I would say that Robert doesn’t sing along to the choruses for their syncopated rhythms and strong beats on 2 and 4 as much or more so than in protest of their lyrics. But I do see what you’re saying. I’m not trying to advocate, in any way, a complete rejection of choruses and uncritical embrace of hymns. Just as there exist many bad hymns (although many that fall into that category have been lost to history), there are plenty of good choruses being written today – we sing a number of them at my church. In fact, we are working on an album featuring songs that have been written in my church that should be out in a couple of months.

Case in point about bad hymns: I remember one sermon about three years ago when Doc preached a message from the Psalms, a pretty good message, one that talked about trusting God even when everything is going wrong. And then, for the invitation, the song leader choose a hymn, unwittingly no doubt, (I’ve forgotten which one, I have it written down somewhere) that was basically a point-by-point rebuttal of the sermon. But nobody noticed, because it was a familiar and cherished hymn! Nobody cared what they were singing! So I’m glad for music, like Indelible Grace, that makes the familiar non-familiar, that gives me a second chance to think about what I’m singing.

Nice reference to I Surrender All. I think I would differentiate it from lyrics like “you’re all I want”, because it is more of a declaration of what I want to be, what I try to be, than a description of what my feelings are. And that comes back to a main difference between a lot of hymns and choruses – do they focus on the character of God or on my feelings?

I just know that I need to sing lyrics that reflect, not “I believe, and everything is great!”, but “I believe, help my unbelief.”

We had one particular older gentleman in our church who stands staunchly and defiantly silent when we sing choruses. He even turns down his hearing aid. He sings along when we sing the ‘sacred’ hymns.

Some modern choruses touch my soul and encourage me better than the hymns. Are the hymns old and stale from repetition? Some hymns inspire and encourage. The hymns have survived the ages for a reason.

In reality I don’t surrender all, but I try. But the attempt to die daily isn’t the problem. Absence of intelligence in my fellow beings is killing me. I try to renew my mind and forfeit my rights and help my fellow man. I’ll try to pick up some of these tunes. Maybe they can nurture my quest to be less like me and more like Him.