“Hymns were the songs of that time,” he said. “We’re singing the music of the time.”
He added that only a small fraction of historical hymns have endured. “Charles Wesley wrote 8,000 songs. We only sing five or six of his,” Tomlin said.
Looking ahead, he believes the same will be true of modern worship.
“Most of the songs today 100 years from now are not going to be sung,” he said. “But maybe a couple of them will.”
Tomlin emphasized that worship transcends musical style. “Worship is not about style. It’s about spirit,” he said. “Styles come and go. Styles change.”
Working on “The First Hymn” also deepened Tomlin’s appreciation for the continuity of the global church across generations.
“We’re connected to the generations,” he said. “This connects me to the early church in a way.”
He added that the ancient hymn predates modern denominational divides.
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“It predates all of the streams,” Tomlin said. “It’s not about, ‘Well, I like the songs that come from this stream,’ or, ‘I like the songs that come from this church’s songs,’ or, ‘I like this artist’s songs. I’m Baptist or I’m charismatic or I’m Catholic.'” He added, “This predates all of it. There’s none of that.”
“This is the early band of believers who would have given their life for this who were under extreme persecution, and this is what they’re singing and I think there’s something powerful about that,” said Tomlin.
Tomlin said he hopes the film helps audiences better understand the historical depth of the Christian faith and the power of worship throughout the centuries.
“We’re not part of a faith that’s 30 years old,” he said. “We stand in a long line [of people who] have gone before us and a great cloud of witnesses who surround us even now cheering us on and saying, ‘Come on, take the torch.’”
Tomlin hopes the revived hymn will find its way back into churches today.
“I hope and pray that this song really finds its way into the church again,” Tomlin said.
“The First Hymn” explores the discovery, history, and modern reimagining of the ancient song, offering viewers a unique look at the roots of Christian worship.
“It’s pretty cool,” Tomlin said. “Now we can sing those words.”
Visit here for more information about “The First Hymn.”
