Welcome to the longest-running conflict in church history: The Hymns vs. Choruses War no smoke, no artillery — just organs, guitars, and very strong opinions about what the angels in heaven probably prefer. But beneath the humor lies a real and pastoral question: What kind of music actually builds up the Body of Christ?

“When his branch is yet tender… ye know that summer is nigh.”  — Matthew 24:32 Rudolph Kalis with his three sons — Bob, Don, and little Kenny. (Image source: “A Man of His Word,” by Kenneth Kalis) I Every branch begins tender. Before strength comes testing, and before testing comes nurture. For me, those tender years were rooted in a big yellow house on Monroe Avenue in Elizabeth, New Jersey — noisy, crowded, full of life — and always under the loving shadow of my father’s