Is the Fog Machine Killing True Worship? Why Hymns Might Be the Answer

Is the Fog Machine Killing True Worship? Why Hymns Might Be the Answer

Over the past few decades, worship music has evolved dramatically. From the early 2000s worship explosion to today’s fusion of genres, there’s no shortage of choices when it comes to the songs we sing in church. However, not all change has been positive. For some, the shift away from the long history of traditional hymns has led to a decline in theological depth, while others weep the loss of the rich, participatory nature that hymns once brought to corporate worship.

The divide between contemporary worship and traditional hymns has sparked debates in church communities. Many people, myself included, grew up associating hymns with stuffy, dry, and formal services. For years, I linked hymn-singing with a rigid, almost lifeless church culture—one where congregants mouthed the words out of obligation, rather than joy or understanding. It wasn’t until later that I realized something significant had been lost in our rush toward more emotive, performance-driven worship: the depth of theology that hymns often carried.

While the pendulum swung from the sterile and repetitive nature of hymn singing to a more emotionally charged worship experience, a subtle tradeoff occurred. Today, too many churches focus either on the “performance” aspect, where talented musicians and vocalists take center stage only to leave a congregation watching rather than actively participating, or on emotional experiences that often lack the scriptural grounding needed for solid, transformative worship. The end result is a church experience that can leave us entertained but spiritually malnourished.

Make no mistake, there is certainly room for Christian ‘entertainment’ and personal worship. Those things are not wrong, or inappropriate for the disciple of Jesus. But I want to make sure we understand the nature of corporate worship, the time when the gathered Church sings together. Corporate worship through singing is the gathered church lifting their voices in unified praise, declaring the greatness of God together. Scripture calls believers to sing as an act of worship, not for personal entertainment, but to glorify the Lord and build one another up (Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19). Singing should be done with sincerity and truth, engaging both the heart and mind (John 4:23-24). The early church embraced this practice, singing hymns and spiritual songs as a way to teach, encourage, and proclaim the gospel (Acts 16:25, Matthew 26:30). Worship in song should be reverent and orderly (1 Corinthians 14:40), centered on Christ (Philippians 2:9-11), and a reflection of our unity as the body of Christ (Romans 15:5-6). When the church sings together, it is a foretaste of heaven, where all believers will one day join in eternal praise before the throne of God (Revelation 5:9-13).

I hoped you picked up on the emphasis above. Our worship times at church should focus on our singing and praising corporately, together, in unison. It’s not a personal time of one-on-one with God. It’s not a performance in which we watch with glad hearts and reverent attitudes. It is a time where every believer acts together in unity.

The Boredom and "Hypnotic" Hymn Era

I remember the hymns well. The same set of songs, repeated week after week, seemed to sap the life out of our worship in the church I grew up in. I wasn’t alone in my sentiment. While there were seasons and times of more passion, the congregation often felt like it was simply going through the motions, half-heartedly mumbling the verses to the same 15 songs on repeat. It wasn’t that the hymns were bad; it was that they became stale, predictable, and devoid of passion. The experience was dry, theologically rich but emotionally barren, and certainly lacking the excitement that modern worship often promises.

For years, I blamed the hymns themselves for this spiritual malaise. But in hindsight, I can see that the issue wasn’t with the hymns—it was how we approached them. Hymn singing had become an obligatory part of tradition rather than a vital means of worship. It was not the fault of the songs, but the context and effort in which they were being sung.

The "Fog Machine" Worship Experience

Some modern worship services, with their high-energy bands and polished productions, can unintentionally feel more like a concert than a time of communal worship. While there’s nothing wrong with skilled musicianship or engaging production, during a church setting of corporate worship the focus should always remain on the congregation singing together rather than on the platform.  Though the music is stunning and the vocals impressive, often times modern worship becomes a one-way experience. Other than the emotionally sensitive group at the front of the sanctuary/auditorium, we, the congregation, are no longer participants, but passive observers of the show happening on stage. And I still wonder what I am supposed to be doing when the semi-professional singer makes the musical interlude in each song their opportunity to ad lib and sing runs while swaying with their hands lifted up.

While there’s nothing inherently wrong with skilled musicianship or impressive performances, the worship experience suffers when it becomes all about the talent of the performers rather than the congregation’s participation. And the emotional high that these experiences can generate, while certainly powerful, can lead to a shallow form of worship—one that doesn't necessarily invite deeper reflection or understanding of the truths we are singing about.

It’s not just modern worship that can fall into the trap of performance-driven spectacle. Even hymns, when sung in a way that prioritizes musical excellence over congregational participation, can become just as passive an experience. Whether a song is old or new, the key is how it is used in worship—does it draw the people into unified singing, or does it highlight the skills of those leading?

One of the most noticeable casualties of performance-driven worship is the decline in male participation. In many churches, it’s not uncommon to see a significant gender gap in the number of men who sing during worship. When the service becomes a passive experience, men (who tend to engage in worship through action and participation) become less involved. And if worship becomes about feeling rather than knowing—about emotional highs rather than doctrinal truths—men may feel disconnected from the experience entirely.

Hymns: A Rich Theological Resource

So, where does this leave us? The answer, I believe, might be in a willingness to again consider hymns—not as a nostalgic longing for the past, but as a way to rediscover and embrace the depth of theological truths that modern worship can sometimes overlook paired with the natural disposotion of corporate participation. 

Hymns, when done right, can be incredibly rich in theology. Unlike many contemporary worship songs, which often focus on personal experiences of God and how He makes us feel, hymns tend to focus more on the grandeur of God’s character, His work in history, and His promises. They draw us into a deep, reflective understanding of who God is and what He has done.

Take, for instance, the famous hymn "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." Written by Martin Luther, it is filled with doctrinal richness: it speaks of God as a refuge, the certainty of His victory over evil, and the power of faith in times of trial. It’s not just a song about feeling good; it’s a declaration of truth. The lyrics remind us of biblical promises that we may forget in the hustle of our day-to-day lives.

Again, this isn’t solely an issue of when songs were written, and with what instrumentation.  While some contemporary worship songs lack theological depth, many are rich in biblical truth and doctrine. Songs like ‘In Christ Alone’ and ‘His Mercy Is More’ are modern examples of songs that blend sound theology with singable melodies. The issue is not modern worship itself, but how we approach it—whether it fosters genuine corporate worship or turns into a performance.

When hymns are sung with meaning, they open the door for a more grounded, theological worship experience. They lend themselves to a more corporate worship experience, too, where a group isn’t as dependent on a worship leader or team to figure out when key changes, chorus repetitions, or interludes are going to interfere with the flow of a song.  And when done in community, hymns can encourage true participation, as the congregation sings together in unified praise with the rhythm they are used to.

Reviving Hymns in a Balanced Way

So how can we rediscover the power of hymns without slipping back into the dry, repetitive worship of the past? How can we balance the emotional intensity of modern worship with the doctrinal depth of hymns?

1. Reclaim the Participatory Nature of Hymns: Encourage congregational singing, not as an obligation, but as a vital aspect of worship. When people are singing together, their voices become a collective expression of praise, a physical manifestation of the unity of the church. Equip worship leaders to foster participation, even if it means simplifying some of the musical elements. Read about it.  Continually cast the vision of corporate singing.  Preach about it.  Remind people of the purpose and intent of the corporate worship experience.

2. Modern Arrangements of Hymns: A simple way to breathe new life into hymns is to reimagine them with modern instrumentation while retaining their rich theological content and steady patterns. Many churches are already doing this successfully—taking hymns and updating their melodies and rhythms to connect with younger generations, while maintaining their theological integrity.  And again, a large part of the hymn singing experience is that you know exactly the rhythm, cadence, and pattern of the song, making it easier for a large group to sing along with.  This can all be done with modern instrumentation.

3. Focus on the Theology: As you sing, focus on the meaning of the words. Encourage people to think about the truths they’re declaring in song. Teach them to understand the rich history behind hymns, and the weight of the biblical truths they carry.  Much of hymn singing is knowing that the truths you’re singing today are still relevant and as steady as they were generations ago as your ancestors sang them. There is a rich, theological link that connects us to something beyond how we ‘feel’ about our faith.

4. Balance Emotion and Truth: Worship should engage the heart, mind, and soul. While the emotional side of worship is important, it shouldn’t overshadow the doctrinal side. A healthy worship service balances the emotions of the heart with the truths of the mind, allowing both to shape and direct our praise.  Healthy worship uses the truth of God to stir emotion rather than the instruments, lighting, background audio, and fog machines to manipulate emotions.

5. Encourage Strong Male Participation: One way to engage men in worship is by emphasizing the corporate, warrior-like nature of our praise. Men are often more inclined to engage when they understand that worship is not only a personal experience but also a declaration of strength and unity in the battle against sin and evil. Hymns, which often have a more militant tone, can speak directly to this need, pointing to worship as a tool in spiritual warfare. 

Conclusion: A Path Forward

The church today faces a unique challenge: how do we worship in a way that is both emotionally engaging and theologically rich? In the search for vibrant, participatory worship, we must not forsake the depth and truth that hymns offer. The church has historically sung hymns not because they were easy or trendy, but because they communicated deep, lasting truths that shaped and informed the lives of believers.

Ultimately, worship is about the heart more than the method. Whether we sing a centuries-old hymn or a recently written worship song, the goal is to glorify God and edify the congregation. The key question is not ‘traditional or contemporary?’ but rather, ‘Does this song, in the way we present it, encourage the people to worship in spirit and truth?’

If we can return to hymns in a way that celebrates their theological richness, while updating the experience for the modern church, we might just rediscover the beauty and power of sung worship. It's time we see hymns not as outdated relics of a dead church, but as living, breathing expressions of the faith that can still move and shape us today.