Music Has Charms to Soothe the Savage Beast...
After typing the above title, I've learned that its actually a misquote and should be 'Music Hath Charms to Soothe the Savage Breast...'. Written in 1697 by William Congreve its one of those phrases that has passed down through the ages and is still used in modern society. But whilst music may have charms to soothe the savage beast (or breast) it is also very capable of awakening the beast (or at least make it start growling).Over the past twenty years or so I've attended and been a member of the Methodist Church, the Baptist Church and currently attend a Church of England Church, I've been a church council member, a Deacon and am now on the PCC. Whilst each different church has its own differences I've found that they also have many things in common - one of which is that in each Church I've been a member of (just had a though -perhaps its me!), there has been arguments and heated discussions over the music.
Earlier this year we had a series of services and sermons on the theme of worship that culminated in our church weekend away at Sneaton Castle in Whitby. During the weekend we took part in worship and joined in various teaching sessions and seminars on what worship is, what we should bring to it/how we should approach it etc. Music in itself wasn't given its own session, but mentioned in some of the teaching and seminars.
Music is always something I have loved and enjoyed. I play Guitar in the church worship group and 'sing' so it was nice to be able to get some of my views out in the open. Those who know me will also know I can at times be a little sarcastic and cynical and that some things I say should be taken with a small pinch of salt.
Following the church weekend, I've had Facebook correspondence and brief conversations with Pete Stoodley, our mission priest (who has unfortunately announced his resignation recently) regarding music within the Church and my views/comments that made me think.
The two comments that Pete brought up that I made during the sessions were 'Everything we play sounds the same' and, when asked what we going to do different next Sunday 'Try and be enthusiastic no matter what we're asked to play'.
I'm not the best musician in the world and I'm fully aware of my limitations (although I am trying to improve myself), but I've always said that whatever we're asked to play I will play to the best of my ability. But if I'm not really enjoying what I'm playing and singing, am I really giving it my best, or just going through the motions? Make sure you're in tune and time, get it finished and out the way - move on to the next song.
The Bible tells us that we are to '‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ (Luke 10:27) I think we can also add on 'with all your talent'. If God has given us a talent we should use it to its fullest.
Music does have an important role in churches, and not just as a part of worship. After the welcome at the door, the first impression and newcomer gets is the music as the congregation join in with the first hymn/song, if this is bad, what does it say about how we are using are God-given talents and how much we really love and want to praise him? Leading worship is not a performance as such, but we do need to be the best we can. Similarly we do need to think about the songs we pick and play - there's another saying - 'familiarity breeds contempt'. If everything we do sounds the same, then it all starts to blur together and can lose meaning. Whilst we want churches to be welcoming places, if I was coming back to church after a number of years, or coming for the first time, I wouldn't expect them to still be doing the same songs I sang when I was at school or last came to church.
There are no easy answers and you'll never please everyone. I've seen churches split themselves apart over what music they should use and its not the way the church is called to be.
Music maybe can soothe the savage beast - It'd be nice if it could also unite a congregation in worship.
I occasionally think the opposite - that church and particularly SBC should do a good handful of songs that have good theological coverage and sound good played by the band and sung by the band and congregation but are what they've sung in school! I also think we shouldn't have lines for the congregation to sing that are too specific about a place in a spiritual journey without explanation as to what singing it is for that doesn't involve a sense of dishonesty? That's why I think songs about God and the gospel or generic 'you are great' or biblical praise songs are better than 'here I sit and ponder x like I've never done before and I would love you to carry this on; I will do y - forever and with all I have no absolutely everything and anything like failure will not be tolerated' sort of songs! Trying really hard whatever the song is rewarded by people and God - if you don't quite agree with lyrics sing honestly in your tone of voice (he interprets the non-verbal better than we do) - better to be honest than confusing!
ReplyDeleteThis isn't what I originally planned to write - I started and let my thoughts flow.
ReplyDeleteIts not the songs we do sometimes but the way we do them. There are some songs (I can't stand Make Me a Chanel of your Peace - for various reasons) that need re-doing or putting in an 'emergency use' only box
Think back in the dark recesses of your mind to the first time you played as part of a worship/music group! Can you remember that feeling of the angels singing along - when it felt like the absolute thing to do?
ReplyDeleteMusic is a powerful part of worship; but I do think that there is a place for all... there is an amazing familiarity about some of the old hymns and having a good fellowship moment within the singing of them. But it's as important to do different and new and to challenge people with what is being sung.
If you are leading worship with singing it's important that you are fulfilling yourself as well as fulfilling others. You need to know and feel that what you are singing is true and that you are praising God. But you also need to help others feel that they are praising God. It's a fine balancing act.
However, I haven't been involved with music in church for a while now, so what do I know?
First worship group I played in was Baildon Methodists and I certainly remember hearing angels joining in at times as I have at both the Baptists and St Cuthberts - I find it hard to lead worship if I'm not worshipping myself and thats not always been the case recently - its more of a personal thing I have to deal with and sort out
ReplyDelete