Don’t ever let me be the one to say: “I’ll do whatever it takes to see the Gospel move forward” but amend it with “..as long as they do it MY way”
In less than a month, Guardian will travel to Venezuela for a concert. It is my hope that God somehow uses the band during the time we have on stage.
I am an American. I speak English. Guardian is a US hard rock band. However, If you’ve ever seen us in Latin America, you know we always do a few songs in Spanish and I have an interpreter come out between songs so I can communicate with the audience…the WHOLE audience. Let me be clear about something: Guardian is a band, but also a business. We get paid to perform. Professionally, I could do the same show I would if I were playing in Minneapolis, not say a word and still would have rightfully earned my paycheck. BUT, we as a band have always wanted to see hearts changed for Christ. I will therefore make sure that people understand what I am saying and what we are about using the best methods I can…In this case, a translator and/or Spanish lyrics.
If I didn’t do those things, the majority of people there who don’t speak English would likely still have a good time..but how much more useful to them will I be if I “speak their language”? Tons I think.
This is what’s on my mind tonight: Every human has 5 senses that they use to experience life: sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste. I won’t be able to grab the audience’s attention with touch, smell or taste… *I hope not anyway..watch out for sweaty towels ;-)…* But, we WILL be able to grab their attention with sound and sight. So to gain their attention, we will do our best to make sure those areas are done to the absolute best of our abilities!
Your Pastor and Musicians have the opportunity to appeal to the congregation’s sight and sound as well. I would encourage them to do what it takes. If the audience speaks French, then don’t be surprised if they tune you out when you speak English. Not because what you are saying is wrong, it just isn’t being delivered in the best way possible. We live, for better or worse, in a tech savvy society…Large screen TV’s, realistic looking video games, a phone that can almost be a control station for your life…and if you are reading this, you are part of that culture. (I don’t have anything available in print……yet). So if people are wired these days to speak the language of the culture, I believe we do the Gospel a disservice to present it in ways that don’t engage them. Why God entrusted us humans with telling the world about His Son is beyond me..but I think he wants us to use every method we can. Worship is an outward expression of humans responding to the miracle of God in their lives. It’s not a style, it’s not a song, it’s not a visual. It’s a response of the heart. But I think a connecting song and a connecting atmosphere can lead to a place where releasing that praise is clearer…and freeing!
Here is an excerpt from a blog I read that sparked this line of thought. It’s from Dr. Tim Smith (emphasis added is mine though-JR)
God is raising up a nation of kings and priests, (Revelation 1:6) a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9) that we (collectively) would proclaim the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. His goal and His delight is a nation, a kingdom of priests, everybody, lifting up holy hands, bending the knee, confessing His name wherever and whenever they gather.
So there is a vested interest for the Prince of the power of the air to keep his dominance of the airwaves. He comes to steal, kill and destroy our faith and our lives. He steals our voice by creating an environment where only the best voices sing. Often, we end up silently and passively listening to others have a great worship service, feeling good for them, but not allowing ourselves to be heard for various reasons like fear of rejection, ridicule or embarrassment. He kills our worship by encouraging a critiquing spirit, a critical spirit, where we end up judging the ‘value’ of what we are singing by our musical taste or preference. He destroys our worship by numbing our senses and jading our spirits through intense media-saturation. He wants a silent church, a passive church, a bland church. A silent congregation is the death-knell of the church.
Martin Luther fought hard for the priesthood of all believers, and we should contend today to release all believers in the wholehearted, passionate worship of a living God and not be content with just a great platform presentation of worship. We should look throughout our whole congregation and encourage all to participate in this collective expression of praise and adoration.
Chew on that if you’re feelin’ it.
All I know is in the end: Love Wins.
You are loved!
jamie
PS: I’m not a sports fan, but I’ll watch the Superbowl every year…why? ‘Cause it’s an event! They could play just a normal game without some mega half-time show..but the passive audience (like me) isn’t going to pay attention.
PS Part Deaux: An empty parking lot on Sunday simply means no fruit growing on the tree…why don’t people get outraged about that?