Being a web developer and a worship leader, I don’t have or take much time to read hard copy material (not the TV show – books, magazines, etc), but one of the magazines I do subscribe to (and read) is Worship Musician Magazine.
Ever since I started leading worship back in 1995 (sounds so long ago doesn’t it?), my personal preference in musical style has been along the contemporary lines of music. The structred (and sometimes stuffy) style of classically trained music leaders just rubbed me the wrong way and distracted me in a service – and sometimes still does. This rubbing, for a long time, had made me skew my opinion on traditional hymns to the point of completely disliking them, and cringing every time I was in a service where they were led.
But, around 2001 I began trying to find ways to “jazz up” some hymns because they have great messages … I just couldn’t “feel” the style of music in which they were written.
Now, I still don’t like that traditional, structured, stuffy style of music, but I enjoy very much putting contemporary flares on traditional hymns. Chris Tomlin, Kristian Stanfill, David Crowder, Charlie Hall, Shane and Shane among others have given us some great new versions of traditional hymns in a more contemporary musical style … and I like it!
However, there seems to still be a large disconnect somewhere between pastors, speakers, evangelists, etc and worship leaders, music ministers, etc. I could never really put my finger on it in an explaination until this an article by Michael Gonzales in the latest edition of Worship Musician Magazine called “Blended Worship.”
This may get a bit long, but I’m going to share with you portions of this article … but not all of the article since you need to subscribe to the magazine yourself.
Blended Worship
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When it comes to leading worship, I ask the primary question “What is beautiful?” When it comes right down to the core of being an authentic worshipper, I go back to the basics that I am an artist risen to a high purpose at this moment in my personal history. I am to lead people into praise and into His presence. God deserves the beautiful out of us. Sometimes it is found in a hymn, a chorus or a blending of the two.
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The purpose of leading is not for the people; it is a holy moment dedicated to God. So, as an artist … I work hard to get to a moment where my skill is lost in the foliage of a transcendent thing. I blend into the chorus so that, in essence, we all become one voice to God.
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Politically speaking, pastors [in the traditional church] are concerned about mixing humns and praise tunes to form some sort of non-offensive union, where young and old can sing songs and leave with something of value.
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To be fair, there are good pastors who are right in line with God’s will for themselves and for their congregations. They understand the need for finding meaning in young and old alike. These are good leaders in the church who do not have an agenda execept to see lives transformed: all lives. Unfortunately, there is no magic worship pill to make that happen.
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My opinion is for a worship leader to seek the highest degree of praise. Whether it be hymns or choruses, praise tunes, instrumental or vocal solos, go beyond the moderate and aim for the sacred moment.
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Sometimes we have to stand in awe, or even stop playing any music and pray. Sometimes we have to crack open a hymnal and sing “It is Well,” because, in reality, things are not well in our lives and it is that song at that particular moment that reminds us that the need for Christ is central to our spiritual breathing. At other times we might need to lift up the wholeness of God and sing something like “God of Wonders” blended with “Gread God of Wonders.” The blending is not to play out an emphasis on keeping everybody happy. The blending is because it is the right thing to do at that moment in time, at that place, because the power of God is in it.
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So, let’s all think out of the box and listen to the voice of God and act on it, using all the weapons of mass adoration at our disposal. Then, stand back and watch the Christ take His place at center stage and leave us all in awe.
by Michael Gonzales – Worship Musician Magazine
You know, it comes down to forgetting about choosing certain songs to please certain people groups, and instead get back to the basics – listening and responding to the direction of the Holy Spirit and using all of what we have in worshipping the King of kings. Pretty simple really.
Thanks, Michael, for putting words to what many worshippers have been thinking.
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