Bibles and Hymnals...are they things of the past?

CHURCH SERVICES

A Cultural Shift

Mark Morgan

          There is, and has been for some time, a shift that is occurring for church goers in America.  Culture is not a static thing.  It is dynamic.  It is in constant change, though sometimes rapidly and at other times it feels more glacial. Two things that are in flux are the actual use of physical Bibles, and hymnals in worship services.  Much of the discussion on this topic is anecdotal, in that it is more centered in preference than in concrete data. Understanding this does not make the discussion any less important.  How something feels to the individual and the emotional attachments we form are as important as hard facts. I have not always acknowledged or believed this to be true.

What Is It About Bibles and Hymnals?

There is specific data available when it comes to evaluating how we retain information. We tend to retain more when we engage more than one of our senses.  Hearing and seeing is more effective than simply hearing. And on it goes.  For me, a Bible is a multi-sensory tool of worship and instruction. I feel it. I see it. I smell it (which is why I am committed to a genuine leather Bible).  A hymn book has similar qualities. I learn page numbers (hymn 242 is Victory In Jesus in the old edition of the hymnal I grew up with).  That seems to mean something to me.  I can count on it being there.  It is solid. These are all points on the feeling/emotional level of who I am and what I like.  Embrace that part of yourself. Don’t put other ways down. That only weakens the validity of your preferences.

          I like Bibles. I own more than a dozen of them. Many of us just like the feel of a book in our hands. That is a valid reason for having and using one. Having a Bible in my hand centers me in a way that an electronic device does not.  That is a learned response, for sure. I am not saying it is more holy.  I am saying it has a more complete feel for me. It is the Bible, not just a device.  I like that and my feelings respond differently to it. The same is true of a hymnal, but for me, to a lesser degree.  There is a connection I have to “my Bible” that does not exist with my iPad or my cell phone.  I get the same exact text from all of them.  It feels differently to me when it is an actual Bible. The problem is that we do not have to discount one medium in order to validate another.  That is where we lose credibility and tend to overstate our case.  Just because you like it better, is a valid argument. PERIOD. You don’t have to discount anything else to make that claim.

          I like electronic devices and Bible applications. The flexibility is enormous. I like having multiple translations and paraphrases available to me with such ease. I like having the immediate availability to multiple texts while I am preaching or when listening to someone else speak. If, for some reason, I do not have my Bible with me, I am still able to see the text, rather than just hear it. There are other reasons I like electronics when it comes to the Bible, but many of them are for study and preparation.  This article is about the worship service, so those advantages are another topic.

          I like hymnals. There are a few things they offer that projected words on a screen do not. I like seeing the entire song at a glance.  My eyes and brain can work faster than the person clicking verses from a presentation program on a computer. I like the freedom to skim the hymnal and stopping at a familiar or particular meaningful song, though it may not be part of that particular service’s list. As I said, I like holding a book.  When I touch something, it gives me a great sense of ownership. Most of all, I like the variety of categories of songs I find in a hymnal. I can sing my doctrine and reinforce the tenets of my faith.  I can sing nostalgic songs about heaven or special holidays.  I can focus on calls to worship. I can sing great anthems of historical Christianity. And, I can sing intimate worship songs that are addressed to God, not just about Him.  A hymnal incorporates all of these.

          I like contemporary worship bands and worship sets with projected lyrics.  The music style speaks to me and is familiar to the sounds that have grown up enjoying.  The songs tend to be more simple and repetitive, therefore allowing me to internalize them to a greater degree.  I like the fact that I am not distracted by shuffling books, breaks to announce page numbers and unnecessary talk from the song leader.  I can, many times, more easily create my own worship retreat right in the middle of a corporate service.  Many of the songs are very intimate and emotional. They tend to speak to our feelings more than to our brains. I am trying to re-program myself to value that aspect of worship along with the cognitive parts. I like the simplicity of contemporary worship.

          There you have it.  Thoughts from an expert.  ME!  I have been in church attendance since I was eight days old, and have experienced thousands of services.  My attempt is to widen my sphere of what is good, meaningful, beautiful, helpful and desirable.  Embrace worship.  Make it your own.  You will have preferences, but also allow the presence of the God to broaden your acceptable practices of worship, not narrow them.  Blessings on you, and may God’s great grace empower you to embrace all good things of Him.