The hymnal has become a familiar sight not only in the church pew, but in the home. In my family, each member of the family had his or her own hymnal. We sang from it, memorized hymns from it (the first hymn I memorized for class was "Take My Life and Let it Be;" the first hymn I memorized on my own was "O, Little Town of Bethlehem").
Lutheran hymnology is dramatically different from other hymnology. From Luther on, Lutheran hymnologists strove to use the hymns in the Lutheran church as a teaching tool. Paging through a Lutheran hymnal, then paging through hymnals from other churches, one cannot escape noticing the depth of theology in the hymnal. And quite frankly, there is no better way for someone to learn than through the structured poetical meter of the hymn! As a child, an aid in helping me memorize hymns was knowing there was a certain rhythm and cadence and that the last words in lines would rhyme!
Treasure the hymns handed down from our forefathers. Learn to appreciate new hymns that are in agreement with Scripture. Pass on this ever-evolving heritage to our children. The hymnal is another tool that our Lord uses to gather, enlighten, and strengthen His people.
Site one of Dr. Luther's hymns Site two of Dr. Luther's hymns
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