I recently read a thought provoking blog by Michael Gungor on the idea of the "Christian" music category and why it should not exist. Strangely enough sub-categories exist even within Christian music too. Often some music is described as "worship" music or a band as a "worship" band. So maybe some "Christian" music must not be played during a church service, worship gathering, or event? Is this just legalism, a marketing scheme, or another way to keep the peace between multiple generations with passion for their preference?
What does worship sound like?
People have been using music with worship in practice for a long time; from Hebrew Levitical musicians, to members of the early Church offering psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs during their meetings together, to tribal drums in Africa and electric guitars in your favorite bar. The point is: every people group has a song in their heart. Who they will sing it to is another story.
What does worship sound like?
People have been using music with worship in practice for a long time; from Hebrew Levitical musicians, to members of the early Church offering psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs during their meetings together, to tribal drums in Africa and electric guitars in your favorite bar. The point is: every people group has a song in their heart. Who they will sing it to is another story.
I have some friends who are missionaries. They want to share the story of Jesus with people who have never heard it or have heard it and don't accept it as truth. They believe the story of Jesus has the power to change lives, and that offering broken people mercy, forgiveness, and newness is what Jesus is about.
Some of my friends are nothing like the people they share the story with and for this reason they have tried to learn about their culture, their art, and the way they do life, so that they can contextualize the story of Jesus to these people in a way that makes sense to them.
Some other friends have realized they share much in common with a people group and love them deeply and for this reason, they go to them to share this story in their shared context.
Both of my friends believe they have been sent by Jesus to do this. They live, sing, and tell the story with great passion. But what does this have to do with singing, music, or being a worship pastor?
If you are a Christian, you are a missionary.
It doesn’t matter whether you are a pastor, a paid staffer at a church, or a Pizza Hut delivery driver (right now I fit into all 3 categories haha). Wherever you are, you are a missionary on a mission.
A missionary must know 3 things:
1. Who sent me?
2. What is the mission?
3. To whom am I going
As a worship pastor or whatever your terminology for this position is, your songs should reflect these three things.
1. Your songs must teach people about Jesus and offer themselves as one of many opportunities to worship Him.
2. Your songs must tell the story and invite the people in.
3. Your songs must be in the language of the people and culturally appropriate.
If your “worship” music does not teach about Jesus, what He has done, is doing, and will do, its not appropriate for a worship gathering. If your songs genre do not fit into the culture of the people group your are seeking to reach, its not appropriate for a worship gathering.
Some of my friends are nothing like the people they share the story with and for this reason they have tried to learn about their culture, their art, and the way they do life, so that they can contextualize the story of Jesus to these people in a way that makes sense to them.
Some other friends have realized they share much in common with a people group and love them deeply and for this reason, they go to them to share this story in their shared context.
Both of my friends believe they have been sent by Jesus to do this. They live, sing, and tell the story with great passion. But what does this have to do with singing, music, or being a worship pastor?
If you are a Christian, you are a missionary.
It doesn’t matter whether you are a pastor, a paid staffer at a church, or a Pizza Hut delivery driver (right now I fit into all 3 categories haha). Wherever you are, you are a missionary on a mission.
A missionary must know 3 things:
1. Who sent me?
2. What is the mission?
3. To whom am I going
As a worship pastor or whatever your terminology for this position is, your songs should reflect these three things.
1. Your songs must teach people about Jesus and offer themselves as one of many opportunities to worship Him.
2. Your songs must tell the story and invite the people in.
3. Your songs must be in the language of the people and culturally appropriate.
If your “worship” music does not teach about Jesus, what He has done, is doing, and will do, its not appropriate for a worship gathering. If your songs genre do not fit into the culture of the people group your are seeking to reach, its not appropriate for a worship gathering.
In this sense a song should never sound “Christian”, it should sound like the people’s culture, teach about Jesus, and invite people into deeper relationship with Him.
What does your people's worship sound like? Why does it sound that way? As a missionary to your city, is your music more reflective of your city or "Christian" pop culture?
Cant wait to hear your thoughts!
Gods Peace
+walker
What does your people's worship sound like? Why does it sound that way? As a missionary to your city, is your music more reflective of your city or "Christian" pop culture?
Cant wait to hear your thoughts!
Gods Peace
+walker
Very nice thoughts my friend.
ReplyDeletebeing culterly revelant in all aspects of our ministry is very important. I enjoy all types of Christian music as long as it is biblicly sound but I would not invite Walker to a little country church nor would I invite the gaithers to a contempary church. Each style has an important place and as pastors we need to know our seting and what will reach the majority of the people. Because the most important thing is the impact on the kingdom and how many disciples can be made.
ReplyDeleteTHE DOCTOR
@The Doctor you know the results of having me to a small country church dont you haha.....that was some good fried chicken and corn bread though. You know its the Kingdom of Heaven when little old ladies can hate your music but still feed you well!
ReplyDelete@Lee thanks man.....I really enjoyed your songwriting blog today as well.....worshiparts.cc and vintagethought.cc always full of wisdom