Hymns to Him

Can you imagine a worship service without music? That "joyful noise" has been a part of praise and worship forever. It is the elevator that lifts the heart and spirit. Ironically, hymns are a direct avenue to Him. When we raise our voices in grateful praise on Sunday the cacophony of song lifted heavenward must be deafening. It is the songs of praise that lifts our spirits and directs them to Him.

Mainstream churches have raised that elevator with guitars, drums, brass instruments and jumbo trons. You can look to Heaven and open your voices and never look down as the words of the song appear on the screen. Perhaps by so doing our voices are directed upward and the intensity of our praise is amplified in keeping with the musical instruments on stage or the altar if you prefer. We are so used to staring at "screens" all day that it's only natural that praise and worship screens are the order of the day. I attended a church recently that had no hymnals. Incidentally there were no book racks on the pews, no pencils, no paper, no prayer request cards. The rustling of pages to find the hymn was gone. The occasional thud of a hymnal hitting the floor was gone.
Don't worry there's plenty of those "old-time religion" churches left so the choice as always is yours. You can still hold a tattered old Sacred Harp or shaped note hymn book if you wish. You can still sing praises in the shower if you wish. God just wants you there, In the Garden or at the foot of The Old Rugged Cross as He gives you his Blessed Assurance that you are Leaning on His Everlasting Arms as He calls you Softly and Tenderly to tell the old, old story...