Saints and Sinners: Recalling our favorite joyous hymns
Judging from the early returns to our Favorite Bible Verses Poll, there is more unanimity among us about the hymns we like to sing than there is about the Bible passages that have impacted our lives the most.
I had conducted the Favorite Hymns Poll several years ago in the hopes of giving ministers and choir directors a better idea of the kind of music their congregations prefer to sing and hear on Sunday mornings. I found that while the top 10 hymns in the poll received 70 percent of the readers’ votes, more than 200 hymns got at least one vote.
The hymns finishing in the top 10 were “How Great Thou Art,” “Amazing Grace,” “In the Garden,” “The Old Rugged Cross,” “A Mighty Fortress (is Our God),” “What A Friend We Have In Jesus,” “Holy, Holy, Holy,” “Just as I Am,” “The Church’s One Foundation” and “O’ Master, Let Me Walk With Thee.”
Despite all the variety, there was a dominant strand running through the poll results. People prefer hymns of piety to the more theological hymns. To put it another way, their favorites tend to be hymns that speak to the emotions about a personal relationship with God or Christ.
Most readers who sent in personal comments along with their favorite hymn choices spoke up for familiar, singable melodies over hymns that are chosen by the pastor or music director for their words or theological content. Whether people still want the old-time religion from the pulpit — and there is much evidence they do — it is the old-fashioned hymns they want to sing.
Many readers added comments on church music on their ballots. Here is a sampling of them and the denomination from which they came. I think you’ll see, however, that regardless of where or how they practice, there are several overriding themes that these parishioners have in common:
A bit too high and almighty
“Our music is too loud (Church of Christ).” “Most hymns are too high (Lutheran).” “The music is pitched too high (Catholic).” “Most hymns are too high for the average singer. Lower, please! (Methodist).” “The organist plays too loud, like she was giving a concert (Lutheran).” “Our organist plays too loud so I have just stopped singing (Catholic).” “I never worry about hell. We have been there every Sunday morning for more than 15 years with our organist (Lutheran).”
What hymns do for me
“I can still hear my old mother, as she rocked on the front porch singing ‘Shall We Gather at The River?’ (Baptist).” “‘Holy, Holy, Holy’ was my father’s favorite. When I hear it, it brings him back a little (Lutheran).” “When I am troubled, hymns bring peace. When I am happy, they are the greatest way to rejoice (Methodist).” “During my long illness, hymns were the greatest source of comfort to me (Pentecostal).” “I love leaving church with an old familiar hymn in my mind. … Hymns should be sung so that you go home humming them (Lutheran).” “A good hymn can be more stirring than a sermon (Disciples of Christ).”
HAVE YOU SENT IN YOUR FAVORITE Bible verse (or verses) yet? I want to find out my readers’ most beloved Scripture passages. Readers from 30 states and Canada have responded so far. Send your selections to Favorite Bible Verses, P.O. Box 06580, Columbus, Ohio 43206. You may include the reasons for your choice.
(George Plagenz is a syndicated columnist.)