January 13, 2013

The New Testament Baptist Church of Butler, Pennsylvania

The Purpose of the Hymnbook

I believe that a hymnbook is a very important part of the worship and music ministry of a Bible-believing and Bible-centered church. In this article I would like to give a few of my reasons for this belief. For instance, John Gillman wrote back in 1927 in The Evolution of the English Hymn: A hymnbook is a transcript from real life, a poetical accompaniment to real events and real experiences. Like all literature that counts, it rises directly out of life.... The heart of a nation is written in its songs. Even so the heart of the Christian Church is revealed in its hymns. Gillman delineates how the revival under John and Charles Wesley "saved the soul of England," both in the country as a whole and in the churches. He closes the above quote with this comment, "At the heart of it all was a hymnbook." Gillman adds: The great hymns of the past that are still found in our hymnals have survived because of their intrinsic power to help successive generations of men and women. There is an air of 'everlastingness' about them. They deal with themes that never grow old; the majesty and love of God, the mysteries of the incarnation and redemption, the need of pardon and grace, the warfare and ultimate triumph of those who follow Christ.... Thus one generation after another is bound together by a golden chain of praise. To support the value of the hymnbook, I would like to use some quotes from the book Jubilate: Church Music in the Evangelical Tradition by Donald Hustad. Although I would consider Dr. Hustad to be a New Evangelical, he is a respected music scholar. Here are a few quotes by Dr. Hustad: Evangelicals have been known as 'people of the book. Actually, we are a people of two books, the Bible and the hymnal. It has been said that in the 16th century, Martin Luther gave the German people, in their own language, the Bible and the hymnbook, so that God might speak directly to them in His Word, and that they might directly answer Him in their songs. [Today] the tragedy is that we do not prize what a hymnal contains; we do not really use it well. For the centraland only indispensablemusic of evangelical Christianity is congregational singing, the whole church demonstrating its priesthood in song.... Singing is for believers. Dan Lucarini, a former worship leader, realizes the dangers of disregarding the hymnbook by what he calls the "twenty-five years of the experiment." In his book, It's Not About the Music, Dan warns: When we throw out the hymnals, we also throw out Godgiven protections against doctrinal drift, heresy and shocking musical worldliness. We turn over the musical catechism of our children to an ecumenical music industry driven by the worst fashions and lusts of this present age. It is past time to end the experiment and invest again in a good hymnal. Buy one for every home too. Before the Reformation, hymns were sung in unison Gregorian chant by Catholic priests and not by a congregation. Martin Luther set out with fervor to write hymns that were rich in doctrinal text and that were set in four-part harmony to be sung by the congregation of saints. He believed that these hymns would lead to the enrichment of the church. So, what is the purpose of the hymnbook? Congregational singing should be the center of any church music program because every believer is commanded to sing praises to the Lord (Ephesians 5:18-20; Colossians 3:16-17). God has given the gift of music to every Christian to help us fulfill our chief purpose in lifeto glorify God. The hymnbook is the foundation upon which good congregational singing is built, and is the vehicle for accomplishing this purpose.

By Frank Garlock

Cost: $40/couple

724.282.2494

437 North Duffy Road, Butler, Pennsylvania 16001

www.VisitNTBC.com

Thank you for choosing to worship at the New Testament Baptist Church of Butler. Our prayer is that your heart will be stirred for the eternal as we sing songs & hymns that direct your heart toward Christ and challenge you through the preaching of Gods Word. There are friendly people at our Welcome Center in the lobby who will gladly assist you with any questions you may have during your visit. Allow us to make you feel at home during your visit. First-time adult visitors and families are asked to visit our Welcome Center to receive a hospitality bag with a gift card to Chick-fil-A.

First Time Visitors

An active church like New Testament Baptist Church relies upon its membership for volunteers to help with various needs throughout our ministries. If you are able to help with any of the following needs, please see Pastor Fisher. Basic Plumbinginstall a new faucet fixture Basic Plumbingdivert an indoor water pipe Basic WiringReplace wall light switch Paintingpaint and trim walls in a kitchen General Laborshovel snow before church services

Help Wanted

Out of respect for your loved ones and those in attendance, we ask parents to use our clean & well-equipped nursery. This free service is available for newborns and infants (birth through 24 months). Your cooperation is needed and appreciated. Assistance is available at the Welcome Center.

Parents with Infants and Young Children

Weekly Service Schedule

Sunday: 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
The winter months provide a great opportunity for our church to transition from our organized soul winning program on Saturdays to our TAKE 5 tract distribution program. Every Christian should be involved in actively sharing Jesus Christ with others.

Adult & Childrens Bible Study Classes Morning Preaching Choir Practice Evening Preaching Patch the Pirate Childrens Choral Club Midweek Bible Study & Prayer Bus Visitation

Wednesday: 7:00 PM Saturday: 10:30 AM