WARNING: random thoughts. i don't think there is a point to this, though i might come to one in the middle of writing...but there's no guarantee. so, if you're not in the mood for thought-provocation thennnnn...you probably shouldn't waste your time reading this :)
I think every branch of worship movements has a particular view of God, way of interacting with him, and posture in which God is approached. In case you're confused, some different branches I see are the Passion-y movement with Chris Tomlin and Charlie Hall; Soul Survivor with Matt Redman and Tim Hughes; gospel - Israel Houghton, Martha Munizzi, Tommy Walker, Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin; Vineyard; Hillsong...just to name a few. I'm not writing to say one is better than the other, because God is so vastly layered that I don't think we can have enough ways of how we approach him. It is to say that I personally hunger for many different views because I feel without them my view of God is limited. And I want to encourage us to engage in a lot of these different view points so that we can interact with God in new ways.
This entry is specifically about my renewed appreciation for music from the Vineyard. Who
hasn't been affected by the Vineyard movement? Basically any Christian has, whether we know it or not. But, as my preferences changed primarily to gospel and Hillsong for a while, I got really jaded with Vineyard stuff...(ironic, since I lead worship at a Vineyard...)
I didn’t realize until recently how much I miss Vineyard songs. Today I listened to a full CD of Vineyard songs that someone gave me, and there is something about it that watered my soul in a way I can't recall having experienced in a while. I rediscovered my love for Vineyard songs, and I think it is because of this: I think Vineyard songs have a general sense of a genuine desire to closely interact with God.
A lot of popular worship songs I listen to these days talk about how great or awesome God is, about how big he is, or…just something
about God. He’s enough, he’s faithful, his grace is sufficient, etc. It can feel for me personally like God is somewhat at a distance rather than right in your face. What I love about Vineyard songs is the heartfelt plea for God to be in our midst right here and right now, to interact with him very closely…for him to be in our faces.
Lyrics that convey this posture from some Vineyard songs are:
- “wash over me till I can’t take it anymore"
- “dwell in the midst of us / come dwell in this place”
- “sing over me, Jesus, touch me with your hand…sing your songs of healing over me”
- “let your glory fall in this room…let your fragrance rest in this place”
- “come, Lord Jesus, come…”
There’s something raw and genuine about that that I totally love, and while I need the other perspectives, I need this one too. I just can't seem to find it in many other movements. I mean...COME ON..."Wash over me till I can't take it anymore..."? How many people would actually pray that? It's a pretty brave prayer because God's presence can knock you out, but singing that shapes our hearts to begin to desire it. I love the plea for God to meet us in a tangible way. "Dwell in the midst of us"--We want to see your Kingdom come right here! This posture of approaching God helps me to remember how personal God is, that he loves to be with
us, and that his Kingdom is available right here and right now. I love that.
Anyway, just my plug for the Vineyard, but a greater encouragement to seek different viewpoints from different worship movements and cultures. We need them, though we may not know it until we experience a new one. Let's not wait until it comes to us, though, because it may never come if we are always listening to music from the same circles. We need them though we may not know it. (I can say this for sure, especially for you Coast people...cuz the only time anyone's come up to me asking for the charts to new songs these days is (unknowingly) when it's a Vineyard song. That tells me that that viewpoint is really feeding a felt lacking.)
As a side note on the topic of themes in worship movements, I think I figured out why Asian Americans love Hillsong songs so dang much. At Urbana '03 James Choung described how Asian Americans love themes of abandonment and total surrender...and Hillsong happens to write with this posture often, if not explicitly in the lyrics, it's conveyed in the music. (Music in worship is very important! But that's for another entry...) Anyway, get your Hillsong fill...but apparently we're hungering for the Vineyard perspective too because I've been giving away charts left and right for Vineyard songs! :)
Comments (12)
Music is super important in worship and is constantly overlooked. I always think of how incredible music, secular or just pop music can take you through an array of emotions. It's like telling a story. I'm completely blown away at an Alicia Keys' concert, John Legend concert or even watching a musical. So I'd imagine that worship music would be 10x more powerful but alas... not the case most of the time. Except for Vineyard and Hillsongs, etc. who are extremely polished and extremely aware of anal things such as arrangement, dynamics, types of instruments, letting the Spirit lead (something Chinese people seem to struggle with I find?) even in their live tracks. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people slaughter their songs...
But then again I've heard people argue and complain that worship music shouldn't be a huge production, this and that. Personally I think these people are just not musically inclined :)
I don't think worship "should" or "shouldn't" be one style or another. After all, don't we all approach God in a different way? If our gift for Jesus, is to put on a huge production, as long as the heart posture is offering it to God, why not make it a huge production? Would God be offended by an offering too small or big? I don't think so, as long as it is genuine.
I also think that worship music, at least in it's current practice, stays within the church walls. And with that, I also think the music and lyrics limit themselves to the "churchianity" culture. Granted, there are great worship songs, leaders and bands, I think the limits of "churchianity" (as opposed to Christianity), limit the impact that music has on people's hearts and minds. Music is the heart language of a people group, a culture and a time period. I'm not sure how our worship can be set free from "churchianity," but I look forward to that day.
With that said, I still believe that worship is utterly vital to a Christian's heart, mind and soul. We were created to worship and pour our lives into something bigger than ourselves. And worship is the only thing that we can offer God that He hasn't, first given to us. Our talents, gifts, time, money, etc. all came from God. And as much as it may bring Him glory, the only thing that truly comes from our humanity, is worship.
@wynneth -
i definitely think that God receives our genuine worship regardless if its big, small, weird, vineyard style, hillsong style, or whatever.
i think what moomooaudrey is hitting at is that we all come with our own limited lense of God in the context of worship.
its like the story of the several blind men who are touching an elephant to see what its like. the man touching the side of the elephant and exclaiming the elephant is like a wall. then the second man who touches the tail to say he's touching a rope. a third blind man reaches out to touch the elephant's knees and declares that the elephant is like a tree.
the reality is that the elephant is all those things. i think in that way -- different worship movements have had different lenses / perspectives of God. the songs they write, the way they worship...all those things are influenced by that different understandings of God. and yes, even outside churchianity has several movements of how to "worship" God. but no one worship movement has a monopoly on how we are to worship God.
we long for the day when we in heaven where we will see clearly and we can experience God in full understanding. until then, all these different worship movements who understand different ways of engaging with God make up the imperfect picture of God that we have as imperfect people.
so yes, there is no one worship style that SHOULD or SHOULDN'T be done. they all should be done...because they are all part of the ways we see the elephant as blind men on this side of heaven.
@fo0tprintz - I completely agree. As humans, we are so limited in our being, that we can not approach or comprehend God in a complete way.
Hey Audrey. Have you heard of Sovereign Grace Music or Indelible Grace Music? Awesome stuff there. It's been awhile since I've listened to Vineyard music though. It's so true that a bunch of their songs have influenced a lot of us though. Interesting thoughts.
hahah lol.
i have never gotten into the hillsong movement.
ever.
hahaha.
i like probably 2-3 of their songs total. :)
oh audrey, i love reading your posts. and definitely, vineyard songs (and all the similar songs that spring from them) captures my heart in funky but amazing ways.
hahah we sang "Only You" tonight at LG and you can feel the difference in the atmosphere of worship during that song. dang it. so amazing.
and of course, people were distracted when they saw my name as the artist of the song -_-.
@Andy - darn that preston!!! do you know how hard i've been working to find new songs because all you students who worship 5x a week with each other are asking for new songs? i hope this one doesn't get played out. darn him!
haha i kid. that song is siiiick and should bless as many communities as it can. (but if you all get tired of these songs, blame it on preston.) ;)
@Andy - That's why I don't ever put the artist (or even label or year) on lyrics when I'm leading. I know I'm always distracted by "who wrote this song?" when I see that stuff, so I remove it for others. Who cares where the music comes from? As long as it came from the heart of someone who wrote it for Jesus and, more importantly, as long as it is being sung by someone who's singing for Jesus (that means our own hearts, not the worship leader's), it doesn't really matter where the song came from.
Audrey, the funny thing is when I started reading your post I thought you meant different kinds of worship styles like hymns vs. traditional vs. contemporary vs. whatever. When I read your list (Tomlin, Redman, Vineyard, Hillsong...), my first thought was, "Aren't all those basically the same." After reading your post I realize I have noticed those more subtle differences, and I'm glad you wrote this. I have occasionally been a little bored with Hillsong lyrics, but it's good to be reminded that it's all important.
@AdamHeine - i'm not too sure about this but isnt it required (by law?!) that you cite/give credit to whoever wrote the song? I have a feeling that's why IV puts all that junk on the last slide like CCLI#'s and stuff lol. as you can tell, i'm not really a worship leader hahah.
or maybe it just looks nice. hah. honestly yeah i think all that stuff should be taken off but it's not a big deal.
@Andy - I know the CCLI# is technically required (though I have my own thoughts on that matter). I'm not sure about the artist, but it might be. I leave all that stuff off cuz I'm just making song sheets for our home group here (CCLI's not required for small groups, if I remember). But on the other hand I'm also in Thailand where rules like that are, to quote Captain Barbosa, "more what you'd call guidelines than actual rules."
Audrey your posts are frickin inspiring. I think i've told you that before, though.