Are short choruses a theological desert?

[Xeno.of.athens]

Are short choruses a theological desert?

Some Christians seem to dislike hymns both ancient and modern.
They prefer to sing short choruses, sometimes repeated several times.

Is there enough room in them for much theological depth?

How is a church's theology shaped by what it sings?

 

[Philip_B]

Of course the difficulty they present is they have a tendency to be subjective rather than objective. It isn't simply about length. The Taize community has produced numbers of very successful examples. Adoremus te Domine and Laudate Dominum both spring to mind as examples of the good. Good liturgy should reflect a dialogue between the transcendent and the immanent, and the music of the liturgy including the hymns should reflect that.

 

[Jonaitis]

Are short choruses a theological desert?

Some Christians seem to dislike hymns both ancient and modern.
They prefer to sing short choruses, sometimes repeated several times.

Is there enough room in them for much theological depth?

How is a church's theology shaped by what it sings?

If you're familiar with psalmody, then sometimes there can be instances where theological depth is not important, but simply aiming to openly praise the object of worship for what he has done.

 

[spiritfilledjm]

I think we're losing sight of the point of worship. It's not to show off our knowledge of the scriptures, but to simply praise God and worship Him.

"God, thank You for all that You've done for me." set to music, repeated over and over is a more appropriate song for praise and worship of God than a song that goes over the 5 Solas or the point of baptism or something.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

I think we're losing sight of the point of worship. It's not to show off our knowledge of the scriptures, but to simply praise God and worship Him.

"God, thank You for all that You've done for me." set to music, repeated over and over is a more appropriate song for praise and worship of God than a song that goes over the 5 Solas or the point of baptism or something.

Maybe your perception of worship is not in accord with what God calls for in worship. Have you considered these things:

Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.​

John 4:22-24

Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said to Aaron, "It is what the LORD spoke, saying, 'By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, And before all the people I will be honored.'" So Aaron, therefore, kept silent.​

Leviticus 10:1-3

One passage from each testament. They are representative of the theme about worship in the scriptures. Song, prayer, sacrament and sacrifice are all parts of worship and all must serve Truth and Spirit to be what God wants from those who worship him.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

If you're familiar with psalmody, then sometimes there can be instances where theological depth is not important, but simply aiming to openly praise the object of worship for what he has done.

Sometimes this is so but not at all times and not when short choruses dominate so much that all song and praise is subsumed under the aphorism of short and praisy.

 

[PsaltiChrysostom]

Sometimes this is so but not at all times and so much so that all song and praise is subsumed under the aphorism of short and praisy.

While I agree with some of your sentiment, even in liturgical services, we still end up with some short praise songs.

Old One Hundredth (Anglican)
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Trisagion (Orthodox)
Ἅγιος ὁ Θεός, Ἅγιος ἰσχυρός, Ἅγιος ἀθάνατος, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (x3)

Agnus Dei (Western churches)
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

While I agree with some of your sentiment, even in liturgical services, we still end up with some short praise songs.

Old One Hundredth (Anglican)
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Trisagion (Orthodox)
Ἅγιος ὁ Θεός, Ἅγιος ἰσχυρός, Ἅγιος ἀθάνατος, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (x3)

Agnus Dei (Western churches)
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

If it's Latin it's okay!

 

[Philip_B]

Immortal, Invisible, God only wise

 

[PsaltiChrysostom]

If it's Latin it's okay!

Eh, barbarian language if you must. Greek is the tongue of civilization