Behold, My Sheep, I Will Search You Out

6 thoughts on “Behold, My Sheep, I Will Search You Out”

1. I simply miss the beautiful hymns that I grew up with from “The Lutheran Hymnal” @ 1941. I loved them as a youth into young adulthood! I rely on them during my trials/testings. I do NOT like our present hymnal with its different hymns and changed lyrics. Alot of people feel as I do. I wish that we would go back to “The Lutheran Hymnal” @ 1941…

   1. Marlene,

      Some people do share your opinion. I understand the motivation to a certain degree. There are some wonderful things about The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941 (TLH). Unlike the scriptures, the cannon of hymnody can never be closed. Like preaching, there is always something new and useful to say regarding God’s Word to His people. Like preaching, the older things should not be thrown away. And, they’re not. 176 of TLH’s hymns are preserved in the Lutheran Service Book (LSB). That’s 28% of its hymnody. TLH is still in print today. There are also congregations that retain the use of both THL & LSB.

      There are some historical failures of the church, leading to the notion that TLH is the only right hymnal. Emotions, which are a poor standard of decision making in most contexts, not withstanding, poor timing is among the chief concerns.

      Theological Error of Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978 (LBW), caused a stir at a time when a new hymnal was needed and desired. Our participation with the other Lutheran groups produced a hymnal with theological errors. We had to back out of the project, but retained copyright usage authority over the materials produced.

      This lead to a hasty publication of the Lutheran Worship, 1982 (LW). That was a bad move. Simply stripping-out and correcting theological errors didn’t produce a good hymnal. In fact it produced a fairly poor hymnal. It was not well received. At LW’s peak, it was in use in less than half of LCMS congregations. As evidence of that, the old LW’s are even difficult to give away.

      All of this failure has encouraged the notion that TLH might be the only good hymnal. Even the great TLH contains some noticeable weaknesses. Some of the translations of the German Hymns are theologically sketchy, leading to some of the revised wording. A more subtle, but more significant error comes from the sequencing of the services. The Order of Morning Service without communion on page 5 (used predominantly on Sunday) is followed by The Order of the Holy Communion on page 15 are a two-fold failure. Prior to TLH there was no chief service for Sunday without the Lord’s Supper. TLH not only introduced an innovation, but also gave it priority by placing it first in the book. This may have been an editorial oversight. However, it leaves the impression that not only is Sunday without communion normal, it may be preferable.

      LSB is also not a perfect hymnal. It is a good hymnal. A harsh reality at its publication was division in hymnal usage throughout the LCMS: significantly more than half retained TLH, significantly fewer than half adopted LW, and scant number had even adopted LBW. There was no hope of returning to TLH more broadly. LW had demonstrated the peak of its acceptance. LSB achieved its goal of unifying a greater number of LCMS congregations under a single, common service book. By returning to the TLH, page 15 liturgy, as well as the LW settings one & two, LSB struck a balance. LSB also restored the original settings and text of 176 of the TLH hymns with a few translation corrections.

      LSB enjoys greater that 70% usages among LCMS congregations. It’s not perfect by any means. It does, however, improve the likelihood of life-long Lutherans like us and new converts finding a familiar hymnal in use, when they travel of move their families. That’s good for the synod as a whole.

      1. Thank you for your explanation, but it doesn’t change my mind one bit! I simply miss singing the beautiful hymns of yesteryear as they were written in TLH. To do so today in church would help to reinforce their messages/prayers so much! (It would help me greatly in the battle(s) that I’m facing.) Good thing that I have a sound mind in which I can recall many hymns from TLH during my trials. They were beautifully written & are rich in my Lutheran, Christian heritage. I don’t plan on memorizing the new hymns or changed lyrics of the LSB. I’m clinging to what I already know. Have a blessed day!

         1. Marlene,

            Instead of the broad, glittering generalities, let’s talk turkey.

            Three of my favorite hymns available in LSB, but not in TLH are “Christians to the Paschal Victim” (LSB 460), “Shepherd of Tender Youth” (LSB 864), & “God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It” (LSB 594). They are lovely settings. They teach and preach God’s Word far better than me.

            What are two or thee of your favorites, which can only be found in TLH?

            1. I’m sorry, but I cannot compile a list of left out hymns or changed stanzas at this time as my husband has a back injury. We are problem solving what to do & I am handicapped. We are OVERWHELMED. I wish that I’d never “opened this can of worms”. I was simply expressing my long felt frustration with the LSB. I can’t comment further. Hope that you understand. Have a blessed day!

            2. Marlene,

               Please call your pastor. You need him to speak with you and visit y’all. Right now, hymnals are not worth discussing here or there. Peace be with you.

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