[rwfromkansas]

If you create a song and sing it in the worship of God, you are using your own words.

I was really meaning to say why you think the work of a human is better than the work of God (an uninspired hymn vs. God's perfectly inspired Psalter), but somehow got it more restricted to only applying to song-writers, not the singers.

[hocndoc]

I don't think David was given holy steps to dance.
I pray other prayers than the specific examples given by Christ (although I'm partial to the theme of John 17).
Preachers and teachers - and song writers and singers - don't only quote the Bible, just as I don't answer you only in phrases borrowed from some translation of the Bible or in the original language. We explain and use metaphors that are relevant to our reality, while consistent with God's Spirit.

God gave us the Bible so that we could learn about Him, not so that we would parrot the old words without end (that way lies the 'discussion' about which translation to use). We have his Spirit living in us. We can express our joy and thanks and teach using symbols and words and sounds of today, as long as it is to His glory.

[Theo]

I was really meaning to say why you think the work of a human is better than the work of God (an uninspired hymn vs. God's perfectly inspired Psalter), but somehow got it more restricted to only applying to song-writers, not the singers.

You are right to imply that Scriptural Psalms as "inspired," for all Scripture is God-breathed. By definition, the Psalter is inspired.

I disagree, however, with the assertion that words written after 100 AD can no longer be "inspired." If the Spirit of God is still active and involved and communicating and comforting and instructing and reminding and moving among His people, then it seems to follow that it is possible for Him to bring about "inspiration" among those who are His.

A word to those (not you -- rw) who would interpret me as saying that everything written by Christians is "inspired" -- that's not at all what I'm saying. (Man, why do I feel like I have to write so defensively? Hm.)