First off, please take notice of the fact that the "vs" is in quotes. I did this because I disagree with the idea that this should be an either/or proposition. However many other church people seem to disagree with me. Okay, to the point of my post. I have been born and raised in a church organization (I won't call it a denomination since we call ourselves nondenominational) that for the most part seem to pride themselves on being traditional especially when it comes to music. Although some of our churches are very contemporary oriented and one in particular in the Detroit area where I reside is actually very cutting edge, it seems that the majority are pretty dogmatic about sticking with songs that are at least a hundred years old, literally. Now I don't have a problem with that per se, however, what I have a problem with is the fact that some folks actually think there is a higher level of spirituality derived from the older songs over newer ones. If you think about it, there are actually many, many people with that belief. However, I have to strongly disagree with that notion. To me, to agree with it is to agree that the Holy Spirit reached his peak in inspiring writers a hundred years ago, thereby changing his mind about encouraging us to sing unto him "a new song". One notion that many of my church brothers and sisters have been perpetuating that really bothers me is the notion that part of the new converts spiritual growth and developement is coming to love the songs and song stylings of the old hymns. I simply disagree with this. I think new converts and younger christians should definitely have an appreciation for these songs and understand and identify with what the old writers were conveying, however to condemn them as carnal because they don't prefer them over newer songs on a basis of pure musicality is wrong. Now I actually do love the old songs WHEN SUNG WITH TRUE INSPIRATION AND ANOINTING because I have been raised singing them. However, I do recognise the fact that those songs were written in other times and cultures so although the words are timeless and because they were inspired by God himself, the arrangements musically are very reflective of the times and places of the original writers. Many people would probably be shocked to find that many of the arrangements of the old traditional songs were actually borrowed from ragtime and saloon singalongs. Many of the songs I grew up singing have strong indications that they were the work of Irish immigrants, hence terms such as 'tis,'twas,e're, and o'er. And we are all very aware of the impact that old negro spirituals has had on our church heritage. However beautiful and inspirational these songs and song stylings were and are, one finds great difficulty trying to reconcile them to the modern culture of a teenage or twenty-something convert in today's society. The bible tells us to lift each other up in songs of praise. I find it difficult to see how you can "lift someone up" by forcing them to "like" the type of songs we think they should like. What do you think?
