I’ve rediscovered the addictiveness that is Twitter – and have taken to checking the website almost constantly. I was on it for most of the afternoon yesterday, and over an hour last night – responding to tweets, reading others…
It’s remarkably fun and, as proven to be last night, spiritually and intellectually stimulating.
*Favorite musician alert* Robbie Seay posted three questions last night concerning worship, the music the church uses, the music created for worship (past and present and future), and how it’s all taken in. And it really started me thinking…because as often as God can use creativity to His advantage, sometimes…I think…maybe real worship gets lost in the creative process.
1. Does the church seem to value replication & performance in its music over imagination & honesty in songwriting -unique to each community?
I don’t know that I can speak for the church as a whole – I’m not sure, even, if the sampling of church experiences I have is adequate to make a valid judgement on what type of worship is valued or preferred. I’ve attended worship in the Methodist, Presbyterian, Nazarene, Christian, Baptist, and non-denominational churches. In almost every instance, at least one hymn has been sung within the worship service (given the Methodist and Presbyterian traditions, they’re mostly all hymns). And…given that many hymns are sung to tunes from pubs back in the day…I’d love to hear what the early church would’ve said about valuing imagination and honesty in their worship.
What’s interesting to me, this past Sunday I attended worship at a local Christian church. It was like attending worship in the 80’s given the songs they chose to sing. I didn’t know three of the four songs they sang. When I asked my friend why they didn’t sing Chris Tomlin songs, or David Crowder songs, she responded that they just don’t. I mean, I know Chris Tomlin and Crowder – they’re stuff is played all the time at the Christian church I attended in college.
And while we wouldn’t have these new songs without imagination and creativity and honesty – I’m wondering what type of worship really allows me to open up the most. The Christian church I attended in college was very much into performance – lights, big screens, etc – but it spoke to the congregation – and many times I found myself opening up in ways I don’t typically – closing my eyes, lifting my hands, etc.
I don’t know that performance necessarily takes away from honesty – though, I see where it can.
When I attending the Connect Conference a few years ago, it was the first time I hear Robbie Seay perform songs from Give Yourself Away. So often, when new songs are introduced in worship, I’m more focused on following a melody, of learning the flow of the song than I am on the meaning of the words. It’s only when I really hear a song, learn the words, learn the melody, that I really FEEL the song, and let go to freely sing.
Last Sunday, with the songs from 4 decades ago, I had no idea what they were, and can’t even begin to go into what the words or sentiments of the songs were.
When a friend got up to do the special music, singing How Great Thou Art and How Great is Our God (Chris Tomlin) – only then did I really sing and freely worship.
And seriously – with respect to performance – I’m all for someone freely expressing their love for God in song – and I totally agree with the thought that God doesn’t hear the missed notes, doesn’t hear the cracked voice – God hears the heart…
But, really – can performance be ignored??
I mean, most worship leaders (all worship leaders I know, really) are gifted and blessed musically.
I think it comes as a full package – true worship – HONEST worship begins with creativity and imagination – is brought together in performance as people feel comfortable with the music and can worship freely.
2. Can creativity in music & art within the church overshadow the gospel and true worship? Should creativity have boundaries in the church?
Sure, creativity can overshadow the gospel – in music, in art, in teaching…
The Gospel is the one TRUE tool we have in spreading the news of Christ. If guitar solos, lighting effects, and unintelligible lyrics are the only thing one notices – where can worship really begin?
I’m all for creativity – especially when trying to teach a room of teenagers. I’m all for the next best thing to grab their attention, to get them to pay attention – movie clips, music videos, games…you name it, I’ve tried it in youth ministry. But, what’s the use if the Gospel gets ignored?
Creativity doesn’t always hurt worship. I think it’s an individual situation. I miss worshipping at my church from college. I miss the atmosphere, the music…the way I felt alive.
And as much as I loved worshipping there, I’ve heard just as many people talk about the “production” of it all – what’s the point?
The people who complain about it…they don’t go. They find a place where THEY can worship…and that’s great! I think it’s a pretty simple solution to a (sometimes) trivial controversy among worshippers.
3. Are worship leaders under such pressure to perform & be excellent that they often end up void of creativity & depth in their writing?
Hard to say – not being a worship leader. If there’s that much pressure to perform and be excellent – then shame on the church. Priorities, I’ve come to the conclusion, need to shift back to where they were in Acts. When did worship become such a controversial topic?
What does it really matter WHAT songs we sing, as long as the words are words of Truth and challenge people to draw closer to God??
The great thing about worship in this country – there’s enough variety so that, anyone that wants to be fed can be.
If worship leaders feel the pressure to “perform” it’s time for them to address that with the church body…with the pastor…with themselves.
I’ve heard people comment that they can’t worship with guitar music, or with a pipe organ, or drums, or whatever…
Worship isn’t the state of the music….it’s the state of the person’s heart…and when we can all realize that…REALLY grab hold of that…the rest will fall away.
This is what it feels like... 