If you don't go to church, which fewer than half of Americans do each week, would hymns appeal to you? The lyrics are written in formal English, using out-of-date terms, and the melodies are usually slow and accompanied by a somber organ.My take:
I like hymns, but to use them to the exclusion of modern Christian music is like driving an old car cross-country with a "Best of Bee Gees" tape stuck in the eight-track player. It's OK for a little while, but you'll end up bitter.
If you don't go to church, which fewer than half of Americans do each week, would contemporary Christian music appeal to you? The lyrics are written using plain, unpoetic English, using contemporary terms, and the melodies are usually slow, simplistic, and accompanied by one of a few standard three-chord guitar riffs.
I like contemporary music, but to use it to the exclusion of traditional Christian hymns is like driving an old car cross-country to the sound of white noise stuck in the in-dash DVD-CD-MP3-player-with-iPod-attachment. It's OK for a little while, but in the end you'll end up brain dead.
Hang in there, folks! We've almost made it to the weekend!
UPDATE: I want to make sure I'm clear. I like all kinds of music, contemporary and traditional. However, when it comes to selecting church music, the principle criterion should be that it not suck.
MORE: Harsh words about the music of Marty Haugen. I like some of Haugen's stuff, but others folks, well...
EVEN MORE: The Ten-Step Marty Haugen Song Writing Program.
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