Are You Playing only the Hits?
The temptation for a lot of worship leaders these days is to play the top CCLI 25 and call it a day or much worse, call it a celebration of worship. I myself have become too busy at times to seriously contemplate what my congragation needs or wants to say to God and just pick some songs that will get some hands in the air.
It is more important for us as worship leaders, however, to feed our individual congregations, than to sing the most popular songs of the day.
There is a reason, however, these songs are so popular, however, they are usually universal in nature and very singable and talk about a topic or theme most people can relate to. I use most, if not all of these songs from time to time. They are God breathed annointed songs of worship.
However, let me challenge you to develop some other repetoire based on what your individual congrations need to say to God. Sometimes songs that are so universal that individual congregations needs are left out of the mix. Brian Doerksen says, when you can't find a song that says whay you need to say, that is when you write.
There are songs, perhaps that will speaks only to my congregation, that will never reach beyond our church walls. That doesn't mean they lack in quality, they were just ment for our congregation alone. (Just like some songs should only be for private worship times)
Good questions to ask...
1.) What is God doing in our midst that we can respond to in our worship?
2.) Are there any songs that already say this in a unique way?
3.) Are there any poets/writers/artists in our congregation that could possibly
interpret into art what God is doing in our midst?
If you begin to listen to what God is doing in your congregation, you may in fact discover a new level of fresh worship in your congregational worship times.
It is more important for us as worship leaders, however, to feed our individual congregations, than to sing the most popular songs of the day.
There is a reason, however, these songs are so popular, however, they are usually universal in nature and very singable and talk about a topic or theme most people can relate to. I use most, if not all of these songs from time to time. They are God breathed annointed songs of worship.
However, let me challenge you to develop some other repetoire based on what your individual congrations need to say to God. Sometimes songs that are so universal that individual congregations needs are left out of the mix. Brian Doerksen says, when you can't find a song that says whay you need to say, that is when you write.
There are songs, perhaps that will speaks only to my congregation, that will never reach beyond our church walls. That doesn't mean they lack in quality, they were just ment for our congregation alone. (Just like some songs should only be for private worship times)
Good questions to ask...
1.) What is God doing in our midst that we can respond to in our worship?
2.) Are there any songs that already say this in a unique way?
3.) Are there any poets/writers/artists in our congregation that could possibly
interpret into art what God is doing in our midst?
If you begin to listen to what God is doing in your congregation, you may in fact discover a new level of fresh worship in your congregational worship times.
2 Comments:
These are GREAT questions to ask...
First, I totally believe that God has equipped (filled) His local churches with gifted artisans who should use their unique talents and abilities to help encourage inspiring worship in their churches - even if their music or artform never reaches the "mass market."
Second, I belong to a song sharing online forum - we upload songs and then critique each other's efforts. The only problem is - 99% of the songs submitted are basically "hip tunes with a great beat" that appeal to most people under the age of 30 - - but the lyrics just leave so much to be desired. In many cases they don't even make any sense. I read lyrics yesterday that said, "Forever I will silence my voice until I hear the sound of Your name!" I have so many problems with that lyric... but the main one is - if I am SINGING that song, how in the world am I actually SILENCING my voice? And what the heck is "the sound of Your name" ?? My point - of the 9 critiques thus far, every single one says, "great song, man! it really has a strong hook! it grooves..." Well, gnarly! But what does the song SAY????? Ain't that important any more???? It is songs like this - critiqued by worshipers like that - who are not helping our cause to bring fresh music into the church today...
Here is the deal. These songwriters need to be discipled. They need to be taken under wing and really taught thier craft.
Thanks to guys like Brian Doerksen and Paul Boloche resources are available to help worship songwriters. (Check out God Songs at Leadworship.com)
That book would have saved me years of frustration had I found it before I started seriously writing.
The only thing that seperates Christian music from secular music are the lyrics. For most of us it is easier to write the music than it is the lyric. We can not just emotionally vomit the words out and expect people to be captivated by thier maker. It is a skill and art. I really do wish worship songwriters (especially independent worship writers) would take heed. Worship involves (or should) involve our hearts, mind, soul, and stregth. Put a little muscle in your songwriting and study!!!!
Still while I have tried to get away from critiqing other peoples worship, I just think they need to be tought that not all songs are for the church (Big C) Certainly not all of mine at least...
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