Why do we have to have new songs anyway? Aren't there enough good songs already written? No! An absolute, emphatic no! We do have some really great hymns in our song books. Many of these will be treasured and sung for generations to come, and rightly so. But, there is a specific need for each generation to write and sing its own praises and witness to God.

New songs are naturally produced because of the writer's need to tell of the spiritual side of the daily experiences of life, its milestones and its great events. This has been so at least since the time of Moses (The Song of Moses, Exodus 15). Another outstanding example in the Old Testament comes to us from the time of the judges (The Song Of Deborah and Barak, Judges 5). Naturally, there are the two great examples of songs centering upon the birth of Christ (Mary's Song of Praise and Zechariali's Song of Praise, Luke 1).

New songs are written because of our changing understanding of God and His will. One's life and relationship with God is not static. He who writes our songs does so to express some new praise, new joy and happiness, or a new trial. As God moves in his life, the writer speaks his heart and mind concerning God's grace, blessings and guidance.

Singing is an act of worship. So is the composing of new hymns! Thus the writer, because of his need to worship, extends his worship of God through his creative abilities to share his understanding and insight. Each new song written represents an additional means of enriching the worship we share together. Let us not limit our praise and worship to God by clinging only to the songs of generations past.

New songs come naturally from the study of older songs that have become classics. Some of the best point the way and inspire writers of our generation to express these same ideas in new ways. Some older songs have been overused, and simply stated, there is a strong need for more variety or choice when dealing with spiritual ideas.

Our culture is in a state of constant change. The music of our culture shows evidence of this change almost daily, it seems. Music of God's people has always been influenced by the musical forms of popular music. This inherent relationship of our hymns to popular music leads the writers of each generation to create new hymns that are in touch with the culture of the time.

As long as there are those who love God, they can't help but sing his praise through fresh new hymns that express their personal joys and their faith. The well of inspiration will not dry up. Do you have a song on your heart? If you would like to learn how to express that song in a way that others can sing it with you, consider attending the school of song writing at the Singing School at Abilene Christian University.

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