Friday, August 21, 2009

Why are hymns so important?

Strong hymns…

...preach and proclaim Christ,
...teach and catechize,
...strengthen and sustain faith,
...comfort and console,
...give a voice to faith,
...interpret Scriptures so that we see Christ and his cross always at the center,
...join music with the Word,
...carry the confession of the faithful,
...are a response of thanksgiving to God
...put the words and ways of God into our ears and onto our lips,
...help form and confess our unity as the body of Christ.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

1 comment:

  1. This is an excellent summary, Sandra. You could also reference Ephesians 5, in which St. Paul writes much the same thing as he does in Colossians 3. Hymns that confess the Word of Christ are particular examples of the work of the Holy Spirit. (Hymns that don't, aren't.)

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