The 'good old days' of well-loved hymns are gone? What's your take on this?

Really I always found most forms of mainstream accepted worship uninteresting. Whether modern or hymns.
To me it's all bland and uninspired.
I grew up going to Baptist churches and found trying to sing along to outdated versions of English, while distracted by a flurry of musical notes above to bland organ/piano too difficult to focus on What I was singing. And the overall sound not too pleasant.
But neither am I a fan of modern pop worship. I find the music trite and uninspired and cheesy.
I find when it comes to Christians and music creativity is a bit of a forbidden fruit. Playing what is deemed safe is what's accepted and expected.

I believe that the gifts of the Spirit are being used by modern worship ministers to write and produce better Hymns today.

I find the lyrics better than many of the old Hymns that some claim are deeper. I did a comparison and found that to not be true at all. The older Hymns are often light and fluffy or trying too hard to be poetic and not really communicating doctrine as they claim they were.

I found that there is a sincere and intense reality of the Spirit Filled songs coming out of the Spirit Filled Churches that have that sense of the Spirit of God behind them and that the old Hymns just don't cut it, unless you redo them with some new expression and change the lyrics to communicate a clearer doctrine as they often don't do that great a job.

We do sing old hymns but we have made them more "singable" and given them a touch of intimacy. To express your love for the Lord in sincerity and truth comes across more real with the modern hymns than with the older ones played in a religious tone where people sing it like zombies with no feeling.

That's my take on it.

Hi All
I grew up in a Baptist church playing the piano for traditional hymns, mostly (around 1970s - 1980s). I owe this experience to my musical skill development and confidence. However, as I got into secular gigs (I was forced to do this to pay off debts) I found myself using more secular styles of playing, but I had the insight to always keep my playing as 'clean' as possible, staying close to the original chord structures in the hymns. So then I stopped playing in church because I went overseas (Asia) and played pro mostly, at hotels etc. Fast forward to contemporary church 'worship' music today, and I believe that the original essence of what is needed to create an atmosphere of worship is lost in many ways. Today's mega-churches have mega-bands/dancers/lighting etc not much unlike regular pop concerts. Although I haven't had the opportunity to play regularly in a long while, I still miss those classic hymns accompanied by a solo piano. Sorry for sounding like I'm venting! I probably am! Over to you guys....

One line of a contemporary worship piece, played in soft-rock style with a strong drum line is: "I AM WHO I AM BECAUSE THE I AM TELLS ME WHO I AM" repeated 9 or 10 times. Catchy, but not my style. Gimme "It is WELL with my soul" any day.

Some people complain about modern praise and worship, saying it is too cloying and meant to
stir up the emotions etc which is kind of the opposite of what you are saying. Or even that is is
lacking in doctrine which I find kind of funny/peculiar because one does not need to recite
doctrine in sing-song to praise and/or worship God. People have different tastes and varying
reasons for what they prefer. You like the old-time hymns, and some do not care for them as much
as other forms of worship. Is there not room enough in this world and in the family of God for both?

Everybody was raised differently and exposed to various music styles. Some songs are very Scriptural and full of doctrine. Others are more emotive.
Malcolm likes traditional hymns and I respect that. I do too and always will. Not ALL of them, but many of them. I can read lyrics and determine easily the complexity and content of a song because I sang all of my life. I've read hundreds of songs and still don't consider myself expert. Others here are likewise experienced more or less.

There are other styles of Christian music that I was into that my former pastor did not. I liked some of the classical music, like Bach. I don't know how much it bothered him, but it didn't bother me that he didn't like Bach or that he thought it sinful. He couldn't show me from the Bible, so whatever.

I believe that the gifts of the Spirit are being used by modern worship ministers to write and produce better Hymns today.

I find the lyrics better than many of the old Hymns that some claim are deeper. I did a comparison and found that to not be true at all. The older Hymns are often light and fluffy or trying too hard to be poetic and not really communicating doctrine as they claim they were.

I found that there is a sincere and intense reality of the Spirit Filled songs coming out of the Spirit Filled Churches that have that sense of the Spirit of God behind them and that the old Hymns just don't cut it, unless you redo them with some new expression and change the lyrics to communicate a clearer doctrine as they often don't do that great a job.

We do sing old hymns but we have made them more "singable" and given them a touch of intimacy. To express your love for the Lord in sincerity and truth comes across more real with the modern hymns than with the older ones played in a religious tone where people sing it like zombies with no feeling.

That's my take on it.

19th century phenom Charles Spurgeon was reluctant to have music at 'worship'. Maybe it interfered with his preaching? Sounds like you see it that way too?

Hi Malcom,

I see that you are a new member. Welcome aboard.

I like the old hymns too.
Here's a list of songs posted by some Baptist churches that you might enjoy. If you want any more, I have a few good YouTube channels bookmarked that I can share the links to. They are mostly congregationals and solos. There's over a hundred selections for piano and one good orchestral from a christian school that is exceptionally talented.
Bookmark:
https://www.allthepreaching.com

It's a huge website, so I would go to the menu. Then scroll down to the very bottom and you will see "Music."
There's lots of good preaching too if you like Independent Baptist preaching. The section labeled "Other" has a variety posted according to topics. The other sections are by preachers. Let me know if you have any questions.
Have a great day!

☕🙂👍

Let me raise this : What will music in Heaven sound like?

Hi All
I grew up in a Baptist church playing the piano for traditional hymns, mostly (around 1970s - 1980s). I owe this experience to my musical skill development and confidence. However, as I got into secular gigs (I was forced to do this to pay off debts) I found myself using more secular styles of playing, but I had the insight to always keep my playing as 'clean' as possible, staying close to the original chord structures in the hymns. So then I stopped playing in church because I went overseas (Asia) and played pro mostly, at hotels etc. Fast forward to contemporary church 'worship' music today, and I believe that the original essence of what is needed to create an atmosphere of worship is lost in many ways. Today's mega-churches have mega-bands/dancers/lighting etc not much unlike regular pop concerts. Although I haven't had the opportunity to play regularly in a long while, I still miss those classic hymns accompanied by a solo piano. Sorry for sounding like I'm venting! I probably am! Over to you guys....