7:25 AM
This feels like I might be baring my soul a little too much. Welcome to my inner thought processes.
On quite a number of occasions I've witnessed older people leaving a service because the musical style offends them (this is separate from the issue of high sound pressure level, of which we’ve been guilty occasionally). However, I've never, ever witnessed a teen or young adult leaving a service because of a musical style. (UPDATE: I spoke incorrectly when I wrote this and need to correct myself! In recent months I was told of a visiting "young couple" who left our service during the first couple of songs, with one of the two commenting to an usher, "I thought this was a Baptist church.") Does this mean that the younger people should get a clue and start getting up and leaving to best give representation to their contempt? I don’t think anyone would see that as a good thing.
There's one song in particular that I would love to present as a call to worship. This song gets me completely fired up about being a Christian. Because of the musical style, however (not heavy metal or funk or anything, but "high-energy"), I make the assumption that half a dozen people would get up and leave. As a result, I've begun to resign myself to the fact that we can't present it any time soon.
I believe many people would respond to this by saying, “If that’s what God’s laid on your heart, then do it and don’t worry about what people will think.” I understand that sentiment and it has a whole lot of validity, but the problem is, I don’t have the liberty as Worship Pastor to knowingly alienate people in the very congregation to which God’s called me to minister. (I should probably insert a whole post here that addresses the issue of musically ministering or singing to God vs. people.)
But should I allow these few people I assume would leave, to drive what we can and can’t present musically? On the surface and in my heart, the answer is a loud, resounding, “No!” But bear in mind that those people represent only the extreme end of the spectrum. There are others who may not leave, but will find themselves being more and more alienated as they “tolerate” the music in a way that’s (admirably) as Christ-like as they can muster.
So when I think about this in a calm manner, my goal (yes, I have an agenda) has become to lead these people to a place that they may have never known: a place where they are able to worship in spite of a musical style. At the same time, I have to understand the musical personality of our congregation and start there. I worry that the pace may be too slow and methodical, though.
One alternative is to make an intentional decision to “cut people loose” and move along to a style of music that’s personally worshipful and edifying to me, and hope that there are a bunch of people like me out there. I don't see that as viable.
Don't draw the conclusion that I like only high-energy, bleeding-edge contemporary music. There are old, old hymns that are spot-on in allowing me to express my worship to my Father, but due to this medium (a blog), I can’t present the total picture and expect anyone to have time to read it all. These are highlights (sometimes they feel like “lowlights”) of some of the things I pray about and struggle with and try to balance.
I have not even begun to scratch the surface. Comment liberally, even if you never comment online. I'm ridiculously interested in your thoughts.
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Not my usual post, thought it needed a warning!
I was in Barnes & Noble the other day, and noticed something that ...
7 comments:
Oh, don't get me started... I could write posts longer than you on this topic! :-)
If a non-Christian, a "seeker" if you will, attended our worship service, would they feel comfortable with the music, or would it confirm to them that church, Christianity, the whole thing is way too out of touch with their generation?
If you drastically changed the music style, and every song was "rock" style -- well, obviously, you'd alienate a whole lot of folks. But I see nothing wrong with incorporating a variety of musical styles in one worship service. That old-time hymn might not "speak" to me as much as a song from DCB. (Altho I do like most old hymns, too.)
Personally, I would much rather have a fully "contemporary" service (for lack of a better word) with an occasional ancient hymn thrown in (so long as we can do it with a modern beat!) :) But, I think you do a great job finding that middle ground.
As a MINISTER of Worship I do believe that part of our responsibility is to learn to speak our congregation's language and gently lead them to grow as worshipers. Hopefully they will learn along the way that it's just not about musical style - at all. However, anyone that gets up and walks out, in my opinion, has an attitude problem that you cannot solve. That is not godly, that is not edifying to the body. This is of course, just my opinion. How much better would it be to simply stay, and ask God to open our hearts to what He might have to say to us? How come it is more important to us to be able to express our "righteous indignation" than it is to be encouraging to others and open to the Holy Spirit? I've got a news flash - - - in 20 years church will not look or sound the same as it does now. Who knows what we'll be doing, singing, seeing? That may not be important. What REMAINS important is that I come with an open heart ready to worship the King with my family in Christ. My guess is that God is not really interested in our musical opinions and preferences, but in the attitude and posture of our hearts. When will we ever learn?
I'd generally regard myself as tolerant...but I would probably find rock music during something contemplative distracting from the message...unless the music was in itself the message.
Love all classical music, and it's hard to beat some of Bach's (and his contemporaries) compositions intended for the glory of the music and church. In that case, the medium is at least part of the message.
But I have to admit, I wouldn't long linger anywhere where rap music was played, so I can't say I'm universally tolerant.
Music is important, but...don't lose the message in the medium.
At your service,
Kazak
Interesting. Kazak said of Bach's music, "...the medium is at least part of the message."
That's a statement that can't be ignored or discounted, and it isn't exclusive to Mr. Bach's music. Sorry. Just wanted to call him "Mr. Bach." Have never done that before and wanted to see what it felt like. Do not try this at home.
The message OF the music is obviously at the heart of this, isn't it?
Besides Dean, it would be Herr Bach not Mister Bach.
Well, where do I start? First thing, are you certain these people left b/c of the music? Maybe they had a 911 text message or an important date. Maybe one of them was about to hurl from a stomach bug! Do you know for certain? Even if you are certain that they left BECAUSE of the music - let them leave! As long as the heart is right the music shouldn't matter. I've been to different denominations that have different "styles" but if the people there were sincere, then I felt at home, if you will. HA! I finally got to say "if you will"! :)
I have a feeling deep down inside that none of us has a clue as to what God calls music anyway! I think we will ALL be blown away by the majestic sounds we hear in heaven and/or on the New Earth!
Another thing - if you or any other leader at church is sincerely seeking God's direction and following it - you can't go wrong. You are accountable for your actions - those who stay and worship or those who leave in a huff are accountable for theirs. I speak as one who left during a message but it wasn't because it offended me, I just couldn't hold back the tears. I get REALLY snotty when I cry, so I thought it best to leave when I did. ;)
Christy
Dean isn't mental. Being responsible for music in a worship service is a big deal.
My church background is much different. We're an organ and hymnbook type of group -- no drums, no guitars. Some of you may hear that and say "huh," but it's what we do. It also means that there isn't as much room for variation, so the question is a little simpler.
My take on the matter is that your job is to lead and inspire the congregation as they sing the praises. That means that you're responsible to find the music that's going to most inspire them, even though it may not necessarily be what would most inspire you.
If you've done your job correctly, they walk out of the service more committed to act on the spirit that they have felt than they would have been without your influence. If you've failed, they walk out of the meeting feeling that they have been to a good meeting.
I recently had the opportunity to play for a conference of nine congregations. As I was practicing a few days before the meeting, one of the leaders asked me if I was nervous about playing for such a large group. I told him that it wasn't playing for the group that concerned me, it was the fact that there were two things that happened after the main speaker: me playing the organ for the final hymn and the benediction.
I was comfortable with the music and wasn't worried about having trouble with the organ. My concern was whether I was going to inspire the congregation or just provide background music while they sang.
I wouldn't say I was necessarily inspired by the hymn that day. It is one of my favorite hymns, but my attention was on two keyboards, a footboard, and some well-rehearsed registration changes. My task was to inspire those I was leading to make some incremental change in their life to bring them closer to God and Christ.
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