Why Won't Churches Use More In-family Music?
As I prepare for this Saturday's songwriting workshop, sponsored by my Louisville church, Sojourn Community, I can't help but be thankful to have found a church that is willing to use those who have the talents and calling necessary to create music indigenous to our local church body, rather than merely rely on the latest major "worship hits" coming out of the CCM machine. And I can't help but wonder why more churches won't do the same.
Particularly with churches that have congregations numbering in the hundreds, and sometimes the thousands -- has God not gifted one single person in the entire body to craft songs, hymns and spiritual songs that reflect the particularities of that autonomous church? Songs that minister to the specific needs of that community, songs that offer to God the specific praises that that community has on their hearts?
I've read and heard, particularly concerning mega churches, that it's all about "excellence." They can't encourage or promote the creation of church music from within their body because they should only give God -- and the "seekers" that they want to draw in with a killer live music show -- "the best."
On the surface, that's an "excellent" thought. Of course we should offer up the best. But it's laziness on the part of a music director/pastor to assume that "the best" is always what comes from a big-budget production out of Nashville. This is not to say that churches shouldn't use anything out of Nashville or any other arm of the professional CCM/worship machine -- many great songs come out of the industry. However, just as most medium-to-large (and many small) churches have singers, musicians and preachers with just as much talent as the "big names," I propose that they probably also have songwriters that fit the bill as well.
Thoughts?
posted by Bobby @ 9:36 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Hmmmm, not being a "musically" talented person I will say that there have been times when I've been in churchs that have sung "original" songs by the worship leader and there is something that strikes me as honest truth that I am participating in worship with a song written from the heart of a fellow believer. To see him lead the group in praise and bringing glory to God with words that were laid on his heart is amazing, and to be a part of that type of worship is refreshing. So, I agree, maybe worship leaders (much like preachers) could be given the freedom to share what God has laid on their heart to encourage, challenge, and ultimately glorify God.
Yeah, it's interesting that you say "much like preachers" because I've often thought, "What if we treated preaching the same way?"
For instance, what we wanted in a preacher was to deliver old Billy Graham sermons rather than what God may have given HIM to say at that particular time to his particular flock.
Our church has been blessed with amazingly talented musicians and writers and has cultivated an atmosphere that encourages creativity. I agree that other churches should embrace our way of doing worship, or at least give it a shot. However, I don't know if the problem is a lack of willingness or if it is a lack of inspiration and vision- which is where you come in, Bobby. I think that other churches would allow congregation members to write if they had your kind of vision.
I agree with you Bobby. I'm so glad that you've found a church that you can utilize your talents. The few times that I've went to church with you, the worship songs written by your members were very moving. You could just feel it in the air. Seizure later...
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