Top 100 Hymns Against Top 100 Contemporary Praise Songs
by DemianFarnworth. Average Reading Time: about 6 minutes.
Image credit: Freakland
A. W. Tozer said something in his The Knowledge of the Holy that struck me:
Some old hymn books may yet be found in which the hymns have no names; a line in italics above each one indicates its theme, and the worshipping heart cannot but rejoice in what it finds: ‘God’s glorious perfections celebrated.’ ‘Wisdom, majesty and goodness.’ ‘Omniscience.’ ‘Omnipotence and immutability.’ ‘Glory, mercy and grace.’ These are a few examples take from a hymnbook published in 1849, but everyone familiar with Christian hymnody that the stream of sacred song takes its rise far back in the early years of the Church’s existence. From the beginning of belief in the perfection of God brought sweet assurance to believing men and taught the ages to sing.
I had hunch he was on to something, namely that contemporary worship has lost focus on the character of God. So I wanted to compare the top 100 hymns of old with contemporary praise songs.
But just by the titles alone.
While any list is subjective, I grabbed the hymns from Popular Hymns site. They conducted 18 months of research behind the list. The contemporary list comes from Praise Charts and is based upon Song Select reports.
Keep in mind, at this stage of the game the purpose of this exercise is to see if there is anything to Tozer’s statement based on titles alone. The list is in alphabetical order, and I removed the artist’s names from the list. Some of the contemporary songs will be remakes of old hymns.
| The 100 Most Popular Christian HymnsA Mighty Fortress Is Our GodAbide With Me
Alas And Did My Savior Bleed? All Creatures of our God and King All Hail The Power of Jesus’ Name All The Way My Savior Leads Me Amazing Grace Are You Washed in the Blood? At Calvary
Battle Hymn of the Republic Be Thou My Vision Before The Throne of God Above Blessed Assurance Blest Be The Tie That Binds
Child of the King Christ The Lord Is Risen Today Cleanse Me Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing Count Your Blessings Crown Him With Many Crowns
Day By Day Doxology
Eternal Father, Strong To Save Face To Face Fairest Lord Jesus Faith is the Victory Faith of our Fathers Fight the Good Fight
God Leads His Dear Children Along God Will Take Care Of You Great Is Thy Faithfulness Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Have Thine Own Way, Lord He Hideth My Soul He Is Coming Again He Lives His Eye Is On the Sparrow Holy, Holy, Holy How Firm A Foundation How Great Thou Art
I Am Thine, O Lord I Love To Tell The Story I Need Thee Ev’ry Hour I Surrender All I’d Rather Have Jesus I’ll Fly Away In the Garden In The Hour of Trial In The Sweet By and By It is Well
Jesus, Lover Of My Soul Jesus Loves Me Jesus Paid It All Just As I Am
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms Lord I’m Coming Home Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Love Lifted Me
Moment By Moment More Love To Thee Morning Has Broken My Faith Looks Up To Thee
Nearer My God, To Thee No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus Now We Thank All Our God
O Come All Ye Faithful O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing O Holy Night O Little Town of Bethlehem O Worship The King Old Time Religion
Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior Peace, Perfect Peace Praise Him! Praise Him! Precious Lord Take My Hand
Rescue The Perishing Revive Us Again Rock of Ages
Safe in the Arms of Jesus Saviour, Like a Shepherd Lead Us Softly And Tenderly Jesus Is Calling Standing on the Promises
Take My Life and Let It Be Take Time To Be Holy The Old Rugged Cross There Is A Fountain There Is Power In The Blood Till The Storm Passes By Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus Trust And Obey
Victory In Jesus
What A Day That Will Be What A Friend We Have in Jesus What Child Is This? When I Survey The Wondrous Cross When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder When We All Get To Heaven Wherever He Leads, I’ll Go Yesterday, Today, Forever
|
Top 100 CCLI Songs This PeriodAbove AllAgnus Dei
All Because Of Jesus All Who Are Thirsty Amazed Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) As The Deer Awesome God Awesome Is The Lord Most High
Beautiful One Better Is One Day Blessed Be Your Name Breathe
Came To My Rescue Come Now Is The Time To Worship
Days Of Elijah Desert Song Draw Me Close
Enough Everlasting God
Forever Open The Eyes Of My Heart Forever Reign Friend Of God From The Inside Out
Give Thanks Give Us Clean Hands Glory To God Forever God Of This City God Of Wonders Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Hallelujah Happy Day He Is Exalted He Knows My Name Healer Here I Am To Worship Holy Is The Lord Hosanna Hosanna (Praise Is Rising) How Can I Keep From Singing How Deep The Father’s Love For Us How Great Is Our God How Great Thou Art How He Loves Hungry
I Am Free I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever I Give You My Heart I Love You Lord I Will Follow I Will Rise In Christ Alone Indescribable
Jesus Messiah Jesus Paid It All Joy To The World (Unspeakable Joy)
Lead Me To The Cross Let God Arise Let It Rise Lord I Lift Your Name On High Lord Reign In Me Love The Lord
Majestic Majesty Marvelous Light Mighty To Save My Redeemer Lives My Savior My God
Not To Us
O Praise Him Offering Our God Our God Saves
Revelation Song
Sanctuary Shine Jesus Shine Shout To The Lord Sing Sing Sing Sing To The King Stronger
The Heart Of Worship The Stand Today Is The Day Trading My Sorrows
Victory In Jesus We Fall Down
Wonderful Merciful Savior Worthy Is The Lamb
You Are God Alone (Not A God) You Are Good You Are Holy (Prince Of Peace) You Are My All In All You Are My King You Never Let Go Your Grace Is Enough Your Love Never Fails Your Name You’re Worthy Of My Praise |
I don’t know about you, but I don’t see much difference between the two lists. There seems to be a far amount of consistency in themes. But BOTH popular lists are lacking strong themes that focus on the character of God.
The simple truth is probably that the songs like ‘Wisdom, majesty and goodness,’ ‘Omniscience’ and ‘Omnipotence and immutability’ are not very good.
What this list doesn’t show us is the complexity and substance of those songs. That’s for another post and another time, although I took a swing at this awhile back with my post Death Match: Mindbending Hymns vs. Mindless Anthems.
It’s an uneven match in my mind. What do you think?
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Demian,
I think that in many ways, modern songs are like popcorn compared to the steak of the old hymns. Much the same could be said about much of today’s preaching in general. I have not ran across many preachers who even try to touch on the common themes preached by Edwards, Spurgeon, Mather, etc. Paul Washer is one of the modern exceptions I have found.
Having said all that, there are some good modern worship songs. “Agnus Dei” as performed by “Third Day” is really good- but the lyrics are very simple and directly biblical.
I cannot stand “Jesus is my boyfriend” or “Jesus is my homey” type music performed by singers who consciously seek to be blatantly sensual or world-imitating, with some oh-by-the-way nominally “Christian” lyrics as cover. My kids listen to “K-Love” at times, but I shut it off at times when that type of music comes across, which is more often than one would think.
Anyway, you asked.
There ya go!
Justin
While not strictly praise/worship we listen to a lot of lecrae, Trip Lee and Timothy Brindle–reformed, Christ centered hip hop, if you can imagine that.
I might have to look into that. The kids might like it. Thanks!
“These are the hallmarks of GOOD WORSHIP SONGS, whether they’re hymns or choruses: biblical accuracy, God-centeredness, theological and/or historical progression, absence of first-person singular pronouns, and music that complements the tone of the lyrics.” ~ Mark Dever
“Songs composed merely to tickle the ear are unbecoming to the majesty of the Church and cannot but be most displeasing to God.” ~ John Calvin
Those are excellent quotes, Don. New to me, so thank you for sharing!
Don – I could not agree more with the Mark Dever quote EXCEPT the absence of first-person singular pronouns part. I feel like a lot of people use this as a knock on contemporary Christian music (CCM), however I feel it is one of the great strengths…within the correct context. The thing that is amazing about our God is that He wants to have a relationship with us. Do we ever forget that He is the omnipotent Creator, the pure and holy Redeemer, etc. ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!! We must approach each time we worship with reverence and awe. However, what a wonderful expression to sing very personal praise to our very personal God. There are “meaty” and sound theological hymns and CCM just as there are lukewarm and “milky” hymns and CCM. I think the church’s responsibility is to sift out the tares and keep the wheat which is perhaps why hymns seem more substantial as a whole…because they have withstood the test of time. In a hundred years, songs like “How Great Is Our God”, “Revelation Song”, etc. should and will be viewed as hymns are today. Always remember, every hymn was at one time contemporary to the time.
I appreciate the list! I was raised on contemporary worship music. When I went back and discovered the hymns, I was astonished by their depth and beauty. There are some good modern songs, but you have to dig for them, and the best ones usually reflect the language of hymns anyway.
I think the biggest reason there are so many worship wars is because the American church has mostly abandoned Psalm-singing. From the dawn of the Reformation, the Reformers thought it absolutely necessary and vital to translate the Psalms into verse and meter. Churches sang Psalms for a couple hundred years, but since then we have abandoned them. Why? I can’t figure it out! There are some good Psalters out there with modernized language (Psalms for Worship, 2009). No one will have any reason to argue if the church starts reintroducing these! It is hard to argue that the theology is bad, or that the words aren’t meaningful. The Psalms have stolen my heart.