by Ryan Smith | Oct 16, 2018
Whenever church folk hear that I lead worship at a church, their subsequent two questions have become numbingly predictable.
First: “How big is your church?” This is relatively easy, even though I’m not a big fan of the question itself.
Second: “Do you sing hymns?” I always pause before I answer this question.
I know what they are asking. I cut my teeth on the great “hymns of the faith.” I was fed Isaac, Fanny and the Wesleys from the bottle. In essence, they are asking if we sing familiar songs written pre-Jesus People Movement (late 1960s-1970s) that have recognizable stanzas, parts, high-language and don’t require drums.
Usually, my response is something about how we have a vast well of music to draw from in the church, and we drink deeply of all songs that are biblically rich, theologically accurate and Christ-centered regardless of what era they are from.
They often politely look at my spiky hair and skinny jeans (technically a slim-straight cut) and smile as they nod and walk away.
I care deeply about the songs of the church – not just because I like music but because the command to “Sing!” is the most often repeated commandment in the Scriptures. We have been wired to respond to rhythm and prose in a way that not only makes lyrics memorable and digestible but makes songs didactic, emotive and gives great color and dimension to the timeless truth of the Gospel. We are created to respond uniquely to music.
There are indeed different songs available to the church, but I don’t believe their designation should be made by date, tempo or arrangement. The Scripture instructs us to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Col. 3:16). We are to address one another in the church with songs and raise our melody together to the Lord (Eph. 5:19).
Before we ask if we sing hymns or not, I want us to consider three questions: What does the Bible mean by “hymns;” what are the church’s hymns intended to do; and do we sing hymns (even modern and new) in the church today?
What does the Bible mean by ‘hymns’?
The Greek word hymnos (as seen in Col. 3:16 and Eph. 5:19 above) basically means a song of praise, an ode to a hero or a sacred song. The way the Bible uses the term is to speak of songs sung by believers in honor and praise of God.
What are the church’s hymns meant to do?
Given the context of the verses above, it is clear the Bible intends for its songs (including hymns) to do several things. They are to carry the Word. They are to teach. They are to admonish the gathered church with wisdom. They are to contain a corporate element of speaking to one another as we address God. They are to praise God.
In essence, the Bible’s definition of a hymn is a song sung by, to and with the church that uses the Word of God to teach and admonish the church, as the church’s words and hearts are directed together toward the praise of God.
Can modern songs by hymns?
By this definition, it is easy to see the capacity is alive and well for biblical hymns to be written and incorporated into every style of worship. A hymn written by a 16th century Puritan can be placed next to a song written and released last week on iTunes from a millennial’s MacBook in a church’s order of worship, and that church can proudly declare, “We sing hymns!”
Interestingly enough, a great resurgence of hymn writers is currently releasing beautiful new hymns for the church. Matt Boswell, Keith and Kristyn Getty, Sovereign Grace Music and many others are producing biblical, profound, rich, Gospel-centered truths as played and sung with modern instrumentation and melody.
The distinction of “hymn” is not about style, but content. Sadly, many songs written today focus on the self and are not suitable for corporate worship. They contain little-to-no biblical or doctrinal content. By the same token, many songs that have been mainstays for centuries in our hymnals also suffer from the same deficiency.
Indeed the church does have a deep well to draw from for its music, and hymns from today stand alongside 2,000 years of hymns declaring the glory of Jesus Christ and the richness of God’s Word. May we select and judge our songs not based on rhythm or arrangement but on doctrinal clarity, biblical fidelity and proper exaltation of Christ.
Though modern or traditional in style, may all our churches be dedicated to the great hymns of the faith – old and new.
“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
And his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the LORD is good;
His steadfast love endures forever,
And his faithfulness to all generations.”
(Psalm 100)
by Ryan Smith | Sep 27, 2018
(Jesus said), “’And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.’
Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’” (John 14:3-5).
I am old enough to remember family road trips before GPS.
For months in advance, our family would talk about where we were going for that year’s Smith Family Vacation. We would learn about the destination, local attractions and if there were any family members to visit in the area.
While I remember much about various amusement parks, beaches, mountains and other destinations, there is something that always equally fascinated me: my dad knew the way.
While we were packing sunscreen and sunglasses, my dad was tracing lines on a map. He was measuring distances and analyzing routes. When we took wrong turns, I remember my dad getting the map back out, retracing the route, seeking to get us back on the way.
Our focus was the destination. My dad’s focus was the way.
When Jesus told His disciples He would be crucified, resurrected and returning to the Father, Jesus carefully phrased an awkward statement:
I am going, he said.
I will come again and take you, he promised.
And you know the way.
Not you know the place. You know the way.
Thomas’s question in response is more than valid. If the disciples don’t know where Jesus is going, how can they possibly know the way? If one doesn’t have a destination, how can one use a map?
Jesus’s response? “I am the Way…”
Much of my Christian walk is spent concerned about destinations. I grapple with doctrinal underpinnings of time, place and means. My daily prayers and concerns are often destination-oriented regarding my wife, my kids, my work and the future I trust in the Lord’s hands, but of which I also desire a more detailed GPS.
What Jesus reminds Thomas is that it’s not just about the destination for the disciple; it’s about the Way. Jesus is enough.
I know I am to abide in Jesus. I know I am to pray continually and immerse myself in the Scripture. I know the basic disciplines of following Jesus, but I often deprioritize those disciplines in an effort to get to my desired (even godly) destination more quickly.
I want a shortcut to the destinations God has for my life. But Jesus doesn’t just provide a destination; He provides the Way.
When I am tempted to be more concerned with where Jesus is headed than where He is by the presence of His Holy Spirit, I find myself asking the question of Thomas.
Jesus, I don’t know where you are going so how can I follow the path?
I also find myself needing to remember Jesus’s words. Jesus said, “I am the Way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Discipleship is a path, not a place. When Jesus called His disciples, He said, “Follow me,” not, “Meet me over there.”
To know Jesus is to follow Jesus and to follow Jesus is to know Him. The path is the destination. The destination is the path.
For those like me who are often anxious about what’s next, may we remember Thomas’s question and Jesus’s reply. It’s not about what’s next; it’s about what’s now. And what’s now is the opportunity to follow Jesus in present disciplines of discipleship.
“…you know the way to where I am going.’…I am the Way” (John 14:4,6).
by Ryan Smith | Sep 6, 2018
Somewhere deep in the recesses of the Smith family picture albums is a photograph of a young boy in an oversized Michael Jordan t-shirt standing next to a small Zenith television set. The boy has a broad smile and an air of accomplishment beaming from his round face.
The boy was me and on the TV screen, partially hidden by glare from the camera flash, is the pixelated final screen of Super Mario Brothers 2 declaring triumphantly, “The End.”
I grew up as part of the Nintendo generation. Tecmo Bowl, Contra, Excitebike, all of these provided countless hours of entertainment, camaraderie with friends, and a way to keep me from joining roving street gangs.
I also knew how and when to turn the game system off (although my mother might argue against this point). There was a world, and video games were a part of it, but video games were not my world. They were not meant to be, nor did they try to be.
Today’s game systems offer a much more immersive experience. One can spend hours playing a game alongside others from across the world. This is a monumental technological achievement. Virtual reality, advanced graphics, and much more layered gameplay offer an experience the chubby little boy beside the old Zenith could only dream of.
Many of today’s video games are designed to be a part of a lifestyle or even identity for the player. One’s accomplishments in the virtual world often garner more excitement or self-congratulations than achievements in the real world.
Therein lies much of the issue for friends, parents and others who see the rising importance of video games in the lives of their loved ones. I have personally seen people become so immersed in a video game or online experience that they began to damage themselves and others physically, emotionally and relationally.
I have also seen many people who enjoy playing video games like others enjoy watching sports. They invest a few hours a week, learn about the games and strategies, and generally enjoy the games as a healthy outlet.
Like anything, video games can foster addictive behavior, and the results can be disorienting. Like Gollum hovering over the ring, these individuals grasp their controllers and sleek off into a darkened corner of their physical and relational worlds. But just because someone plays video games does not mean they are destined for this fate.
If you are concerned about a loved one’s approach to video games or are wanting to navigate this digital world well as a parent, I offer three warning indicators that a person’s video game involvement has gone too far.
1. COMPROMISING PHYSICAL HEALTH
I am not a doctor (nor do I play one on TV), but I don’t have to be a doctor to tell you about basic necessities for healthy living. People need sleep. They need to eat well. They need to exercise and live in a healthy environment.
While getting immersed in a video game, it is easy to let the clock drift, settle for pizza and Pepsi every night, let the dishes pile up, and waste daylight hours that could be used for helpful outside activity.
An occasional video game binge isn’t the end of the world, but if your loved one shows a consistent lack of sleep, begins to have physical irregularities, or only has muscles in their thumbs, it may be time to pull the plug. If their environment is marked by neglected responsibilities and misplaced priorities, they have likely gone too far. No virtual game is worth damaging one’s physical health.
2. COMPROMISING RELATIONAL HEALTH
For some people, the relational aspects of video games are a draw. Team conquest and mutual dependence can be good side-effects of multi-player gaming. But the majority of online friendships are superficial. A person needs to know how to look others in the eye, engage in proactive listening and spend time with real people in a real world.
The line between the online world and the real world can easily be blurred for gamers, and at times, they need a helpful nudge back into reality. If your loved one begins to sever or damage relationships for the sake of time with a video game, this is a bad sign. If your loved one shows underdeveloped relational or interpersonal skills, this can cause grave issues down the line. If someone’s online friendships begin to become their primary relationships, it is better to intervene sooner rather than later.
3. SINFUL ATTITUDE SHIFTS
Protecting our time is a valuable skill. However, when our protection turns into aggression or disrespect, we have crossed a line. This idea is true in all walks of life. If your loved one begins to protect their game time with aggressive or volatile attitudes, they have gone too far. If shifts in attitude become apparent that are mirrored from a specific game, that game should be dismissed. If Jesus said we should cut out our eye or sever our hand if it causes us to sin, how much more should we be willing to unplug our (or a loved one’s) game system?
Ultimately, you as a parent, spouse or loved one have the right to monitor and communicate about video game habits. If you see a pattern or instance of concern, express it. If your loved one won’t let you see or hear what they are doing online, intervene. That is true across the board.
Video games can be a fun way to interact and spend time. They can also become an idol. Having strong accountability and being willing to listen to others is vital for any person actively involved in gaming. Be prepared to discuss how much is too much with your loved one, set parameters and stick to them.
Remember, whether we eat or drink (or play video games) let us do all for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).
by Ryan Smith | Aug 29, 2018
“Sex. Murder. Puppets.”
That is the tagline of a new movie from producer Brian Henson. Brian is the son of Jim Henson, the acclaimed creator of both The Muppets and Sesame Street. The general plot of the movie centers around a string of violent puppet murders and the puppet/human tandem that sets out to investigate them. The primary marketing strategy for the film is the boast of extreme vulgarity, explicit sexual content, gratuitous violence – and Muppets.
I have not seen the movie, “The Happytime Murders,” and do not plan to. The aim of this article is not to provide a review of the movie or even a condemnation (though likely warranted). Frankly, both are a waste of time. While there are many aspects of this movie I find disturbing, eventually it will be forgotten in the digital ones and zeros of Netflix’s virtual basement until it is deleted to make room for more “Full House” spinoffs.
What bothers me about the movie is not just its content. There are a lot of movies that try to push the envelope of depravity.
What stirs my soul is that its very existence holds up a mirror to my own heart and shows me a truth I do not like to see.
The book of Romans is considered by many to be Paul’s gospel magnum opus. The letter is perhaps the most detailed and sweeping narrative of the Gospel in all of the Bible. After a brief personal introduction to the letter, Paul nails his thesis to the page with striking force as he says, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…for in it the righteousness of God is revealed” (vv. 16-17).
The verses immediately following (vv. 18-31) display the fundamental problem of humankind. What is that problem? The word Paul repeatedly uses in this short discourse is “exchanged.” Mankind exchanged the glory of God for images of created beings (v.23). We exchanged the truth about God for a lie (v. 25). We exchanged right sexual relations for perversions (v. 26).
What must be noted is not simply that in our sinful nature we revel in sinful things, but that we revel in good things in sinful ways.
God gave us a good creation. God gave us many gifts to be enjoyed for His glory and our good. But we exchange those good things for their perversions. It wasn’t the fruit that was sinful in the garden, it was the use of the fruit to transgress the holy command of God.
Sin is not just using bad things; it is using good things badly.
You may be asking what all of this has to do with a dirty puppet movie. Valid question.
I was watching football with my son (he’s six) recently when a commercial for “The Happytime Murders” appeared on the screen. At first sight of the puppet, I told my son this was a “no go,” and he turned his face away as I changed the channel.
What followed was a very confused look on my son’s face and a difficult conversation. As a six-year-old, my son has come to associate Muppet-puppets with learning, friendship, innocence and fun. For decades they have been tools for equipping children with the most foundational social and educational tools. They are good things.
But in “The Happytime Murders,” an exchange has taken place.
As I talked with my son, what came over me was not anger at Brian Henson or Hollywood, but a realization that we have never gotten over the sin of Eden.
Things that are a delight to the eyes and desirable to make one wise are not always bad – in fact they are often good; but not when they are used the wrong way – not when they are exchanged.
As I was explaining this idea to my son, I wondered how many good things there are in my own life that I have used in the wrong ways.
Do I use my time fruitfully or recklessly?
Do I treat my family with a posture of servant-leadership or do I use them to serve me?
Do I use my finances as a godly steward or for selfish gain?
The list is relatively endless. For every one of God’s blessings, there is an opportunity to use or abuse the blessing in a way that turns a good thing into a ghastly thing.
While I am highly disappointed in Brian Henson and virtually anyone who had a hand in “The Happytime Murders,” I realize I am not so different from them. I tend to use good things to push the envelope, justify sin or even elevate pride. I use good things in bad ways.
Henson has used the currency of the Muppets’ goodwill and reputation (built on the back of his well-intentioned father) to make an exchange for cheap laughs and a few short-lived thrills. Am I much different in the times I sinfully use what my Father has given me?
Movies like “The Happytime Murders” may shock and appall us (as they should), but let us remember what they are – symbols of a sinful world that we all live in.
May they point us to an even greater longing for the day when Jesus makes all things innocent and new.
by Ryan Smith | Aug 2, 2018
I don’t consider myself a runner, but I do enjoy running.
Mainly I enjoy the morning air, listening to music and spending time outside before the hustle and bustle of the day begins.
There is a general course around my neighborhood I like to run. The other day, as I was running, I noticed a large crack in the pavement. Also a few chunks of concrete had broken from the path. Around these chunks, and in between the crack, I could clearly see grass beginning to sprout.
As I carefully stepped along the more stable sections of the road, I remembered just a few years ago when that particular road had been redone. Giant machines huffed and puffed as abundant manpower was dedicated to executing expensive and thoughtful plans.
Time. Energy. Resources. And at the end of it all, a beautiful and functional road.
I looked at this road and thought about everything that had gone into making it. As I did, and considered the budding sprouts now poking through, I had a thought:
The grass wins.
Hundreds of pounds of concrete, tar and… road stuff all piled on meticulously-formed and reformed earth. And a few years later? The concrete splits, the tar erodes, the ground shifts, and slowly but surely… the grass wins.
This is not just true for roads. This is a general principle we all know, yet are hesitant to admit.
You can eat nothing but kale all day – every day (which I do).
You can do 100 pushups, 1000 sit-ups, and run 26.2 miles every day (which I do).
And some day, some doctor is going to sit down and tell you – the grass wins.
Your body will break down.
From dust we were made, and to dust we will return.
The troubling thing for me, if I’m going to be honest, is that temporary things are what I worry about most. They are constantly at the forefront of my thoughts, investments and time. I worry about a house, cars, my 401k, clothes and the latest technology – as Matt Chandler says, “The stuff of future garage sales.”
The truth is, no matter how big a machine I get, no matter how much money I invest, no matter how much man power I can summon to build, fortify, and protect the walls of my kingdom, in the end – the grass wins.
I know this may seem like a very morose or pessimistic idea, but it doesn’t have to be.
Thinking about this reality can afford us the opportunity to evaluate ourselves with a simple diagnostic question: Am I sacrificing the things of this world to get the things of God or am I sacrificing the things of God to get the things of this world?
So much of what I invest my time, energy, resources and hopes in can easily be taken away in just one simple phone call. But if my trust is in the unshakable foundation of Christ, I’m okay with that – because Jesus can never be taken away.
That doesn’t mean all of life, possessions or investments are bad by any stretch. They can be wonderful. But as we accumulate, we always must remember: Jesus is enough.
As Charles Studd once said, “Only one life; ‘twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”
When the grass wins in your life, what will remain?
Let it be Jesus.