Old vs New - Worship Music

Digging4Truth · #1 11-30-2011, 11:21 AM

As the music director at our church I like to choose songs that offer praise and worship. I'm not into songs that tell of all the nifty things we're going to get from God as to encite jumping about over how God is or will give us stuff.

This is the reason I use newer songs. The modern songs I use are focused on praising and/or worshipping God.

When I think back on the old hymns of my youth most of them revolve around what good thing I got... I'm going to get etc and I don't consider that to be in the spirit of praise & worship that I seek for in songs.

For instance...

I'll Fly Away... Not really praise IMO. Mostly excited about getting out of here.
Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus... Pffft. No way man.
What a Mighty God We Serve... it's pretty "Praisey"

Victory Is Mine... Oh please. That is all about what is "mine"
Heavens Jubilee... More "gonna get outa here".
It's All In Him... Yeah... that's about Him. I can go for that.

So... I was just wondering what some of you thought about this subject and if any others who work with music use similar criteria.

Also... any older hymns/songs that are praise/worship oriented rather than "look at the cool thing God Did/Is going to do for me" kind of jump around songs would be helpful in me working more of the older songs into our song list.

RandyWayne · #2 11-30-2011, 11:27 AM

I really do not like hymns and hate all the old Penecostal songs we used to sing written on the plastic sheets and sitting on the overhead projector.

But having said that I really had a soft spot for old Imperial songs (especially from the Russ Taff days).

CC1 · #3 11-30-2011, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

I really do not like hymns and hate all the old Penecostal songs we used to sing written on the plastic sheets and sitting on the overhead projector.

But having said that I really had a soft spot for old Imperial songs (especially from the Russ Taff days).

The Imperials was one of my favorite groups through the ages EXCEPT for the Russ Taff days. The guy sings like he has cotton balls stuffed into his cheeks.

AreYouReady? · #4 12-01-2011, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

I really do not like hymns and hate all the old Penecostal songs we used to sing written on the plastic sheets and sitting on the overhead projector.

But having said that I really had a soft spot for old Imperial songs (especially from the Russ Taff days).

Ahh....someone else who likes the Imperials.

My all time favorite is "Praise the Lord". It is an encouraging song when I feel down in the dumps.

RandyWayne · #5 12-01-2011, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

Ahh....someone else who likes the Imperials.

My all time favorite is "Praise the Lord". It is an encouraging song when I feel down in the dumps.

I love that song, but it is only the Imperials version that I like.

Dagwood · #6 11-30-2011, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

As the music director at our church I like to choose songs that offer praise and worship. I'm not into songs that tell of all the nifty things we're going to get from God as to encite jumping about over how God is or will give us stuff.

This is the reason I use newer songs. The modern songs I use are focused on praising and/or worshipping God.

When I think back on the old hymns of my youth most of them revolve around what good thing I got... I'm going to get etc and I don't consider that to be in the spirit of praise & worship that I seek for in songs.

For instance...

I'll Fly Away... Not really praise IMO. Mostly excited about getting out of here.
Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus... Pffft. No way man.
What a Mighty God We Serve... it's pretty "Praisey"

Victory Is Mine... Oh please. That is all about what is "mine"
Heavens Jubilee... More "gonna get outa here".
It's All In Him... Yeah... that's about Him. I can go for that.

So... I was just wondering what some of you thought about this subject and if any others who work with music use similar criteria.

Also... any older hymns/songs that are praise/worship oriented rather than "look at the cool thing God Did/Is going to do for me" kind of jump around songs would be helpful in me working more of the older songs into our song list.

I like the "old stuff" for my own personal enjoyment and time with God. However, to sing them collectively with the congregation, not so much the case. If I was visiting a church and heard nothing but songs about "I/Me/My" stuff, or songs with content directed more about what I've received or where I'm going, I'd be thinking of it as selfish but still probably roll with the flow. I've been there and done that, honestly...

However, I think a good collective "we" song would be POA's "Open Up The Sky."

"Open up the sky, fall down like rain,
we don't want blessings, we want You..."

I like that line "we don't want blessings, we want You." Puts a lot into perspective...

There are others, but the one mentioned above came to mind first...

Digging4Truth · #7 11-30-2011, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dagwood

I like the "old stuff" for my own personal enjoyment and time with God. However, to sing them collectively with the congregation, not so much the case. If I was visiting a church and heard nothing but songs about "I/Me/My" stuff, or songs with content directed more about what I've received or where I'm going, I'd be thinking of it as selfish but still probably roll with the flow. I've been there and done that, honestly...

However, I think a good collective "we" song would be POA's "Open Up The Sky."

"Open up the sky, fall down like rain,
we don't want blessings, we want You..."

I like that line "we don't want blessings, we want You." Puts a lot into perspective...

There are others, but the one mentioned above came to mind first...

Great post.

There can be a pretty amazing difference between what we load as our arsenal of songs for church use and our personal listening habits. But that's for a good enough reason IMO... since we listen at home to what we simply enjoy as a person but we put much thought into the church's praise songs because we're there for a purpose and we try to use the best tools at our disposal.

We sing Open Up The Sky as well.