Christian Artists and the Music Industry

"To glorify God, does that mean we have to only write worship songs? Or only write songs that are to Him?" This question and statements like it I heard in class the other day. I'm not going to say whether it is wrong or right but what I think of this. As I consider myself a musician/lyricist, and as a general music admirer I have to say that I think music is emotionally expressing what is in your heart, and pouring your soul into it. This being said, why should we just continue to write songs to God or for God restating things that we have already stated in a new way. Such as new worship songs, that are basically saying the same thing as in the old hymns or older songs. I said "just". So don't start assuming that I think writing songs to God and for God about how we view Him or how we want Him to reign in us, is overrated. I am simply stating that I think as Christians, and as musicians we have to express how we feel. If I am really upset and don't understand what is going on in my life, I will write about it, because I like to journal. I may even write a song about it. It may go something like, "there is all this confusion, nothing to lose, and my heart is so lost in this place, of madness" I can clearly go on to say that something that is going on or why I am confused, and it could be a prayer to God, or you know what it could just be me venting. I could make it into a full song, I could change it to say I'm mad about ___, ____, and ___. I can still do it in a way that in tasteful, and that doesn't go against my Christian views. I don't have to come out and say hey this is about God, and my challenges, I don't have to say this is a prayer, I can just pour out my heart and say I feel discouraged or I feel upset. Even if I write something as a full song, it doesn't mean that I am going to show it to the world. Sometimes I believe, that certain writings are just between you and God. Sometimes there may be a message to share, doesn't have to be the Gospel, could be about anything, getting a cup of coffee, sitting and pondering classic books. Those are probably something I would actually be prone to thinking about or doing. So I apologize for it wouldn't appeal to everyone, but why should it? We are all different and think differently. The word clearly states that, "there is a time for everything" (Ecclesiastes 3) I have seemed to deter from my main subject, but why should we only write things restating things we have previously stated? Shouldn't we be expressing our true feelings? Isn't that what music is? An expression/ expressions? Is it not right to write something or sing something that doesn't necessarily have God as the main focal point? What if we wrote about how we got out of a struggle? Or how we are viewing the world? Does that mean we don't love God? As Christians we are not to cause our brothers or sisters to fall, so if that is happening I can very well understand needing to stop writing whatever it is that is causing that. I believe that we should be able to express ourselves in songs or in just writings. I don't mean that if you happen to write a song on how mad you are that you should publish it or put it into a record and put it out there for the whole world to see, but maybe there is other songs about having someone close to you die and how you are feeling about it. That could be very useful, it could be the words or the message that someone else needs to hear because they are going through the same thing. Anyway I think we should write songs that are yes glorifying to God, but that doesn't mean we should not express certain feelings or expressions that could help someone else that is in the exact spot, or feeling the same thing as us.

Sunday Morning Worship

 I am currently going to a school of worship, called Ocean's Edge. A group of us played worship this last Sunday morning in the "gym" service, which is also known as the overflow service. We had an interesting experience. Most of us aren't from this area, and have come from out of state or from out of the country to attend this school. The worship teams from almost all of our "home" churches aren't fully equipped with the money or resources that we are here, so you may say that we are spoiled. We had quite a full band on stage, almost a mini Hill-song group. Two acoustic guitarists, two electric guitarists, two singers, a bass player, keyboardist, and a drummer all on one tiny stage. Rehearsals and practices before hand are crucial for any group that is going to play any type of music in public. Our drummer, though as amazingly gifted as he is, didn't have a chance to practice with the rest of the band before Sunday morning. So rehearsal time before service was quite shaky unlike all of the other rehearsals we have had so far this year, which made it surreal to us how it will be once returning to our "home" churches. I say surreal because most churches run off of volunteers running the sound board, volunteer musicians, and singers. They all have either a job or family, or something else that occupies their day. Unlike us at school this year, where all we do is study leadership, the Word, and music. We struggled through practice, and got every one on the same page as cliche as it sounds, and ended up pulling it together for the actual worship service. Now perfection isn't something that is likely to happen no matter how good you are, or how much you practice. No one is perfect no matter how much we try to be. For the sake of striving to be the best we are capable though, we did quite well I believe. I do know that some members of the band struggled actually worshipping during the time of worship though. As I thought about this I realized something. We should be as prepared as we can for when we play or do anything, but when it comes down to it, are we really just worshipping the Lord? Isn't that why we are here? After church was over some of us had been talking about how weird of a situation it was for us. We have been so used to, well since we started school, to having everything at our fingertips. If we need a DI there is one in the cabinet, if we need a 1/4 inch cable we know where to find one. Back home however, not everyone is going to have that. Not every one will have two acoustic guitar players, or a keyboardist, or maybe an electric guitarist. No matter what though the main point is to be fully and wholly surrendering ourselves to God, to be worshipping Him. God doesn't care if we have a band as big as Hill Song or if we have a small acoustic set with two singers. God cares that we are using what He gave us to do what He desires. I personally need to take that to heart. I may not be the best guitarist, or singer, but I am going to use fully what God has given me, or try to. I say try to because as humans we are prone to sin, but that doesn't mean I am not going to try my hardest not to.