[Fiji Hill]

Particular styles of music never bothered me. However, there are 2 current trends that make my spirit uncomfortable. One are the focus put on “praise groups” standing on stage and becoming the center. The other are the “Jesus is my boyfriend” types of choruses. Am I being overly sensitive?

Amen!

I prefer traditional hymns and gospel songs, accompanied by an organ, piano or orchestra. I have no use for "praise" music. As far as I'm concerned, guitars are for singing cowboys and drums are for parades. Unfortunately, the electric guitar has driven the organ and the choir out of many, and perhaps most churches.

If I were put in charge of editing the Methodist hymnal, I would throw out everything written after 1939 and replace all of those insipid and lifeless "modern" hymns with songs by great Methodist hymn writers such as Lelia Morris, Charles H. Gabriel and William Kirkpatrick who have been neglected in recent decades.

[Blue Collar Christian]

“If I were put in charge of editing the Methodist hymnal, I would throw out everything written after 1939 and replace all of those insipid...”

And THAT is why you should not be put in charge, you think everyone should only hear what you prefer. What kind of music and instruments were “traditional” when the music and instruments you prefer were new? Do you want to have exclusively selected music that you became accustomed to back in the day despite the preferences of others in your congregation?

Variety is pleasant to most.

[cornelis]

Thanks to you I’ve been listening to the EO programs of “Nederland zingt.” Good stuff. There is real substance to the lyrics of the older hymns.