New Music is Good: Isaac Watts, Hymns, and Church Tradition...

Isaac Watts (17 July 1674 – 25 November 1748) is recognized as the "Father of English Hymnody". His two famous hymns are Joy to the World and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. He was also known in his day, that he went against the tradition of the church! Let me expand on this:

One day; Isaac was walking home with his father, who was a pastor, and he started complaining about the music he had sung that morning in church. He was bored with the music! The type of music they sang in church was psalmodic, which refers to singing of psalms. These psalms were sung for centuries in one way or another. In fact, John Calvin insisted that these psalms be the main type of worship. Psalms were sung in a monotone form with no instruments, because instruments in a church was considered worldly. Basically, one person would sing a note and then everyone would jump in. 

So here we are; Isaac is bored and having an issue with church music, does this sound familiar? As Isaac was walking with his father, Isaac's father chose to listen to his son instead of arguing! After listening, he told his son; "Son, why don't you mend the matter?" (Why don't you write your own music) and that is was Isaac did! Today, it is estimated that he wrote around 750 hymns! Hymns that have lasted over 300 years! 

Now imagine for a moment if that conversation took a different direction and the father argued about Isaac's conviction for change? What if the father hushed his son and said we have been doing psalms for hundred of years, if it was good enough for my father and my grandfather it is good enough for us? We don't need change! Today, could look a lot different. Who knows we might still have no hymnal books, no instruments in the church and still be singing A Cappella psalms! Isaac Watts challenged the tradition of the church! Many churches of his day rejected his music and one of the biggest music wars happened within the church...

So when it comes to music in the church, there has always been music wars! For many that grew up with hymns, they are important to them. Granted, new generations are going to have songs in their generation that they will grow up with and will be important to them! Generations change, music changes, methods on reaching people change, change is good. So in wrapping up, two things. First, older generations need to recognize that change is needed and that music will be a "method" in reaching youth for Jesus! Second, younger generations need to recognize that the older generation has a lifetime of influence with hymns of their generation and this is extremely important to them! I truly believe that music will continue to be an issue in the church, because it is one of the most valuable ways to worship God and the enemy knows that...