How can I keep from singing hymn history?

We sing hymn history to contribute to the collective memory of the faith community. But the simple truth is, hymn history is more often than not steeped in bias. And bias blinds us to the diversity of people God made us to be.

How do I keep from singing hymn history?

First, understand that hymn history is a challenging field to research. It is not an exact science, so you will inevitably encounter conflicting accounts or differing opinions. It is important to keep an open mind when researching hymn history and to always be willing to learn more.

How to keep from singing hymn history?

Ask people to sing a hymn from the beginning, not just the end. Most people sing hymns “to the end” because that’s how they were taught. But hymns really do come together when you sing from the beginning. Start with the familiar and end with the less familiar.

How to keep from singing in church?

You can easily learn not to sing hymns if you understand where they come from. Believe it or not, many hymns were written at the request of people in the church who wanted to sing a song that would remind them of a specific religious event or passage. Other hymns were written to help people sing in tune. Still others were written as a way to teach the basics of the Christian faith.

How to stop singing hymn history?

The truth is, hymn history is not the problem, it’s the way that people sing it. If you sing hymn history the way it was meant to be sung, you won’t feel guilty for learning the songs. At your next gathering, try to sing along with everyone else but with your eyes closed. You won’t lose any points for listening!