Here we go, Keith. Let's pop open this can of worms again and see who's biting. This Sunday our church is celebrating Dads and Grads (and honoring God as well, of course!). For the Graduates, I have put together a musical power point show using pictures from their pasts - from infant and toddler pics to their Senior year graduation pics. Now for the can of worms part - I'm playing "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts as the background for the slide show. During a worship service. (gasp!) This will be early in the service, before we really get into the flow of worship, hymns, liturgy, etc., but it does take place during the worship service. I am doing it because I think it is a great song, and very appropriate for the setting in which I'm using it. It even mentions God's grace, so there you go! But, it's a country song, not a Christian/church song by any stretch. It is another example of my attempts to be relevant to the people in our pews, many of whom listen to country music. It's also an opportunity for our church to honor the achievements of these bright young individuals as they mark this milestone in their lives. I pray that in that, God is honored as well.
11 comments:
Ah, Jeffrey, the aura of country music still surrounds you. To tell you the truth, I've come to appreciate it even more since our days at ATS.
You actually bring up a conversation that I've been having with Mark Stewart and some of our other worship team members. We've been talking about how much we should allow secular things into worship services. It's a tough issue.
You can look at Paul in Acts 17. He used pagan religious statues as a "hook" to get his listeners' attentions....and then in his actual sermon he quoted pagan philosophers and poets who taught truths that were compatible with Christian teaching. His main point in the sermon was to preach Christ, but apparently he did not feel that he was crossing any boundaries by allowing pagan culture to enhance his overall message.
Even the prologue to the Gospel of John seems to borrow Greek philosophical language to communicate the truths of the Incarnation.
If Christianity can adopt secular philosophy when it suits its purposes (and it has throughout the history of the church), why can it not also adopt secular music and other art when the same purposes are met? Clearly ministers need to be careful and discerning in making sure that the Gospel message is not compromised. But if Scripture itself contains pagan quotations that enhance its message, certainly a worship service should be able to do the same.
I'm not opposed to the concept, though I don't know that song (thank God) and would question your taste in music from a musical perspective, not a theological one.
No, I think there are lots of songs that in the proper context could be used in worship...as long as the service ultimately points to the Triune God and not to ourselves.
Well...
Since you asked...
First off, let me begin with a heartfelt word of appreciation for your creativity and your bold willingness to help your congregation to experience worship in new and creative ways. It's good to know that the people of your congregation are being pastored by such a creative leader.
I am not at all opposed to the concept of utilizing a "secular" song as part of worship. I have done the same, when the lyrics of that particular song speak to the biblical issues around which the worship service revolves.
My concern, however, would probably be the specific song that you have chosen. I have never heard the song (since I tend to stay as far away from country music as possible so as to avoid a rash). I did, however, check out the lyrics a few minutes ago.
"My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to"
(A romantic sentiment, but far from biblical. I don't want anybody's life to become what HE or SHE wants it to be, especially since folks often have no idea what they want it to be. My prayer instead is that a person's life will become what God wants it to be. I find that to be much safer ground.)
"your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold"
(Who says that we never have to carry more than we can hold? I always thought that cross-carrying had more to do with what Christ can hold, even when it seems to involve more than we can bear on our own.)
"and while you're out there getting where you're getting to, I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish. Yeah."
(With the kind of egocentrism that we find in contemporary graduates, the last thing we need to tell them is that life is about "getting where they want to get to." I want to send them off instead with a song that reminds them that life isn't about them and their dreams in the first place.)
I know that some will read this and accuse me of making too much of the lyrics or reading too much into them. But I'm a word guy. I take words very seriously and believe that the words that we bring into our worship have to be carefully weighed. The danger of using "secular" music is that, if we are not careful in our evaluation of the music's lyrics, we might find ourselves placing before the congregation a message that runs counter to the biblical proclamation and the life of surrender to which Christ calls us.
All of which is to say...
I pray that it all goes well this weekend. I'm sure that it will be a beautiful and meaningful time of worship. I simply wanted to offer my thoughts on a danger that is always before us as leaders in worship--specifically, the danger of allowing sentimentality to take priority over biblical truth.
Thanks, my friend, for allowing us the privilege of thinking with you about these important issues.
There is no such thing as "Christian" music.
I challange anyone who has a problem with the use of your song choice to define for me "Christian" music. I have yet to meet a song that has embraced the salvation of Jesus Christ.
There is only music that leads us to glorify or disparage our God.
If this song, in the context of your service, leads people to glorify God, then go for it brother!
Eric,
You, a word guy? Never would have guessed it! I see the point in what you're saying, and thank you for the thought-provoking discussion. As you predicted in your post, my thoughts as I was reading your analysis of the lyrics were that you are making a bit much of them (although I certainly respect your right to do so!). I want to send them off with a song that will have meaning for them and wish them well, and to let them know that they have a church that loves them and wishes them the best. If they get more theology from the words of that song than they do from my weekly preaching, then shame on me. I'm confident that the Biblical truth I preach week after week will teach them more about what to believe than listening to this song will. Having said that, however, I do appreciate your reminder that we need to keep God in the proper perspective and to seriously think about ANY elements that we introduce into a worship service. You've never heard that song? Aren't you a fan of country music? Shocking!
Joe,
Nice to hear from you again. You bring up an interesting point, one that perhaps warrants its own post! I'll let everyone know how it goes.
Inspired by your musical boldness, we are having a summer consecration of our lawn equipment in our church parking lot following Sunday morning worship. To highlight our purpose, we will be using Kenny Chesney's "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy."
I hope the weekend goes well for you and your congregation, country boy.
Eric, you've got me thinking now. Next time we have communion, I think I'll play Brad Paisley's "Alcohol" song and use real wine in the cups. do you mind if I use your idea when we dedicate our new lawnmower?Next time I preach my John Wesley "brand plucked from the burning" sermon, I'll introduce it with Meatloaf's "Bat our of Hell" as the subtitle, what do you think? On a more serious note, I would be interested to hear how you have incorporated special music in your services. I would guess with your musical interests and Tara's as well, you probably have done some creative things that would be worth sharing.
I challenge any of you to find a way to use Trace Adkins "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk". How do you like Brad Paisley's new song "Ticks"? You know I love country music. Try some Keith Urban...his music is generally very positive and he has several lyrics that point to a relationship with Christ..."God's Been Good to Me" is a good upbeat song.
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When we were around the time of the anniversary of Sept. 11th, I used "Where were you when the world stopped turning" by Alan Jackson. And I highlighted the areas (and particularly the questions he raised) with the Scriptural and Biblical answers to those same timeless, and common, human ponderings. Next week (July 15), I think I may talk about the inability to really hide your light (even if you wanted to) from the Luke scripture text with the song "Watching You" (maybe by Trace Adkins??)
As I recall, some guy named John Wesley used secular writers' takes on philosophy and politics and even religion and gleaned whatever he could in order to make the case for Christ... and then called it "plundering the Egyptians." Isn't he supposed to be one of our examples? If so, then Jeff, you and I are truly Wesleyan!
Perhaps we can one day get Keith converted!!!
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