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Christianity Today, February, 2008 Christianity Today, Interviews, music |

Singable Doctrine Singable Doctrine

Keith and Kristyn Getty have a passion for writing modern hymns.

Interview by Stan Guthrie | posted 2/20/2008 09:15AM

Keith and Kristyn Getty have been at the forefront of the modern hymn movement over the last decade. (For a review of their latest album, see "Hymn Revival," CT, January 2007.) The Belfast couple, along ...

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Grace Maringka

Posted: February 21, 2008 4:51 AM


I always want to know more about the author of In Christ Alone and it was just about yesterday that I've been thinking about that song and inquiring my friends how to get the CD. I pray God will bring up more people like the Gettys and Stuart Townend. So much of what they're saying resounds what I think about hymn nowadays!

David L

Posted: February 21, 2008 1:10 AM

I like some modern Christian music but never would I want it used in our Liturgy. We chant the entire service, the creeds, the Lords prayer, etc. We sing the hymnal that is the Psalms of the OT. Here are some of what we sing: Having risen again from the tomb, and having burst asunder the bonds of hades; thou didst unbind the condemnation of death, O Lord, redeeming all men from the snares of the enemy. And having revealed thyself to thine Apostles, thou didst send them forth to proclaim thee. And through them thou hast granted thy peace unto the universe, O thou who art alone all-merciful. I love many of the Western Hymns, my daughter and I sing them together but outside of church and I am pretty careful not to introduce her to anything heterdox in doctrine. I am glad to see the emphasis on doctrine. In any age it is important to contend for the faith once and for all delivered.

Tom	Posted: February 20, 2008 7:41 PM

Great topic, awkward answers. Odd, from songwriters. Anyway... I agree with another commenter that the poll was pretty poor because it didn't let you choose "blended worship styles" or something implying a mix of worship traditions. That's where worshiping churches today are now anyway. "Contemporary" and "Traditional" are just words that divide the church, create two congregations who never interact. Charles Wesley and Matt Redman were always meant to be together! Even though I found this interview painfully hard to read (and even though I am the one person on the planet who cannot stand "In Christ Alone" - perhaps because our worship team wanted to end Communion with it every two weeks!), I am so glad this is being discussed.

Justin

Posted: February 20, 2008 5:52 PM

I started my Christian walk in a Presbyterian church with a formal liturgy and traditional hymns, and now worship in a Foursquare church with a looser liturgy and more recent music predominating. I have been fed spiritually in both venues and do not see a problem with either format. People who deride modern "praise & worship" music need to remember that every old, traditional hymn was new and innovative at one point. I imagine that in a few decades worship songs written by artists such as Michael W. Smith or Rich Mullins will be the "new" old standard, and new music of that day will be viewed with suspicion.

Sheryl

Posted: February 20, 2008 1:44 PM

All I can say is that I have never felt at home in a church with the rock music and I am from your era. It feels like a Friday night social, or something that we did at camp. It just does not feel right in Church. So I go to a Church that sings from the hymns and I feel wonderful. But that is not the main thing. The other churches that I tried in the L. A. area would also, if something needed to be cut out it was the sermons and not the music in these types of Churchs. If you are not going to hear the word of GOD it does not matter what the music is. I also stayed at one of these churches for 5 years, unhappy, but I noticed that the people that they were trying to get did not stay either. If you are trying to sing new songs to get people in your church you are going about it the wrong way. Preach the word of GOD and GOD will send you the sheep. I live in L. A. area and I can be entertained on every corner. I do not want to be entertained in Church! I need to be fed the word!

Dave	Posted: February 20, 2008 1:36 PM


"Praise & Worship" music has driven me to a church with liturgical style services just to avoid the "P&W".

Pator Dave Poedel, STS

Posted: February 20, 2008 12:52 PM

WIth the emphasis on Ancient-Future Church, our congregation is utilizing the new Lutheran Service Book, with traditional and reverent Liturgy, accompanied by great and doctrinal hymns and pretty good preaching. God is blessing us with faithful members who are inviting their friends to join us, and many are staying. I have little to no use for contemporary praise choruses, though we do use some newer songs that are doctrinally sound, and these are accompanied by piano and drums. Otherwise, we use our excellent pipe organ played by a most competent man who understands the theology of the Divine Service. We are a small but growing urban congregation that joyously and reverently awaits God serving us each week in Word and Sacrament.

Ruth	Posted: February 20, 2008 12:35 PM

Where in your poll was the category of mix of all three forms? We are a multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-cultural church in the worst neighborhood in the inner city, and we find all three forms of music valuable. Everyone gets to do their favorites, and everyone learns from the others' favorites. We also have professional musicians who do classical instrumental, kletzmer and classical vocal music. And we love the Gettys' songs because they fit at least two of the poll categories. Church music is a mnemonic device that helps us transmit our faith and worship the One in Whom our faith rests. And the infinite God creates endless forms of music to enable us to do the above. So why do we try to limit ourselves in this most valuable form of expression that pleases God?

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