One of the debates that occasionally occurs between Christians is related to the use of “modern” Bible translations and updating the words of well-known hymns.
I recall a young lady, handed a KJV Bible, said she “couldn’t understand a word of it”, and that was relating to a passage in the Gospels. As for changing the words of older hymns, “Well, they don’t modernise Shakespeare!” One of my fondest memories was standing next to a 90-year-old lady, and the hymn was Jesus the very thought of you, with sweetness fills my breast. She had sung the hymn using the older words, Jesus the very thought of Thee, etc. In a congregation of 70+ people singing the modern wording from the hymn book, she stood there singing the original words from memory, because of her failing eyesight. I doubt if it would have been different if she could see better. I suppose I may have been the only one who knew she was singing different words to everyone else.
If we do not like some of these changes, I am not suggesting we take a leaf out of her book. So what are our options -to sing silently, even mouthing our preferred words, or be gracious enough to sing what is in the book or on the screen?
There is a phrase from one translation of Acts chapter 2 verse 1, And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. One Bible definition of “accord” is “the unity and harmony among believers”. What am I prepared to do to attain that within the guidance of the Bible?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, there are Bible truths that should never change, so may the use of modern language not deter us in our worship, so long as it reflects Your truth. AMEN