Old vs New - Worship Music

[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.

[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).

[Dagwood]

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...

[houston]

I really doubt that visitors give as much thought to this as we do.

[Digging4Truth]

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.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by houston

I really doubt that visitors give as much thought to this as we do.

No... not in the least. Visitors or regular members.

But... that's our job so they don't have to.

[Dagwood]

Originally Posted by houston

I really doubt that visitors give as much thought to this as we do.

You're probably right. But, then again, I wonder how many visitors have experienced what's being discussed here. I suppose we'll never know...

I'm just glad someone like D4T is willing to open up the table for such a discussion. There's no telling what God could do if some people flipped their perspective on praise and worship...

[Scott Hutchinson]

To me alot of the older songs reflect on The Redemption Work Of Christ on the cross.
Hymns like when I survey the wonderous cross,Rock of ages,Amazing Grace.
When I see The Blood,There is a fountain filled with blood,there is a Crimson Stream of Blood.

Songs like It's All In Him lift up The Lord.How about songs Pass Me Not and Higher Ground and such ?

[Jacob's Ladder]

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.

Digging4Truth,

I enjoy the older songs though I'm young!

I don't understand various songs they sing now. My responses to the songs are in red.

Example:

1) I'm a friend of God (Whatever! I'm more than a friend!)

2) I'm a Pentecostal (Who gives a cow patty? They should rename that song to "praise the me!" )

3) God chaser (Who's your God? My God doesn't run from anyone!)


So many songs have become a tradition or they don't know what the heck they're singing!

[Scott Hutchinson]

Alot of the newer songs are great like The Revelation song and such.