It is certainly true that hymns teach regardless of anyone’s intention when using them. As many have written before, this is one of the great matters of ignorance among those writing the majority of praise songs in our day. Many of these songs simply have little substance to send forth into the mind. Only the experience of the song then is instructive (positively or negatively).
As I said, much has been written about the lack of substance in many modern Christians songs. And so let me instead speak to the other extreme where hymnody is viewed as only pedagogy. There seems to be a thought especially among liturgically minded Lutherans that the only good hymns are those which teach at a minimum four chief parts of the catechism in no less than seven verses.
And while there is certainly a place for such hymns. There also is a place for much simpler hymns which simply allow the singer to revel in the goodness of God. There is room for hymns that simply carry the text of scripture through their melodies into our mind. There is room for hymns which simply stir the emotions heavenward. As with many things, we need to remember that not each song must accomplish everything. We Lutherans have a tendency to expect each hymn in a service to do everything even though the liturgy should teach us differently. Almost any part of the liturgy alone does not say enough by itself. It is only when it is all pieces together that one gets the whole idea. Likewise, we need to remember that hymns can function in that same way. Yes there should be meaty, content stuffed hymns in our worship. But there also should be simple songs which do not require the full power of our minds to digest.
Yes, hymns teach doctrine. But they do much more. They carry scripture into our memory. The give voice to the praise God’s goodness well up in our hearts. They properly stir our emotions.
Hymns certainly should be considered as tools of pedagogy. But hymns are truly multi-taskers. Hymnbooks are much more than textbooks. We must rejoice in all that God through hymns does rather than seeking to pigeonhole hymns as only serving one purpose.
1 Chronicles 16:8-10 Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him; sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
