Despite being in my mid 20s, for years I have been keenly aware that my actions, affections, and ailments point to something quite different, old age. Even now I am aware of it as my back hurts and my reading glasses sit on the table next to me. Perhaps my preference for the simple adds to the diagnosis, I like my coffee black, my ice cream vanilla, and my books in physical form. But the most distinct of all of the indicators is my love for hymns, new worship songs always leave something behind, or portray faith as wanting to be romantically involved with Jesus.

Hymns do not try to be clever and  care more for words than melodies. Praise comes through deep-seated theology that joins with the saints in the proclamation of who God is. I am not saying we should do away with new songs, Scripture is clear we are to sing new songs unto the Lord. I only hope that our new songs will continue the tradition that we have been given and that songs would sound less like a rock show and more like the great hymns that have been given to us.

A few years ago I was on a tour of Israel and Jordan, we spent Sunday morning at a church in Amman, the song leader got up and invited everyone to join him in song, some sang Arabic, the men behind me sang in Polish, and my friend next to me sang in  Korean. We joined together praising in many tongues:

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!