“As to “Hymns” vs “Contemporary” music. When the Hymns were written, the WERE Contemporary.”
There was a time when secular music and religious music were separate, but since they happened at the same time they were contemporary, BUT DIFFERENT. The musical praise offered to God should always be distinguishable from what secular music offers.
There are some modern songwriters who do, however, get things right like Keith & Kirsten Getty, and Stuart Townend who, while they are popular with the youth, also write the sort of music which works equally well with an organ in a more “traditional” setting. There lyrics also contain good theology.
“There lyrics also contain good theology.”
OOPS! That should be “THEIR lyrics also contain good theology”.