I\u2019ve noticed most church worship teams go one of two ways: Either they sing songs dripping with sugar, rainbows, and unicorns, or they\u2019re somber and sorrowful. And if the church is into Christian Top 40 music, it\u2019s usually the first option.<\/p>\n
You know what I\u2019m talking about.<\/p>\n
They sing songs like \u201cEverything is Perfect\u201d or \u201cGod is My Best Friend and I Have No Problems\u201d. Every drum line includes the U2 four-on-the-floor or Coldplay\u2019s \u201cClocks\u201d rhythm. Keys play angelic pads or rocking organs. And the electric guitars make it rain with dotted eighth notes.<\/p>\n
It can feel shallow at times. And as an artist and musician, you can sometimes feel like a phony. Is this how it has to be? Is the worship service doomed to be sugar, rainbows, and unicorns forever? Or in your case, you might wonder if you\u2019re doomed to only be somber in your worship services.I\u2019d like to propose a balance. I\u2019d like to propose honesty.<\/p>\n
Honesty is a vital part of creativity. Great art is honest art. Paintings of rainbows and puppy dogs wear thin when you aren’t always feeling rainbow and puppy dog feelings. A great artist will paint it all, even the darker parts within.But it’s also important to realize that, as believers, we have a hope beyond the darkness and pain. We don’t have to drag our work through the mud and leave it there.<\/p>\n
There is a glorious end to the pain we experience. As Proverbs 4:18 (NLT) says, “The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.”We can bring that same hope and that same redemption to our work. Great art is honest. The greatest art is redemptive.<\/p>\n
So I want to encourage you to be honest in your music. Don\u2019t be afraid to touch on darker topics. Don\u2019t be afraid to talk about sorrow and pain. But also, don\u2019t leave it there. Remember the hope that\u2019s found in our savior.<\/p>\n
Follow the pattern of the Psalms. Countless times David or Asaph share their concerns and grievances with God. They\u2019re honest about their troubles and their questions. But they ultimately acknowledge the goodness of God. They ultimately point their worship back on the proper place. They take their focus off their own problems and emotions, and they point them on the reality of God and who He is.<\/p>\n
Where would you say your worship services fall on the rainbows to rainclouds spectrum? Is it mostly happy? Is it mostly sorrowful? I\u2019d love to hear about your church and your plans for moving forward with honest worship.<\/p>\n
\nJonathan Malm is a creative entrepreneur and writer. He is the author of Created for More, a 30-day devotional to help you develop a more creative mind. You’ll find him in San Antonio, Texas, roasting his own coffee beans and enjoying life with his Argentine wife, Carolina.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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I\u2019ve noticed most church worship teams go one of two ways: Either they sing songs dripping with sugar, rainbows, and unicorns, or they\u2019re somber and sorrowful. And if the church is into Christian Top 40 music, it\u2019s usually the first option. You know what I\u2019m talking about. They sing songs like \u201cEverything is Perfect\u201d or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14633,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[98],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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