Christian musicians... What now?
I have met and found that there are more than a couple of musicians that have made there way into house churches. I have heard several stories echoing my own of how they segued into HC without so much as a guitar just because they didn't want to add any impurity to the real worship experience. I liken it to crucifixion with Christ resurrecting the part that He desires. Yes guitar is back in our HC and we have more and more music as PART of the worship. I want to hear from other musicians and singers... what's your story?
Tags: creative, music, musicians, song, songs
Views: 86
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Clark Wade on -
Hey Ken,
Regarding the more creative aspect of music in simple church, consider checking out the discussion I placed regarding "What Songs Have You Written?" This is one way some creativity could be spread out so that others, even the non-musical kind, could contribute something "musically."
Clark
Ken Halford said:Well said! I encourage others to bring songs and lead, but they kind of know me as a musician, so I usually get asked by someone, "Hey are we doing some songs, tonight?" I am looking for creative ways to get more people involved in that creative aspect. As those ideas are revealed to you, me and others, I am thinking this might be a good place to post them.
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Permalink Reply by Clark Wade on
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Hey Dena,
Good word here. And I know what you mean. I like what you wrote:
I had to sit it out, preferring to be in silence, and attune with God who's Presence is always with me (this I'm learning, after starting to lose the substitutes and counterfeits). I just cannot handle much manipulation anymore, not even when it's subtle, or familiar.
There is a type of music which settles me into His presence and it is "contemplative." John Michael Talbot and Daniel Markoya or Taize'. This kind of music doesn't mess with my emotions in an artifical way. I don't know how else to describe much of the music that I hear today as "worship" music. As you say, you feel "manipulated." I think that's real interesting. I think if one begins to learn a little how to walk in the Spirit, to walk in-tune to Him in such an intimate way, some of the music can be jarring.
When I began "phasing out" of the IC, I couldn't sing the worship songs like I used to. I couldn't handle it anymore. Something about it felt bereft of communion with God. I, like you, would just remain in silence, communing with Him in my spirit. When this kind of sweet, interior communion is going on, some of the music, especially when it is part of the "program," can be a distraction.
There's a little book called "Living Prayer" by Anthony Bloom, and this is what he writes about "worship." I think he nails it:
"One of the reasons why communal worship or private prayer seem to be so dead or so conventional is that the act of wroship, which takes place in the heart communing iwth God, is too often missing. Every expression, either verbal or in action, may help, but they are only expressions of what is essential, namely, a deep sielnce of communion.
"We all know in human relationships that love and friendship are deep when we can be silent with someone. As long as we need to talk (or sing) in order to keep in touch, we can safely and sadly assume that the relationship is still superfiical; and so, if we want to worship God, we must first of all learn to feel happy, being silent together with Him. This is an easier thing to do than one might think at first; it needs a little time, some confidence and the courage to start.
:Once the Cur' d' Ars, a French saint of the eighteenth century, asked an old peasant what he was doing sitting for hours in the church, seemingly not even praying; the preasant replied: "I look at Him, He looks at me and we are happy together." That man had learned to speak to 'God without breaking the silence of intimacy by words. If we can do that we can use any form of worship. (Now listen to this): If we try to make worship itself out of the words we use, we will get desparetly tired of those words, because unless they have the depth of silence, they are shallow and tiresome.
But how inspiring words can be once they are backed by silence and are infused with the right spirit:
"To You belongs silence [the submissive wonder of reverence which bursts forth into praise] and praise is due and fitting to You, O God, in Zion...". Ps. 65:1 Amplified
This verse seems to be saying that praise bursts out of our silent communion with Him. If we just have the former without the latter, all of our "worship music" becomes trite, frivalous, and tiresome. And if it becomes so with us, what must it be to Him who has to endure it. "You honor me with Your lips, but your hearts are far from me."
Blessings,
Clark.
Clark
Dena Brehm said:Just wondering (as a singer and musician) ...
Why do we call playing/singing music "worship"?
Worship is a way of life, 24/7 ... a relationship with the One who is within.
For us, our little gathering (don't really call it church anymore), we had no music but accapella songs (as each one started one) for a couple of years. For a while, one woman brought a guitar, but now she's in a "spin-off" group. I'm going to be taking guitar lessons, but it's been on hold for a while.
Interestingly, once we got "weaned" of needing music, it didn't feel quite as important. I figure I had to get the "performance" mindset out of me... which died rather slowly.
Recently, at a large gathering of believers, complete with a band, I realized that the music wasn't "doing it" for me anymore. In fact, I felt manipulated, as if their goal was to "pump me up" and get me to some emotional state, which would be attributed to God's presence. I felt coerced, very uncomfortable, which is quite a switch from the days in which I was addicted to such a thing (& even participated in getting the folks primed -- oh yeah, we intentionally chose songs to build upon each other, with a goal in mind).
I had to sit it out, preferring to be in silence, and attune with God who's Presence is always with me (this I'm learning, after starting to lose the substitutes and counterfeits). I just cannot handle much manipulation anymore, not even with it's subtle, or familiar.
I love music, and love to sing... but worship is life with Jesus... it's awareness of His nearness, and sharing my thoughts with Him as I go through the day -- some call it praying without ceasing. I call it conversation with my Friend.
Shalom, Dena
"The unanswered questions aren't nearly as dangerous as the
unquestioned answers."
"We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking only to
learn that it is God shaking them." - Charles West
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Permalink Reply by Katie Mather on -
Thank you Clark. Some of what you posted made me cry sweet tears of love and adoration of my Lord. I had been struggling with this very thing in praying. My words seem insufficient. My language is not enough to express my adoration of my Saviour and my Creator. Sure I can pray and ask for stuff, healing, finances and etc. but when it comes to just wanting to honor Him, I find my words are just stupid. Thank you. Now I can just sit, lie, jog, dance in His presence and soak in His love and He in mine.
Many of the words for worship in the original language in the Bible do involve music. Avodah which means worship also means to work. Our work is an act of worship. It also means to study the Torah. Our study of the Word is an act of worship. But I understand that this discussion is specifically about music as one of the forms of worship in SC.
Our family used to be the worship team in IC. Now that we are in SC, we just gather and jam unto the Lord. There is a place for all public and private expressions of music, both improvisational, inspirational, individual, corporate and scripted. The problem is when it is dictated that only one form is the acceptable form. When people in the IC are made to feel their expression is inferior and are left out week after week to watch others perform, that is wrong. But I see nothing wrong in watching others musically perform an act of worship. Hopefully it is an offering of worship unto the Lord and not just the hype of performance. But people are people and that does happen. Just go to any Christian music festival and you can pick out the performers that are doing just that, an act.
Just because we have chosen a simpler expression of church life does not mean that there is no place for a larger gathering of musical worship. Just read Revelation.
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Permalink Reply by Birgit on -
Hi,
I enjoyed reading this forum. I've enjoyed worship with music and without. I've been a worship leader but not a professional musician. I love to play guitar, piano, recorder and singing. For me the most important aspect about worship with music is that it is truly an expression of our love for God. I know everyone says that but I've been in too many gatherings, both IC and small groups and simple church, where people were controlling everything and feeding their ego without even being aware of it. I think we are all tempted this way, some more than others because of personality differences. I think a good test for those who are wondering if they are tempted in this way is to take a certain amount of time ( a month, a year, whatever the Lord leads to do) and play only for Him or only within one's immediate family. After I had done that I was much more able to worship no matter what the style of the music or the skill level of the musicians. It still frustrates me at times when things aren't the way it helps me focus on God in worship but I know that someone else is probably drawing close to God at that moment because they need something different from me.
Having said all this I have to admit that I'm not too excited about most contemporary Christian music. I enjoy some country music and have heard more significant spiritual messages on the local country station than on the Christian stations. But this is clearly a matter of taste.
I do think it would be good for me to devote the time to write music, just have been too lazy to do so.
Birgit
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Permalink Reply by Birgit on
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Bill, if I understand right your are saying that people who are gifted to teach/preach can also do it more to have their egos stroked. I think this is a temptation with any gift God gives. And isn't that silly, the word gift should make it clear that it's nothing that we earned and can therefor be proud of.
Birgit
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Permalink Reply by Birgit on
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Steven,
when I read your statement about how art makes us connect with something bigger than ourselves I was thinking of coyotes howling in the fields around our house at night, stallions dancing and prancing, the sweet aroma of freshly baked bread in our kitchen, not traditional expressions of art, for sure. Everyone of us has mental images that create the desire to express beauty, to share it with others, through music, through painting, through crafts, through cooking... Being made in the image of God means we share His joy in being creative. I know that God wants us to have room for that in our meetings. It can take hundreds of different forms and the only reason I see to limit traditionally lead worship is because it tends to dominate over other creative expressions in church meetings.
Birgit
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Permalink Reply by robert gilbert on -
I want to teach people how to play a ukulele as part of organic cottage worship. It is a pretty simple instrument and can be used like a guitar. Simple church . . . simple ukulele
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Permalink Reply by JP Vilaire on -
I don't know if this is a finished discussion or not but I thought I'd chime in anyway. We love music as well, I play guitar and my wife sings having been a music leader and choir director when we were in traditional church ministry. It has been a difficult transition to make in this area moving to simple church. My wife was a fantastic choir director and even though she led the way as we transitioned into simple church, she does miss leading a big choir. My prayer is that God will somehow replace this experience with some other musical group activity we don't see yet. We like singing and music during worship times but our church is still just our family right now. The kids are all pretty musical but we long to see other music lovers join our fellowship.
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Permalink Reply by Brian McGowan on -
ex-mega church worship leader here...
A guitar in one gathering could be wonderful! A guitar in another gathering could be a chaotic, lifeless mess. Is it bringing about the Life of the Spirit? Is it even led by the Spirit? Is the guitar player full of himself? Does he still have platformitis?Everything we do in "gatherings"should be for the edification of the saints! 1 Cor 14:7...If anyone plays an instrument, but doesn't play it clearly, how will the people follow the melody? There's practical issues as well as spiritual.
We have musicians in some of our gatherings that have played professionaly on "worship CD's" that you probably own. We are a VERY musically capible bunch. 90% of the time, we leave our guitars/instruments at home. This is why: We have learned to follow the spirit in this stuff. We learned that if we come into gatherings with instruments every single week, we'll slip into a form of "trying to make something happen". Or the others will start depending on it, becoming a happy spectator. This isn't some doctrine..it's just what we've walked through. Guard yourselves against patterns, forms, etc. There's nothing wrong with intruments, until they become idols. And worse yet...out of tune idols!
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