There have long been wars in church about how to worship. Should a church sing hymns or worship choruses, this is an age old question? There are many that do not like worship choruses, and there are some that do not care for hymns. Personally I believe that there is value in both in worshiping the Lord.
I believe that God likes all kinds of music and styles of music including opera, (which personally I do not care for), otherwise why would he allow for it to be created? God desires that we worship him in spirit and truth as it says in the Scriptures, and we can worship that way using any style of music.
There is a story that I think helps us to understand the difference between a hymn and a chorus. I am not sure who wrote this, but I think it makes a great point. "An old farmer went to the city on one weekend and attended the big city church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was. Well, he said, It was good, they did something different however, they sang praise choruses instead of hymns. Praise choruses, said his wife, what are those? Oh, they're okay, they are sort of like hymns only different, said the farmer. Well, what's the difference, asked his wife. The farmer said, Well, it's like this, if I were to say to you, Martha, the cows are in the corn, well, that would be a hymn. If, on the other hand, I were to say to you, Martha, Martha, Martha, O Martha, Martha, Martha, the cows, the big cows, the brown cows, the black cows, the white cows, the black and white cows, the cows, cows, cows, are in the corn, are in the corn, are in corn, are in the corn, the corn, corn, corn. Then if I were to repeat the whole thing two or three times, well, that would be a praise chorus. As luck would have it, the exact same Sunday, a young new Christian from the city church attended a small town church. He came home and his wife asked how it was. Well, said the young man, it was good. There was something different however, they sang hymns instead of regular songs. Hymns, said his wife, what are those? Well, they're okay, they're sort of like regular songs only different, said the young man. Well, what's the difference asked his wife. The young man said, well it's like this, if I were to say to you, Martha, the cows are in the corn, well, that would be a regular song. If, on the other hand, I were to say to you, oh Martha, dear Martha, hear thou my cry, incline thine ear to the words of my mouth, turn thou thy whole wondrous ear by and by to the righteous, inimitable, glorious truth, for the way of the animals who can explain, there in their heads is no shadow of sense. Harkenest, they in God's Son in His reign, and less from the mild, tempting corn they are sent. Yea, those cows, in proud bovine, rebellious delight, have broken free their shackles, their worn pens eschewed. Then goaded by minions of darkness and night, they all, my child, Chilliwack sweet corn have chewed. So, look to that bright shining day by and by where all foul corruption's of earth are reborn, where no vicious animal makes my soul cry, and I no longer see those foul cows in the corn. Then if I were to do only verses 1, 3 and 4, and do a key change in the last verse, well, that would be a hymn."
Our hymns and our choruses really tell the same story of our praise to God. It is all a matter what touches our hearts and that we desire to bless and praise to God. There is sound theology in both the hymns and the choruses that we sing. Let us sing them in thanksgiving to God for the blessings of life.
God bless you,
Pastor Barron Willer