The Danger of Hymns

I was reading "A Survey of Christian Hymnody" this afternoon when I was struck with a perplexing question about the danger of hymns. I have often thought of the power of hymns to convey biblical truth, edify fellow believers, and express meaning full praise to God. Yet never before had I pondered whether or not there is an inherent danger in the writing and singing of hymns.

This was first brought to my attention in reading about the hymns written during the early years of Christianity in which the Arian and Gnostic heresy were most prevelant. "A Survey of Christian Hymnody" notes that, "Both the gnostics and the followers of Arius apparently wrote large numbers of hymns that expressed their views..." (5). Because hymns can so adequately and succinctly express ideas, the followers of these heresies used them to further their abberations from biblical Christianity.

The great danger in hymnody is seen in this example. Hymns are the handmaidens of theology, both sound and unsound. Indeed, even in today's Christianity the gnosticism of personal spirituality and the idolatry of worshipping an unbiblical God are fueled by touchy-feely, vague lyrics. How then should Christians treat hymns and hymn writing? In the days of the Gnostic and Arian heresies, the Church responded in two different ways. "A Survey of Christian Hymnody" observes, "The encounter with the heretical hymns provoked two reactions among those holding orthodox beliefs: the writing of orthodox hymns to compete with those of the heterodox, or the outright rejection of "hyman-composed" hymns to avoid the possibility of singing heresy" (5).

So I guess the short, simple answer is to sing the Bible, or hymns that are so closely tied to the heartbeat of the Bible that it is nearly impossible to seperate the two. Otherwise hymns wills cease to further theological literacy and doxological response. But will, in fact, corrode both the knowledge and worship of God.