I can't tell you how many times I've been to a service where someone said something like: "We're not here to entertain, we're here to worship." Let's dialogue.Over the course of my life I've had several paradigm shifts regarding gospel music. One of the first was due to the music of Edwin Hawkins. The Hawkins Family took it to a different place for me. It was soulful and jazzy at times. Intricate... Then there was Andre Crouch. The smooth harmonies ... he was another mile marker in my journey. The Winans ... the question is, 'What took them so long to arrive?" They definitely changed the landscape for me.
For my money Fred Hammond was the guy that urbanized praise and worship like it had never been done before. When I first saw him he was playing bass for the Winans. He moved from back-up musician to front and center as a leader in the gospel music "industry." Let's dialogue.
Check out the logo above. Verizon Wireless is having something they call "How Sweet The Sound", the search for the best choirs in America. Persons of all faiths are invited to participate. The prize: $50,000 in cash prizes. Plus, you could claim the Verizon Wireless V Cast People's Choice Award, with a performance of the winning choir featured on V Cast (in addition to taking home a $5,000 prize).
They are not alone. There are numerous such events to choose from. Some will say it's an opportunity to spread the gospel. Some will say it's a competition and as such is counter-productive to what should be the goal of gospel music. What do you say? Let's dialogue.
I've been in services where one person's worship experience was another persons excuse to get up and go the bathroom. "She was really anointed." "I thought she was showing off." Is it live or is it Memorex? Is it worship or entertainment? Perhaps some of it has to with where "we" are. Let's dialouge.
I feel that there is an awkward tension between the worship leaders resonsibility to lead and engage the crowd to worship and the worshippers responsibility to worship God regardless of how entertaining the music is.
ReplyDeleteI do not think it is wrong for worship to be entertaining (although hopefully that is not the primary goal) as it ought to be making effort to be contextual, relevant, and at times may I dare say appealing. However, the worshippers responsibility must always be fixed on the God's worthiness to be worshipped and not by the entertaining factor of the worship team up on Sunday.
Music itself though can serve multiple purposes. I am not ready to critize those who take gospel music into the public sector. My only concern is that when they do so, they remain fully committed to God as they share thier gifts and they faithfully represent His Kingdom. And that is where many tend to "miss the mark" in my opinion.
As ususal we basically agree. I wanted some opinion specifically on the gospel "competiton" type programs like the one referred to in the original post. What's your thought on that?
ReplyDeleteYeah that is a little more sticky, I was gonna slip past that one... lol. I really got to think about it, because I don't like to say something is flat out wrong no matter the situation and context. My primary questions would be during these competitions is it primarily a contest or time of worship and who is the audience? But even that is hard. But to be fair, it is a little problematic in my mind to put one groups heart felt worship against another groups worship. Especially when man looks at the outward (musical appeal) and God looks at the hear (authentic and true heart for worship).
ReplyDeleteAs ususal I appreciate your insight. Like you I don't want to pass judgment, but I love the dialogue.
ReplyDelete