I am a classical musician, so it makes sense that I would like hymns.

I also have a master's degree in theology, so it makes sense that I would like hymns.

I grew up in a church that sang hymns. I loved them from the time I was very little. I probably didn't understand a lot of the words, but I learned them and was able to sing them. I even knew a lot of them from memory.

Hymns are part of our theological and musical heritage. They often express deep theological truths in ways that a sermon or a story can't. They also are easy to memorize because they have rhythm and rhyme.

I teach hymns to my students, and they love them. I wish more churches sang hymns-- all the verses and in the original wording-- regularly. It would help our theology, our musicianship, and our intellect to mature.