Gospel music

== Comparison to other hymnody ==
Some proponents of "standard" hymns generally dislike gospel music of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, believing that it emphasizes emotion over doctrine. For example, Patrick and Sydnor complain that commercial success led to a proliferation of such music, and "deterioration, even in a standard which to begin with was not high, resulted."<ref>{{harvp|Patrick|1962|p=171}}</ref> They went on to say, "there is no doubt that a deterioration in taste follows the use of this type of hymn and tune; it fosters an attachment to the trivial and sensational which dulls and often destroys sense of the dignity and beauty which best befit the song that is used in the service of God."<ref>{{harvp|Patrick|1962|p=172}}</ref>

Gold reviewed the issue in 1958, and collected a number of quotations similar to the complaints of Patrick and Sydnor. However, he also provided this quotation: "Gospel hymnody has the distinction of being America's most typical contribution to Christian song. As such, it is valid in its inspiration and in its employment."<ref>Stevenson, Robert. ''Religion in Life'', Winter, 1950–51{{page needed|date=January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Gold_70">Gold, Charles E. "The Gospel Song: Contemporary Opinion", ''[[The Hymn (journal)|The Hymn]]''. v. 9, no. 3 (July 1958), p. 70.</ref>

Today, with historical distance, there is a greater acceptance of such gospel songs into official denominational hymnals. For example, the [[United Methodist Church]] made this acceptance explicit in ''The Faith We Sing'', a 2000 supplement to the official denominational hymnal. In the preface, the editors say, "Experience has shown that some older treasures were missed when the current hymnals were compiled."<ref>Hickman, Hoyt L., ed. "Introduction", ''The Faith We Sing'' (Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 2000).{{page needed|date=January 2018}}</ref>