New Old Hymns

Lately I've been inspired by some "new" old hymns sung by Sandra McCracken. I should say right now that I'm typically partial to newer, contemporary worship music. When we sing hymns at my church, I usually feel like I'm about to fall asleep. I love the words to most hymns, but don't always give them the praise they're due. Yes, most hymns are old and very traditional. But so are a lot of other traditions that we annually celebrate, like weddings or the lighting of a Christmas tree.

The churches that we label as "mega," like Rick Warren's Saddleback Valley Community Church or Bill Hybel's Willow Creek Community Church, tend to use contemporary, progressive music and media to draw thousands of worshipers each week. The older, traditional churches that paint our national landscape survive with a few handfuls of worshipers. One style isn't right and the other wrong. I'm simply writing to ponder the differences and beauties of both.

At our church, as with many others, we offer multiple styles of worship. Even within our "modern" service, we play newer, Chris-Tomlin-style songs along with newer versions of classic hymns. There's validity to both styles. Many young worshipers want to sing songs that reflect the style of music on their iPod. Many older worshipers want the familiarity and slower pace of religious hymns. Then there's older people that enjoy the progressive worship songs, and younger worshipers who want a return to the deeper theology present in many hymns.

As I've been listening to more hymns lately, I'm reminded again of the beauty of the language as well as the melody. There are distinct rhyming patterns and sentence structures that coordinate with the number of syllables...and though engaging, they can make you feel like you're singing in circles. There are also times that these phrases seem outdated. I think, "Balm in Gilead? What the heck are they talking about; is that even in the Bible?" Then at other times, the songs sound so much more beautiful because of those ancient words, as if we unlocked a capsule from another place and time. And I'll admit, sometimes it really takes singing a song—or hearing a song being sung—that makes the words come to life. Many of my favorite worship songs I love simply because I've sung them in the company of believers. I'm still learning to embrace music that at first seemed too ancient and foreign for my appeal. However, this journey is opening my eyes—and ears—to the many wonderful ways we've created to praise our Creator.

Below are the words to my favorite "new" hymn, "New Wonders." There is also a link if you'd like to listen to it...which I'd obviously recommend.


"New Wonders"
Sandra McCracken

 Link to listen to "New Wonders"

Look again

At the Cross

Where you are found and lost
Make a new song of praise


Fill your cup
At the mouth of the spring
New wonders will we sing
As the Spirit blows the embers of our hearts


Tell a story
Of Jesus Christ
And his promises we write
On the doorway of our house


Hold the mirror
And remember your own face
Brother, do not forfeit grace
As the Savior pleads your pardon with his blood


Look around
Every sparrow, every flower
All creation sings out loud
Of the grand design


You are small
But you are filled with breath and life
If you seek, then you will find
As the Father looks with favor on his child

For the Savior pleads your pardon with his blood

And the Spirit blows the embers of our hearts