When Paul tells us in Colossians 3:16 to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly by “teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,” he is not envisioning a worship service built on emotional uplift alone. He is describing music that carries weight—songs that instruct the mind, correct the heart, and anchor the church in the truths of Scripture. And when you look across the history of Christian hymnody, you find that many of the great hymns were written precisely for this purpose.
Take Holy, Holy, Holy. This is not a song designed merely to make us feel reverent; it is a Trinitarian confession. Every stanza is catechesis. It teaches us who God is—eternal, almighty, perfectly holy—and it admonishes us by reminding us that all creation bows before Him. Singing it is an act of theological formation.
Or consider How Firm a Foundation. This hymn is almost a sung sermon. It takes the promises of Scripture and places them directly into the mouth of God: “Fear not, I am with thee.” The hymn teaches us to trust the sufficiency of God’s Word and admonishes us to stand firm when trials come. It is not about how we feel in the moment; it is about what God has said, and therefore what we must believe.
Rock of Ages does the same. Toplady wasn’t trying to create a sentimental moment; he was teaching the doctrine of justification by grace alone. The hymn confronts us with our inability—“nothing in my hand I bring”—and admonishes us to cling to Christ alone for salvation. It is theology set to melody.
Luther’s A Mighty Fortress Is Our God is another example. It teaches the reality of spiritual warfare, the power of God’s Word, and the certainty of Christ’s victory. It admonishes us not to fear the enemy, because “one little word shall fell him.” This is not emotionalism; it is formation.
Even a hymn like Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise serves as a theological corrective. It teaches the attributes of God—His invisibility, His immortality, His wisdom—and admonishes us to remember that He is not like us. It pulls our worship upward, away from sentiment and toward the majesty of the God who dwells in unapproachable light.
And in our own day, In Christ Alone stands out precisely because it teaches. It walks us through the incarnation, the cross, the resurrection, and the believer’s assurance. It admonishes us to stand in Christ alone, not in our feelings or circumstances. It is a modern hymn that actually fulfills Paul’s command.
These songs do what Paul requires: they teach us what is true, and they admonish us to live in light of that truth. They give the church a vocabulary of faith that is richer, deeper, and more durable than the language of mere experience. They help the word of Christ dwell richly—not thinly, not sentimentally, but richly—in the gathered people of God.
1 comment:
There are those that argue for the use of classic hymns because that's just how it should be done. But as you point out, there's a better reason to use them, their deep and abiding biblical truth put into a form meant for easy memorization.
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