Themes Connecting the Early Church to 21st-Century Church Music
Three ideas or themes connect the early Church to the music of the 21st-century Church: worship, community, and theological reflection.
Worship
In the early Church, worship was a central theme, with believers gathering to sing hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs to express their faith and devotion to God. This can be seen in the New Testament writings, such as Colossians 3:16, which encourage believers to sing with gratitude to God. Similarly, in the 21st-century Church, music plays a crucial role in worship, with hymns and contemporary worship songs used to facilitate congregational praise and adoration.
Community
Community was another important theme in the early Church, with believers coming together to share their faith, support one another, and engage in communal worship. Acts 2:42-47 describes the early Christians as devoted to fellowship, breaking bread together, and praising God.
Theological reflection was also a key aspect of the early Church, with hymns and songs used to articulate and reinforce doctrinal beliefs. For example, the early Christian hymn found in Philippians 2:6-11 reflects on the divinity of Christ and his exaltation.
A Comparative Study of Hymns: Examining Similar Themes Across Eras
Using The New Century Hymnal, I found two hymns that share a common theme of worship: “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” (from the 18th century) and “Here I Am to Worship” (from the 21st century). Both hymns express deep gratitude and adoration towards God, inviting believers to come into His presence with thanksgiving and praise.
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
In “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” the language is more traditional and poetic, with references to streams of mercy, Ebenezers, and seals of God’s redeeming love, which can be seen in the following lines: “Oh, that day when freed from sinning/ I shall see Thy lovely face” (ElenyiMusic, 2016).
Here I Am to Worship
On the other hand, “Here I Am to Worship” uses more contemporary language and imagery, inviting believers to contemplate the beauty of Christ and respond to His love and sacrifice, as evident from the following lines: “King of all days/ Oh, so highly exalted/ Glorious in heaven above”(Hillsong Worship, 2017).
While both hymns are united by their focus on praising a higher power, their language and imagery differ, reflecting the evolution of musical expression and cultural context over the centuries (Hymnary.org, n.d.).
References
ElenyiMusic. (2016). Come thou fount of every blessing / if you could hie to Kolob [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Hillsong Worship. (2017). Here I am to worship / the call [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Hymnary.org: a comprehensive index of hymns and hymnals | Hymnary. (n.d.). Web.