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Monday, August 11, 2008

Vocabulary…

I wonder if we are doing a disservice to ourselves and the younger generations by modernizing the vocabulary of hymns. Certainly, I do not use “Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race; ye ransomed from the fall” or “Oh, that with yonder sacred throng; ye at His feet may fall” or “visage languish” in my every day conversations. No one uses such language any longer. But apart from the sound theology hymns deliver, shouldn’t we also encourage the mental challenge advanced vocabulary and grammar these hymns teach to also encourage our intellectual growth?

5 Comments:

  • At 8:32 PM , Blogger W.B. Picklesworth said...

    The word that comes to my mind is adiophora. As a matter of personal preference I'd probably split the difference - modern, but not PC.

     
  • At 8:42 AM , Blogger Consecutive Odds said...

    I would have to agree... I still sing "Good Christian Men Rejoice" while the words my congretation uses are "Sing we now Rejoice."

    I'm not opposed to modern P and W in churches, provided there is some sound theology and we're not singing the same seven words eleven times.

    I just wonder if dumbing down the vocabulary to the older hymns is a good idea. Not to be PC, but because it does encourage both spiritual and mental growth. "Shout to the Lord," though a great song, and one of Mallory's favorites, doesn't require a lot of mental concentration to sing. I hope, as a culture, we're not loosing the ability to sing a song and think about the meaning of the words. There's something that is missing in, "All hail the power of Jesus' name, let angels fall face down."

     
  • At 1:45 AM , Blogger Unknown said...

    This comment has been removed by the author.

     
  • At 1:46 AM , Blogger Unknown said...

    I agree with you Liz. There is no need to be PC with hymns.

    "All hail the power of Jesus' name, let angels fall face down."

    HA! Ha! When reading that I pictured angels tripping and falling on their faces!

     
  • At 7:30 AM , Blogger Consecutive Odds said...

    I have more to the dumbed down version... I'll save that for another time as it does get out of hand...

     

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