A friend of mine had surgery last Thursday and I stayed with her some Thursday and Friday. Friday, while she was sleeping, I watched an old Andy Griffith show where they were trying to get a new organ for their church. They were in the church singing Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.
I mentioned it to Duck over the weekend how great it was to actually hear that hymn. It’s probably been a year or more since we’d heard that song in church — not that we’ve missed church for a year, but that most all the churches we visit are doing those “praise” choruses.
I don’t have anything against praise choruses other than I don’t like singing them all the time — 24/7 — I heard one description of them as being 7 words sung 24 times. Anyway, we would rather have hymns and maybe a praise chorus or two thrown in — but not beat to death.
Saturday I asked Duck if we were going to try another church on Sunday. He asked me what I felt like doing to which I replied, “half of me wants to say forget it and stay home. The other half is ok going somewhere.” So being the ever-supportive, helpful wife I am, I left it up to my spiritual leader 
Duck woke me up Sunday morning to get ready for church. He’d looked up some information on the church he felt we should visit and we were off. We got into the church and sat down, only to find that some of our friends from an old church were now going there.
Imagine my surprise when the music director led us in singing Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. That had to be a God thang. AND, the preacher actually preached the Bible. I’m talking, take a few verses, break it down and give some real life examples I can totally understand. I hate to admit it’s been a long, long time since I’ve heard a good sermon.
I really try not to be negative about church and our experiences, but when I can take something the pastor’s preached and it doesn’t jive with what my Bible says, I know that’s not the church for us. Please don’t think I’m trying to say I know everything, I don’t — but I believe God’s given all of us the ability to read the Bible for ourselves and to know what it’s saying with His help. There’s only 1 God and He doesn’t change — ever. So He’s not going to tell me one thing and someone else something that contradicts what He told me. Just not going to happen.
But yesterday, the preacher simply preached the Word and it was so good to hear. Then, to end the service? We sang What a Friend We Have in Jesus. Awesome.
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Hey, I didn’t see you at our church yesterday! We sang “Leaning,” as well as “Rise Up, O Men of God” (it was Scout Sunday). On Ash Wednesday we sang “There is a Balm in Gilead.” We always sing hymns! And each week at vespers I always include two well-known hymns. I think it provides a real common ground for the congregation, besides being uplifting.
As far as accurately preaching the Bible — I’m not sure there’s a way to write and deliver a sermon without doing just that. If you’ve done your homework and written the sermon correctly, there’s really no way you can negate the Bible, unless you’re just editorializing from the pulpit, and that’s a major no-no! I’ve never seen a pastor do that.
Glad you had a good visit yesterday. I hope it turns out to be the place you’re looking for.
Lisa
sorry for the extra post, but I forgot to leave my Web site!
I just had that converstaion yesterday with a member in our church praise band. We have completely gotten away from hymns and I so cherish them. This person’s remark was not encouraging that they would come back. Hymns are so spiritual. If our pastor wasn’t so good and God-fearing and we were not so involved in various ministies I would probably consider looking somewhere else. I have a CD “Hymns 4 Him” that I listen to in the car and at work to fill in that void. God bless you as you seek out His will in your new church home (sounds like He may have!).
In His Graces~Pamela