"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Col. 3:16). A commandment from the Lord as part of the worship service.
Growing up in rural Missouri we walked exactly one mile to church in the summer as children, the singing a major draw for me. I love music, all kinds of music, but I cannot carry a tune. The only place I even felt comfortable singing is in church during the congregational portion of worship when my out-of-tune voice does not matter; the Lord does not care how you sound just so you are obeying his command.
As I grew older and visited other churches, I was amazed to discover how many denominations used the same songs of worship unto the Lord. Hymns of praise written and composed by persons gifted with the ability to furnish those songs of praise to obey the Lord''s command. I married into such a family. My husband''s father wrote hundreds of hymns and gospel songs during his lifetime, and his words and music live yet today. The most famous being "I''ll Fly Away" written in 1932.
The music does not die out over the decades. We sing the same hymns of praise our ancestors did centuries ago. "Amazing Grace" is only one example written in the 1700''s and that fact awoke my interest. When my research was finished, I knew I had to share my findings. What the Lord commands, He provides.