Modern Hymn Writers Aim To Take Back Sunday

This old fogie thinks believes the article is welcome news. However, I would like to see some independent verification. NPR loves to stick it’s finger in the collective eye of the Church. Of course, “even a stopped watch is right twice a day.”

I’d be interested to know how “NPR is sticking it’s finger in the collective eye of the church”.

I thought the article was good and it’s interesting that NPR - hardly a bastion of Christian doctrine - is reporting on this. I don’t know much about the Gettys, but maybe I’ll give their new CD a try out and see what’s in it.

For some time NPR hounded John MacArthur over the suicide of a church member. I don’t trust them to write any article or news feature that puts conservative Christianity in a positive light. Also, did you read the comments accompanying the article? “I’m an atheist,” and “Now as an atheist,” and then they give an opinion on church music. The ones who do identify themselves are Episcopalian, Evangelical Lutheran or “UU” (I suppose that means Universalist). This is their audience, not Conservative Christians. This article is not bad at all, but I would like to see verification from other sources.

Jim, I’m a conservative Christian. I’m their audience, and have been for about 18 years, every day. Judging from my facebook and twitter feeds, MANY of my conservative Christian friends listened to this live and posted the story. Yes NPR has a liberal outlook and bias, but they also do a lot of reporting that no one else does. NPR reporters are numerous and they aren’t all the same. Some are better than others on religion issues. One of the fairest I’ve seen has been Ira Glass of This American Life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As1lwvqHKQA

[Jay]

I don’t know much about the Gettys, but maybe I’ll give their new CD a try out and see what’s in it.

I hope you are joking here?

Why not? I can load up the music in Spotify and listen to it without buying the CD.

But Keith Getty says it should be singable without a band and easy for anyone sitting in the pews to pick up. And it should say something bold.

“I think it’s to the church’s poverty that the average worship song now has so few words, so little truth,” he says. “[It] is so focused on several commercial aspects of God, like the fact that he loves our praises.”

Kristyn Getty says that some of the most popular music doesn’t show God the proper reverence.

“There is an unhelpful, casual sense that comes with some of the more contemporary music,” she says. “It’s not how I would talk to God.”

If the Gettys are serious about writing hymns that are doctrinally sound for Christians, then I’m willing to give them a try. Is that an objectionable thing? I’m curious as to why I should be joking.

Jay,

I understood Dave Szweda to be saying that he hoped you were joking that you didn’t know much about the Gettys.

[dgszweda]

[Jay]

I don’t know much about the Gettys, but maybe I’ll give their new CD a try out and see what’s in it.

I hope you are joking here?

I was referring to the part that you don’t know much about the Getty’s. Maybe I read too much into it, but I assumed that unless someone had been living under a rock for the last 5 years, that they must have heard and know something about the Getty’s. They are in a many hymnals, they are on Gawlkin, Petit and many Soundforth CD’s. There music has appeared many times top of the charts and top of iTunes in the Christian category. They are on TV, in the news, on religious channels, in many churches, referenced by people in Facebook posts…….. Just surprised that you weren’t really aware of them.

[Greg Linscott]

Jay,

I understood Dave Szweda to be saying that he hoped you were joking that you didn’t know much about the Gettys.

Exactly.

Regardless of how many people feel about the type of musical accompaniment associated with Getty CD’s. I think all of us can be glad that there is a renewed focus on hymns in general. And I think that philosophy wise the Getty’s have it. That has always been by beef with any kind of Praise & Worship song or many other modern Christian songs. Most are not written with a congregation in mind, and are more written for a concert than a church service. It is great to see people like Chris Anderson and others creating solid hymns with great music, that can be sung in our churches.

Oh, OK.

I’ve heard of the Gettys and know that they’ve written a lot of music, but I couldn’t name a song of theirs if my life depended on it. Going to remedy that now. :)