Why bother with a hymn book?

The age of OHPs and data projection is not just here to stay, it is here to be improved and expanded.

For this reason most hymn books offer their words on CD as well, and in many churches the hard copies are stacked in a dark cupboard somewhere out of sight. But why has the hymn book gone out of fashion?

First. Because hymn books are expensive and bulky. Certainly they are, but how much cost and inconvenience are we prepared to invest in one of the most significant parts of our corporate worship of God?

Second. Because our hymn books are static; we cannot add to the stock. This is partly true, but a good hymn book will provide a strong and deep reservoir that can be augmented by the best of new material via the ubiquitous OHP.

Third. Most congregations sing better when they are looking up at a screen rather than down at a book. I thought so once, but in my experience of itinerating I have come to the conclusion that a congregation either sings well or it doesn't. In reality I commend for their singing more 'hard copy' congregations than 'digital' ones. Besides, worshippers do not have to be buried in a book any more than the screen-gazers have to be distracted by late-comers; it's all a matter of discipline.

Apart from these, I have never heard any other arguments against the good old hymn book; though there will always be those who regard them as a throw-back to traditional churchgoing and think that any progressive contemporary congregation will abandon books on principle - presumably along with the seats, musical instruments and Bibles.

In favour

So, what can we say in favour of a hymn book in hand?

First. The hymn book is valuable in corporate worship. When I sing a hymn or song, I like to know its size and development. A glance at the length and structure of the verses will tell me where I am going and what I am committed to. The one leading the service can draw my attention to verse three or five, or the significance of the first line or conclusion of each verse, and I can take it all in at once. When I sing a verse that thrills my heart, moves me to tears, humbles me or encourages me, I can read it again and again - and take it home with me if I wish to. Unfortunately, when the screen goes blank and I have forgotten the first line, I have little hope of finding that item again.

Secondly. The hymn book is a valuable devotional aid. It can be read before, during and after the service, and at home. At one time a hymn book was part of the prayer life of many Christians; today fewer Christian homes even possess a hymn book unless there is a musician among them. The rich theology and spiritual experience of our best hymns, songs and psalm renderings is simply not available to Christians until they arrive at church - and then only fleetingly.

Thirdly. I like to know not only the size and development of a hymn, but its age. The hymn book allows us to learn who hymn writers are and when they wrote. Does this matter? Many Christians value particular authors in their book reading and learn who can be trusted to meet their needs. Why should it be any different with hymns? Besides, are we no longer interested in our Christian heritage? Surely we can learn something from the fact that many great hymns were written in the 18th century? Sadly a new generation is growing up that knows nothing about hymn writers because the only time they learn who wrote a hymn and when, is a brief glance as they sing the final verse.

Versatility

Fourthly. The hymn book is versatile. You can use it in small meetings and any meeting. If you allow occasions in your church when members of the congregation can choose a hymn or song, there is no substitute for a real book with an index. A hymn book requires no support equipment, no electricity, and no one to project it - have you ever experienced a power cut on a hymn book or been present when its bulb blew? It does of course require someone to hand it out, and that is a valuable point of contact with the visitor; it also provides the visitor with a more valuable pre-service occupation than the largely irrelevant notice sheet.
Fifthly. A good hymn book is 'user friendly' for those with poor eyesight, or who have to remain seated when they sing, or who - even when standing - find themselves behind the tallest guy in church. None of our older buildings were built with a central white screen in mind.

Each of these arguments in favour of the hymn book will carry more or less weight in different congregations. They are in what I consider to be an approximate order of importance. It will be a sad time when the hymn book becomes a relic of the days when Christians knew hymns - not just ditties - by heart, and used them in the prayer meeting to encourage and comfort, challenge and correct.

Brian H. Edwards

© Evangelicals Now - May 2002
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