I am currently writing a lengthy paper on the topic of "Music in the Worship of God" for my session to review and consider and will have a section on the leading objections to "Psalms in Worship". I have a few of them but would like the input of my more studied brothers and sisters on this topic.

What objections have you encountered?

This is not meant to be a debate on the topic (as we have the elsewhere on this board). I am simply seeking information.

Thanks!

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William F. Hill, Jr.
Immanuel Presbyterian Church, (PCA)
Norfolk, Va.

One objection I've heard is that the psalms are insufficient to tell us about Christ, since they are in the OT. Also that we should not be singing impreccatory psalms because we are under grace.

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Toni Cunningham, Wife of Bill (Theognome)
Parkwoods OPC, Overland Park KS

"Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As, to be hated, needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace." ~ Alexander Pope

(Can she bake a cherry pie, Billy Boy)

Break their teeth in their mouths, oh, God, oh God, Break their teeth in their mouths, oh God...

Hmmm...

Theognome

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Bill Cunningham
Covenant Reformed Church, URC
Kansas City
There are three kinds of people- those who can count, and those who can't.

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Martin - Reformed
Husband to the most godly, honorable and loyal wife Line
Searching for a Church
Webpage www.5solas.dk
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Soli Deo Gloria

Do you mean objections to singing Psalms at all, or objections to singing only Psalms?

One objection I can think of is that the Psalms that are set to music are often paraphrases of the Psalm so that they will rhyme, and you are not singing the inspired text but rather thoughts.

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Kim G
Non-denom church (holds to the WCF)
Zion Community Church, Greenville, SC

Teach me Your way, O LORD;
I will walk in Your truth;
Unite my heart to fear Your name.
Psalm 86:11

Another objection is that it strikes inquirers who have had some church background as strange. Although seeker-friendly churches go overboard and dilute the gospel, some policies of appeal to inquirers is legitimate. Although I prefer traditional hymns and psalms myself, I think that churches should have music that reflects the tastes of young people. Those of us who are older need to put up with it, not hard when one has the joy of seeing the young folks embracing the gospel.

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Mary Vanderkooi
Kale Heywott Church (KHC)
Soddo, Ethiopia

I guess the answer is BOTH since I have experienced both in my conversations with people (even in my own local church).

That's one of the things that has been keeping me from fully embracing EP. Many of the psalms I've heard put to song sound a lot like dirges. The hymns seem more approachable, both musically and lyrically. Right now, I'm trying to find psalms put to a more modern sound because I do think their inclusion in worship is vital.

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Patricia
Communicant Member
Westminster Presbyterian Church, PCA
College Station, TX

Give yourself to prayer, to reading and meditation on divine truths: strive to penetrate to the bottom of them and never be content with a superficial knowledge.
David Brainerd

Many of the psalms in The Book of Psalms for Singing are set to traditional hymn melodies, so maybe that would help!

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Evie B.
New Members Class, RPCNA, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. -- Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)

Folks, this is border line. Keep the thread on the objections to singing Palms period, you've heard; keep EP off the radar or this will get moved, and locked, since we only have two EP threads open for posting right now.

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Chris Coldwell, Lakewood Presbyterian Church (PCA), Dallas, Texas.
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The Regulative Principle: The Scriptures are the “only infallible rule of faith and practice, no rite or ceremony ought to have a place in the public worship of God, which is not warranted in Scripture, either by direct precept or example, or by good and sufficient inference” (Samuel Miller).

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I have no objections to singing psalms. We do it every now and then.

I don't even have an objection to singing only psalms in worship. Unlike some of my fellow believers, though, I don't see that the Bible limits us to singing psalms in worship. I suspect that's the biggest "real" objection you'll find.

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Jonathan
Audio Engineer
Reformed Anabaptist
Ohio

Moroni's magical glasses of proper interpretation:

I am really amazed that in reformed circles we question the singing of the psalms. Since this is not a debate the only thing that I will do is to direct you to Calvin's preface to the Genevan Psalter. You can also read Peter Master's "Worship in the melting pot".

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Johan
Reformed Churches in SA (GKSA)
South Africa

Folks,
I'm serious; I'm not going to spend a lot of time deleting more posts. Any more EP related objections or advocacy, this thread is going to get locked.

I'm sorry. One of my posts was erased, and that's fine.
But I wasn't trying to debate and I don't understand this thread. How can we answer the question without giving an objection to the singing of Psalms? What are we supposed to be writing here?

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Shalom,
jessi
PCA
Steelers fan exiled to Virginia


“Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God.”
Martin Luther

The thread needs to give objections to singing the psalms period, as asked (no debate) not objections to exclusively singing the psalms. Otherwise it is going to get moved and locked.

Someone lists objections to eP and someone will want to answer. I've cut off the EP topic. We don't do EP outside the EP forum, and we only have two open threads there right now. List objections you have heard to singing the psalms, not to singing them exclusively.
If this remains confusing I'm simply going to lock it folks.

Thanks Mr. Coldwell: I deleted that post when I saw yours. I think the thread has been a bit confusing because both things were being asked for, and it wasn't clear to me whether answering with EP objections, or going on to argue them, was the issue: it's clear now! :-)

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Heidi
Indianapolis, Indiana

Patience must dwell with Love, for Love and Sorrow
Have pitched their tent together here:
Love all alone will build a house tomorrow,
And sorrow not be near. -Christina Rossetti

OK.
An [possible] objection to singing the Psalms:

If singing in worship is really a means of prayer, the Psalms only allow you to pray in that powerful way for things that happened before Christ was born--since his birth, no new praises can be sung.

I hope this is more along the lines of what's asked for in this thread♥

As a Psalm-singer, these are the most common objections I've encountered are the following (sorry for any repeats from above). All of them pertain to singing psalms at all, whereas number 2 pertains to singing psalms exclusively.

1.) The subject matter pertained to a different time and people: an earthly kingdom with its warfare; being under the law; sacrificial worship; etc.

2.) (Edited out by poster)

3.) Imprecatory psalms are not appropriate for today.

4.) They do not mention Jesus, or acts of redemptive history after the time of David.

5.) They do not fit with our current style and tastes in worship music; or, they are often hard for us to relate to. They are, in a sense, "worshipfully" inferior to modern songs which emphasize what God has done for me.

6.) They can be obscure and hard to understand. They can lead to the believe that we are saved by works (e.g., Psalm 7). It is not easy to discern Christianity in them.

7.) They can drive visitors away.

Edit
Oops. I just noticed Chris's post above. Number 2 has been edited out, since it was an objection raised against only Psalms.

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Paul Korte
OPC
Flint, MI

They who perceive in themselves discoveries of the divine goodness, so full and absolutely perfect, and who make them the subject of earnest meditation, will never embrace new doctrines, by which the very grace they feel so powerfully in themselves is thrown into the shade. --John Calvin

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This is an exercise in futility. I think Bill has some answers though. Locking and moving.