For more than thirty years of music ministry we have tried to make a point never to call what we do on the sanctuary platform “a performance.” We have passionately wanted to keep a clear distinction between what we do in one of our church services and what happens in a concert performance.
Our underlying theme has been Kirkegaard’s concept that in Christian worship (whether personal or corporate) there is only one person in the audience, namely God; the people in the seats are the performers; and we worship leaders are the prompters of the people. We have been diligent to keep our vocabulary precise: it’s “ministry” not “performance” and “congregation” never “audience.”
While we remain committed to this underlying truth, our thinking is shifting a bit (call it getting older, or maybe gaining some wisdom). Here’s what we’ve been grappling with: what the musicians do on the platform during a church worship service IS indeed a performance. It requires the same level of preparation, the same excellence of delivery, and the same connection with the gathered crowd as a concert performance.
But, there is the difference – and it’s big.
The distinct purpose of Sunday’s sanctuary “performance” is to enable the people to praise, adore, and ultimately surrender their wills to the merciful and gracious God of the Bible. Yes, this can be done at home alone with a worship CD, but the point is to enable the crowd to experience the synergy of singing together. The church musician’s goal is not to showcase their amazing abilities nor make the music the object of worship, but to help open hearts and minds to the truth about God proclaimed in the lyrics. We want worshipers to respond to God with a gut desire to obey the Redeemer.
When I (Christine) was studying organ performance in college, part of my education was learning to play a church service (at a secular university no less!). My teacher and I spent a lot of time considering how to play a hymn so that the person in the pew will not only be ABLE to participate, but will, in fact, WANT to participate. We discussed the singing range of the average person’s voice and how the hymn needs to be in a key that won’t tire them (otherwise they might quit singing altogether). We explored playing each phrase in a way that allows the singer to take a breath between phrases. We talked about how to create a hymn introduction that excites and entices the people to begin singing. We talked about maintaining the singer’s interest throughout the hymn so they will want to continue singing all the way to the end.
There are fewer churches using organs these days. The primary leaders of the our worship singing are now usually a band of musicians who sing, play various guitars and a set of drums. Not better or worse than days gone by – only different. Yet the job remains the same. To perform well, yes. And to perform with a different dimension. The goal is to enable the audience (body of Christ) to engage together with God.
Question: Should a church hire professional musicians, assuring good quality, or use only volunteers whatever their ability?
Appreciate your thoughts. Definitions and distinctions are crucial in analyzing this topic. Word meanings are linked to their objective context and the reader's context.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it doesn't always have to be a choice between "professional" and volunteer. I would think there would be opportunity for both, one learning from the other. No matter who I've sung with or rehearsed with, I've always come away learning something new, whether it was as a volunteer singer or a paid singer. Am I understanding the question to that if a church hires a professional it's a bad thing? I don't really see anything wrong with it for this reason: If the professional musician is a believer - WONDERFUL! If they are not, wouldn't participation in a Bible believing worship service be a catalyst to lead them to the Lord? If you only use volunteers, regardless of the quality of music, there is a danger in losing the power of music to lead the worship in the right direction. However, volunteer musicians may very well be just as talented and able to lead a congregation to effective worship. So my conclusion is that neither is best or worst and would have to be considered on a case by case basis.
ReplyDeleteFor me the most beutiful songs are the ones that speak of christs activity in someones life. The guys at mens retreat sound more beutiful than Eric Clapton. Clapton has no trouble writing/singing a love song. Yet, his relationships have shown that he struggles with love. I think churches should use godly people who have a reason to sing over talented people who enjoy singing.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it matters whether the person is professional or volunteer, as long as their presence in front of people enables the congregation to truly worship. The heart of a volunteer does show a passion for worship, but there are people whose profession is their passion. It all depends on attitude and devotion to God and not to the amount being paid.
ReplyDeleteI see a danger in using a hired musician. It can show a bias in favor of performance over ministry. How do you know about their relationship with Christ? Where is their commitment? Is it to leading worship or getting a paycheck? Using musicians from your church allows you to see their life and heart week after week. They may not be as polished but God wants our excellence, not our perfection. I have been in services that sounded like a high school band, but you could feel God's presence. I have been in services that were so slick and perfect it sounded like a CD. But the service lacked any connection to God and the worship felt flat.
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying we should use beginner musicians or not practice. Maybe you can't lead the type of service you want at that time. You might be better leading the service with piano/guitar and vocal. You can begin developing other musicians and help them learn. Invite them to practice and play along so they can find out where there skill level is and know how better to improve. Then you can mentor them and bring them along to be able to use the skills and talents that God has given them.