Theology In the Old Hymns

The Powerful Words of Worship

In my opinion, too many of our contemporary church songs are all about “I,” “me,” and “us.” They’re too inward-focused. That’s why I love the traditional hymns. Not because I just want to be an old fuddy-duddy but because it seems to me real worship should be about God, not us. It must be grounded in solid theology. And the old hymns are thick with theology.

So, at this time of year, I love to sing old songs. Even better, I am repeatedly overwhelmed by the powerful theological messages embedded in those songs — especially in the verses we rarely sing.

Here are some examples. Maybe you have others. If so, please share them with all of us.

O Little Town of Bethlehem

(4th Stanza)

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel

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Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

(3rd Stanza)

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that man no more may die,
born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

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It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

(3rd Stanza)

Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love song which they bring;
O hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing.

Amen to all of that.

And Merry Christmas to all of you …