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Jesus Christ is King.

Let’s talk about church music — that beautiful, powerful, sometimes ear-splitting expression of worship that can either lift your soul to the throne of grace or make you feel like you’re trapped inside a Christian boy band reunion.

Now, before anyone grabs their pitchfork (or tambourine), let’s admit it: contemporary worship songs aren’t all bad. Some are rich, theologically sound, and written with genuine heart. But if you’ve been to church more than twice in the last decade, you’ve probably noticed that the average Sunday morning set has started to sound suspiciously like the soundtrack to a spiritual rom-com.

Meanwhile, the old psalms and hymns — those dusty, supposedly “outdated” treasures — keep standing tall, refusing to be replaced by the latest “Oceans” clone. So, with tongue firmly in cheek (and heart full of love for the truth), let’s explore why singing psalms and hymns might just be one of the best things the modern church could rediscover.

1. Because Scripture Already Wrote the Greatest Hits

When God Himself gives you 150 Spirit-inspired songs, it’s probably wise to start there. The psalms are not just “David’s mixtape” — they are the divinely authored soundtrack for the worshiping life of the believer.

They cover everything: joy, sorrow, repentance, triumph, grief, doubt, and praise. You won’t find a better emotional range in any Hillsong release. In one psalm you’re shouting, “The Lord reigns!” and in the next, you’re ugly-crying, “Why, O Lord, do You hide Your face?”

Modern songs tend to hover around two settings: “Jesus, You make me feel good” and “Jesus, You really make me feel good.”

The psalms? They pull you through the entire human condition and back again — and they do it with theology that actually transforms you, not just entertains you.

2. Because Hymns Have Meat, Not Just Milk

There’s something almost scandalous about how much doctrine the average hymn sneaks into four verses.

Take “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” That’s not just a tune — that’s a full-blown seminary course with a melody. “Rock of Ages,” “Come Thou Fount,” “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” — these songs preach.

By contrast, many modern songs feel like they were written after someone found a cool chord progression and decided to add some Christian words on top. You could play half of them backward and not notice, because the lyrics repeat more than a toddler’s favorite cartoon line.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Repetition has a place. The angels repeat “Holy, holy, holy” forever. But they’re not doing it because they ran out of ideas. They’re doing it because they’re staring at infinite holiness.

3. Because the Old Songs Were Built to Last

Ever notice that psalms and hymns have this remarkable staying power?

David’s been topping the charts for over 3,000 years. Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley are still selling out sanctuaries. Meanwhile, the average modern worship hit lasts about as long as a TikTok trend.

You don’t see anyone in 2085 planning a “Bethel Classics” tour. (Gracious… I hope I didn’t just give them an idea.)

Why? Because psalms and hymns were written for congregational worship, not performance. They were crafted with precision, theology, and a community in mind — not a fog machine. They were made to be sung by the saints gathered around the Word, not streamed on Spotify during your quiet time with a latte.

4. Because They Teach While They Praise

Paul said, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Colossians 3:16). Notice that — he ties singing directly to the Word dwelling in you.

Singing is not just emotional expression; it’s theological formation. You remember what you sing.

So, what happens when what you’re singing is shallow? You remember shallowness.

What happens when you sing lines like, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness”? You remember truth. You internalize it. You start humming the gospel in traffic. You start singing doctrine over your doubts. You become what you worship.

5. Because the Psalms Give You Permission to Be Honest

The psalms don’t fake it. They don’t smile through suffering with forced cheer. They wrestle with God. They confess sin. They shout, weep, hope, and trust.

Modern worship culture often equates faith with good vibes. But the psalms remind us that faith can look like trembling. It can sound like lament. It can feel like waiting.

When you sing the psalms, you learn to pray in the valleys as well as on the mountaintops. You discover that worship isn’t pretending everything’s fine — it’s believing God is still good when everything isn’t.

6. Because Hymns Build Unity Across Generations

Ever stood in a room where young and old alike belt out “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”? It’s powerful.

The church is not defined by a decade or a genre — it’s a people spanning centuries. When we sing the hymns and psalms that our forefathers sang, we’re joining a choir that stretches across time.

Grandma, teenager, deacon, and new believer — all standing side by side, confessing the same eternal truths. That’s not nostalgia; that’s discipleship in stereo.

7. Because Theology > Trend

Let’s be real — trends age faster than my phone battery.

Once upon a time, everyone was doing the hand motions to “Shout to the Lord.” Then came “How Great Is Our God.” Then “Reckless Love.” And now? Half the church is quietly wondering, Do we even mean half of what we just sang?

But psalms and hymns don’t rely on trendiness to hold attention. They’re built on unchanging truth. God’s holiness doesn’t go out of style. The cross doesn’t need an updated chorus.

8. Because the Devil Hates Good Theology

You want to tick off the enemy? Sing truth.

Sing about substitutionary atonement. Sing about grace that’s greater than all our sin. Sing that Christ is our cornerstone, our refuge, our King.

Satan isn’t scared of catchy bridges. He’s terrified of believers declaring the gospel with understanding and conviction.

When a congregation sings “And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior’s blood?” the gates of hell tremble.

9. Because Worship Isn’t About You

Here’s the hard truth: most modern songs center you.

How you feel.

How you respond.

What you’re doing for God.

But the psalms and hymns point to Him. His glory. His majesty. His mercy. His sovereignty.

When you leave church after singing the psalms, you don’t walk out thinking, “What a great band.”

You walk out thinking, “What a great God.”

Conclusion: Bring Back the Psalms (and Maybe Burn the Smoke Machine)

Maybe it’s time for a worship revolution — not by getting louder or trendier, but by getting truer.

Sing songs that make you think, not just sway.

Sing words that would still make sense if you were in prison instead of a concert hall.

Sing the psalms and hymns that have survived persecution, revival, and every musical fad in between.

And the next time someone tells you hymns are “too old,” just smile and say, “So is the gospel.”

Soli Deo Gloria.