home church. :basic01

After giving it some consideration, I decided not to disown her. This is sort of like the children of the draft-card-burning hippy generation joining the military.

:p

Marsha

I suppose there’ll be another hymn sing some day, perhaps after the 1st of the year, and it’ll probably be pretty well attended, like the other two, but will we go?

I am not sure.

For I find it very difficult to sing with my teeth clinched together.

-neb

ps - Isn’t God good?!

[Nelson Bradford]

VERY interesting reading, Marsha.
Thanx for the link.
I wonder if she was there Friday.
-neb

[Barbara Moulton]

I guess one nice thing about having a church where many of the newcomers are new to church period...you can sing hymns and worship songs and its all "new" to them.

On Sunday we sang Showers of Blessing, More About Jesus and Take Time to Be Holy.

We also sang, I want to see Jesus Lifted High, Father I adore you (in round), Lamb of God, Better is One Day and Holy Ground.

I would say it was a very balanced mix of old and new...and very typical of our Sunday morning service.

[Cindi Hammons]

If I am understanding you correctly, others were singing through clenched teeth. I would say that if they are "clenching their teeth" and singing with a defiant spirit (See? That'll teach 'em!), then there is some "heart" work that needs to be worked on.

What I am seeing in the church out of some of the older people disappoints me horribly. Growing up, I would have never dreamed that we would be seeing this phenomenon across the church...old vs. new, elders vs. youngers. It is heartbreaking.

One elder in our church, who is very vocal about how she hates "our" music (which is very blended with no praise band or praise team), testified yesterday about a chorus that just really spoke to her. The chorus she was so touched about was written in the 1950's. My question is this...what is it that makes "new" songs from the 50's more Holy than "new" songs from today? Any why are some people's minds so blinded? I will add this, it is not all elders in this situation, and some elders at our church just love the new songs...so maybe it is a mind-set and not age. Although it does seem to tend more towards the older group. My Mom and Dad go to a church with a wonderful music program complete with praise team and band. This band can really rock and roll. I won't tell you my Dad's age because he would shoot me, but, I'll tell you that they really enjoy the music at that church.

So, why do we have to fight about something so insignificant when you look at the whole scheme of things? Nelson, I'm glad that you always have such a good attitude...well, except for that Michigan thing! Ha!

Cindi H.

[Belinda Y. Edwards]

Well- these days i look at things a bit differently. It isn't music. It isn't old vs young - it is the enemy of faith out to cause discention and division.

If your church doesn't have an issue in this department - the enemy of faith will seek until he finds an issue.

The church needs to be on guard for the one who seeks to destory.

The *issues* are just smoke screens.

my thought - - at a time when i am procrastinating digging in the books today.

[Nelson Bradford]

Thank you for your responses, one and all. Lemme add that I have not personally attempted to sing with my teeth clinched together, nor have I seen anyone else attempting it.

I was simply attempting (and perhaps failing) to describe what I sensed going on in our church. . . a church that runs 1500-1700 per Sunday. . . in two locations.

Any church that size is going to have a great diversity of opinions and at times even strong (and holy) differences. And as a matter of fact, I've been quite active in a number of churches considerably smaller that exhibited those fine qualities.

And none of them were perfect.

For I was a member.

Nelson

ps - Isn't God good?!

[John Kennedy]

Nelson -
Your post leaves me with a lot of questions.

How do you know for certain the motivation of the persons sponsoring the hymn sings? Is it possible that they recognize that a familiar hymnody may play a vital role in the devotional lives of those who prefer the traditional hymns? Is it possible that they may be trying to provide a way of keeping those old hymns alive in the hearts of people so that when the novelty of some of the contemporary wears off, they aren't lost?

Is it possible that the decision to junk the old in favor of the new doesn't really reflect the concensus of the congregation - that the matter was simply decided and implemented by one or a few acting on their own individual agenda or vision without any consideration of the opinions or feelings of others. Railroadig is still railroading whether or not it's done in the name of the Lord.

This isn't a uniquely Nazarene situation. It's a pretty ecumenical thing. I think we're gonna' get down the road a ways and discover we've jettisoned some things we'll wish we'd kept.
I'm not at all sure we've done new or younger Christians any favors by willy-nilly tossing out a large part of the content of our spiritual development.
I'm not at all sure all the young necessarily want to scrap everything that's old. My son is a Christian rock fan - the kind of music guaranteeed to take the paint off the walls - but he also loves the songs and hymns that have been part of our offering of praise through the centuries. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A GENERATIONAL THING!

Having been in a number of these transitional and change situations, I can assure you that the forces of tradition don't have anything remotely approaching a monopoly on mean-spiritedness. Lovelessness is an equal-opportunity employer.

I get more than a bit weary of the incessant portrayal of the righteous forces of innovation arrayed against the stodgy, visionless defenders of tradition. I really doubt that God is partial to either side. The God who repeatedly spoke of making all things new was also the one who kept saying "remember". I think God is the Lord both of tradition and of innovation and will, if we let him, use both for our good and His glory.

I worked for several years in a music/worship leadership position where we moved from a strictly hymn-based music content to a blended one - some traditional, some contemporary. Funniest thing, the oldsters enthusiastically accepted the contemporary additions. They felt their offering of praise was enriched. The relentless 'throw-out-the-hymnal, deep-six the organ' crowd wouldn[t settle for that - it was a 'my way or the highway' situation - all contemporary or nothing.

The other question I have is, if you feel that way about it, why do you go? I hope that quesion doesn't come across as sounding unkind. I don't think there's anything more miserable on earth than going to a church service where you don't experience a resonance with what's going on. Attempting to sing through clenched teeth comes too close to a hell-on-earth situation. The punishment may not be eternal, but it lasts long enough.

About 10 years ago I made the decision that I would find a church with which I was a better temperamental and emotional fit. I realize everyone isn't like me, the way I prefer to worship reflects the kind of person I consider myself to be. Others need to worship within a setting that fits them - I need to worship within a setting that fits me. And it works.

When I find myself on Sunday morning waiting with the choir to begin the processional that opens worship I can affirm "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord."

After a week in a random and sometimes chaotic world I feel like i've returned fom a journey and I'm back home again. And I realize agiain there's a good reason why they call the room in which we conduct corporate worship a sanctuary. It certainly is!

Some of us gravitate toward pipe organs, some toward percussion. Some do better at the Presbyterian end of things, others thrive Pentecostally - I don't think God cares much either way - that is, until we try to be what we're not. I feel like i'm in the right place - I"m always glad I came and really do look forward to the next time.

I've really appreciated your posting of the hymns and songs. I'm sure being reminded of the way we sing our faith has been a blessing to many. If the Spirit moves you, go to the hymn sing - but more importantly, try to get those teeth unclenched - the praises of Zion deserve no less than fully opened mouths.

God love ya'
John Kennedy