So I just asked our web administrator and I am told that there are several of you who read the last blog. No comments yet so let’s expand the topic a bit.

Media in the physical church worship setting has changed as well. Long term churches all started with basically an overhead projector and screens, moved to power point and clip art, then moving backgrounds. Finally in the present day many churches use some version of a dedicated presenter software that can even include live shots as background, link with our online planning software, provide a streaming feed for online viewing, and probably a dozen other things that I am not even aware of much less capable of using. I actually feel for some of these younger churches that they did not get to experience the joy of this progression (NOT, they are sooooo lucky). Of course the thing that cracked me up about the mainline churches is that they discovered overhead projection and praise choruses in the 90′s and called it contemporary, even though many charismatic churches were doing overhead/praise choruses almost a decade before. I remember my first “contemporary” service in a Methodist church (around 1994). I remember saying, “what do you mean you don’t know how to do this and you think it’s SO NEW. I was doing this growing up.” My experience as a teen actually made me uniquely qualified to start a contemporary service in the 90′s in a United Methodist church, even though what I was doing would have been seriously “old school” in my former denomination.

The reason mainline churches were so late to the game? The argument among church leaders and in congregations about whether such projection systems and music were “worthy” of being used in worship. By the time the mainline churches finally decided that yes, this medium could be used in church without serious harm to the “foundations” of worship they were already at least a decade or more too late to the game. Sadly, instead of looking like cutting edge game changers, mainline denominations looked more like the middle aged guy who realizes he isn’t cool and thinks that simply buying his clothes at Hollister or American Eagle will make him relevant again (and this very statement probably shows that I am a couple of years behind the times since I am sure there are cooler outfitters out there now. Now, where are my Lucky Brand jeans?) I don’t mind making that analogy as I am forty-five years old and feel trapped in the nowhere land of ambiguous relevancy. I know what is cool, but I just can’t seem to pull it off anymore. While years of tradition in worship provide a foundation for deep spirituality that younger churches can only aspire to, mainline denominations can be hamstrung by their inability to at least adjust these traditions to address new cultural realities.

We are at that point again in the evolution of media in the church. Only this time it is Social Media. Mainline denominations like our own can be woefully behind non-denominational and more charismatic churches in incorporating these media streams into real time worship. The funny thing is, it is for the same reasons that were used and delayed churches in using projection media and Contemporary Christian music. The arguments to try and “justify” the use of Social Media in real time worship versus it’s “holiness and appropriateness” for use in worship is compounded by the fact that we were so late to the Projection Media game. Many churches have only become accepting of Projection Media very recently (going on TWO DECADES too late)and now tossing in what some consider to be a truly irreverent and intrusive media like real time commenting on Facebook and Twitter is beyond their capacity to adapt. Many people cannot fathom the reality that our younger generations want to listen, comment and interact, all at the same time. It appears to be the same arguments all over again. Most mainline denominations were late the first time and I wonder if they are setting themselves up to be just as late to the worship innovations again. Here is an example:

I looked at churches who incorporate a live Twitter feed in their worship services very similar to modern awards shows, video dedications and other events on MTV and VH1. As the service progresses there is a scrolling line on the screens that project Tweets from the congregation, both in-house attenders and those following on the streaming web cast. A staff person screens the Tweets and scrolls the ones who meet a certain criteria for everyone to view. So, for example, as a song is being played/sung, on the scroll under the words you might see, “@gdog says This song really rocks,” or “I can feel the spirit moving @biblelover.” During the sermon, comments and questions will scroll. It can be like a church where people shout out Amen and Hallelujah during the sermon, only it’s electronic instead of verbal. Many of these churches already have an “old school” shouting back to the preacher tradition that does not go away with the electronic version. They simply cohabitate in one worship environment. Some pastors even address Tweeted questions during the sermon since they are looking at the live stream while preaching from their iPad or laptop. True multi tasking even at the preaching level.

In many churches like these, services are barely completed (and sometimes not) before posts on Facebook, Tweets, and other sources go out to the world proclaiming agreement or dissension with what has happened in church that day.

To be clear, I AM NOT ADVOCATING NOR SUGGESTING AT THIS TIME THAT THIS TYPE OF MEDIA BE USED IN ANY OF OUR SERVICES. I simply thought this might be something interesting to look at in relation to what is happing in the global church and how it effects worship for all of us. Remember, screens and praise music used to be (and still are in some areas) taboo to us. Nothing would have ever changed (or stayed the same) unless people talked.

Next blog I am going to discuss some of the pro’s and con’s of this type of real time interaction in worship, but until then, what do you think? If you are reading this blog you are already plugged in to some extent. How “plugged in” do you think churches should be? REMEMBER, your age group is NOT the only age group represented in most churches and worship is for EVERYONE. So, what do you think? I look forward to your responses.

We are talking about media this week in our church and its role in the life of a Christian. In that vein I was looking around my desk the other day and I found a comment that was given to me about the challenges of online church. It said, “you can’t take communion online.”

The rise of online church and even streaming services from brick and mortar churches has certainly opened the door for worship services 24/7. I remember around 2002 participating in an online church where you built an avatar and attended “worship” in a number of different styled sanctuaries. It was kind of the Sims meets World of War Craft, although this was prior to either being the cultural behemoths that they are today. I remember thinking at the time, “I am on the razor’s edge of cultural development. . .and I just don’t get this.”

I am not sure that online churches of any kind are really all that different from TV churches. Whether they are “made for TV” type churches or brick and mortar churches televising their services, essentially the concept is the same: church at home. Internet church just takes the home part and stretches it to anywhere in the world you can get data service. The main difference between the two that I can see is the combination of online church services and social media links allows the appearance of interaction with other congregants.

Now I know all of the positive parts of “remote church” regardless of the medium. These services allows persons who are home bound, injured, destitute, or (with online offerings) in a foreign country to be connected to a worshiping community. To that I say, “yeah, well sort of.” It is better to have access to worship services than not, but these people are only connected in an almost voyeuristic manner that does not allow for the depth of physical presence and engagement in worship, thus the thought, “you can’t take communion online.”

These are far from all of my thoughts on the subject. Also, I am not AGAINST TV or online streaming church. I am just interested in your thoughts on this subject I thought I would post this as a blog and see what you guys think. I am looking forward to reading your comments.

Here are the songs to go with the commentary posted yesterday. Once again, this concert will be Sunday evening June 5th at 7 pm at Sugar land FUMC. Go to sugarlandmethodist.org for details.

The Music

These Things Take Time-Sanctus Real

A search for a spiritual reality often begins out of difficulty in life. Tonight’s concert opens with this song which speaks directly to our desire for answers when faced with things we don’t understand or which simply do not make sense, both good and bad. This song is an anthem for why we need to seek God through music and opens the door for the musical pairs to come.

People Get Ready- as recorded by Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck-1983

Written by Curtis Mayfield and originally recorded by The Impressions, the Rod Steward/Jeff Beck version reached number 48 on the US charts. It has been covered by no less than 63 big name artists and was named 24^th greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone, named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s top 500 songs that shaped rock and roll, and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Mayfield said that the lyrics and style were taken from his days in church and reflected a very religious frame of mind. The lyrics offer an invitation to God’s presence if one has faith.

Come Ye Sinners-as recorded by the Robby Seay Band-2002

The lyrics for this hymn were originally composed by Joseph hart in 1759 and were set to the tune we know today in 1835. This hymn was part of the southern harmony movement and is considered a classic example of American hymnody. The Robby Seay Band composed a different melody and feel for the song, bringing the lyrics to a more modern presentation. The lyrics remained the same. This is a wonderful paring with People Get Ready as this song acknowledges that sin is the barrier and there is forgiveness in the coming to the Lord.

Gotta Serve Somebody-Bob Dylan-1979

This song was Bob Dylan’s last hit single. In 1978, Dylan sought out God in a hotel room in San Diego and he believed that God appeared to him. He said, “The glory of the Lord knocked me down and picked me back up.” The album containing this song, Slow Train Coming, was a testament to Dylan’s new conversion to Christianity. As an answer to Gotta Serve Somebody, John Lennon wrote the song Serve Yourself. In his diary, Lennon wrote about Dylan’s song, “The backing was mediocre. . ., the singing was really pathetic and the words were just embarrassing.”  While not blatantly Christian, Gotta Serve Somebody lays out a truth that no one is completely independent and there is always a higher force of some kind dictating our actions.

Jesus in Me-The Josh Helms Project-2009

I paired this song with Gotta Serve Somebody out of a desire that whom we serve would be clear to others by how we live. Many people ask God to let others see them as a “good person,” but our true desire should be that others would see Jesus in us. This lyric is a wonderful example of an expression of that viewpoint. Taken together, these two songs acknowledge that we must choose someone or something to serve, and that if the choice is God, how that choice and service should be focused and expressed.

Get Together-The Youngbloods-1967

This song was written in 1963 by Dino Valenti from Quicksilver Messenger Service. The Youngbloods released in in 1967 and it flopped. It became a hit in 1969 when The National Conference of Christians and Jews distributed it to radio and TV stations to support Brotherhood Week. The lyrics of this song directly reflect the desire for social change and tolerance that moved through the western world during the 1960’s. While not Christian, the lyrics display a deep sense of spirituality and a desire for peace from human on human violence and hate.

Ready-Third Day-2008

While Get Together was a call for change, it lacked a means for that change. Ready incorporates a prayer to God to be the agent of change using the one writing the song to bring about the change. Mac Powell wrote about his song. “You’ve seen all of the stuff, you’re taking it in, you’ve prayed and you think you heard from God and you think you are really ready to make a change not only in your personal life, but in lives around you and in your own world, in your community. So that’s definitely a song to motivate you to get up and do something about life and about your faith.”

Turn, Turn, Turn-as recorded by The Byrds-1965

In the late 1950’s, Pete Seeger was already writing protest songs on the cusp of the social movement to come. His publisher told him he could not sell these songs. In a search for a way to get his message across, Seeger went to Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament and lifted the lyrics almost verbatim from the King James Version. Seeger, though, is not a Christian. His comments on the Bible is that it is a great collection of folk lore. Likewise, The Byrds saw this as a lyric that was in tune with America’s dissatisfaction with the Vietnam War. The song reached number 1 on American charts and holds the record as a hit pop song with the oldest lyrics.

Mercy in Me-Todd Agnew-2005

This powerful lyric recognizes that when peace, love and social justice is a goal, the burden for such change falls on us. While we may recognize that there is value in high moral standards, the kind of action to which God calls us is foreign to our sinful nature. Like Ready, Mercy in Me asks God to shine through in our actions towards others.

Spirit in the Sky-Norman Greebaum-1969

Spirit in the Sky reached number 3 on the Us charts and is ranked song number 333 on the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Greenbaum wrote the song after watching Prter Wagoner singing a gospel song on TV. He said that, although he knew nothing about gospel music, he wrote the lyrics in 15 minutes. The lyrics speak of “going up to the spirit in the sky” when he dies. While the lyric might fool you into thinking that it is a Christian lyric, Greenbaum is Jewish and stated that though the lyrics dealt with the afterlife and Jesus, he had no particular religious intentions when he wrote it. Specifically for Christians, the lyric, “never been a sinner. I’ve never sinned” should be a clear indication that this is simply someone’s attempt to address spirituality. By the way, Greenbaum has his own web site and sells Spirit in the Sky t-shirts.

Heaven-Paul Wright-2005

If you want to sing about heaven there are plenty of Christian songs to fill the bill. This song, however, has always been of interest to me because of its simple take on the main issues: there will be dancing, singing, bringing our praises to Jesus, while there will be no more crying, lying, or dying. After hearing a secular take on heaven as some generic place (no specifics in Greenbaums song), Wright takes us to a place filled with simple joys wrapped around a love of God.

In the Presence of the Lord-Blind Faith-1969

In the Presence of the Lord was written by Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood sang lead. The album containing this song went to number 1. Though the name of the song and the name of the band might indicate a Christian perspective, in reality Clapton wrote the song about his adjustment away from the pressures of playing in the band Cream. The name of the group, Blind Faith, is attributed to two different stories, one being it was  the title of the controversial photograph that was the original album cover, and the other it was a cynical Clapton statement about his outlook for the band itself. Either way, the lyric displays an awareness of God and a spiritual influence on life.

Mighty King-Ben Donnelly Band-2009

This song is actually by a Houston area band even though I found it through a national magazine. Ben Donnelly severs at New Hope Church in Pearland, though he was previously at Gateway Community Church which is a United Methodist congregation in Clear Lake. I love the lyrics to this song as paired with In the Presence of the Lord because Mighty King spells out an understanding that living in the presence of the Lord means more than being free, it means being FORGIVEN.

Pass it On-Tommy Walker-2008

We are closing our concert with this wonderful reminder from Psalm 145 that we are called to share our knowledge of God with others. On this musical journey we have seen that when left to the secular world, God’s message is often only a shadow of its truth and power. It is up to those who have a RELATIONSHIP with God to share that news with everyone.

I hope you enjoyed tonight’s concert. If you have listened to this music and you would like a relationship with the God you have heard about tonight, please talk to me or one of the band members and we will pray with you. If you already have a relationship with God, then please take this message out into your neighborhoods, your work place, your circle of friends and be a part of growing the kingdom, not simply living off of God’s grace. God loves us and wants the WORLD to know it, beginning with who you know!

Blessings

The Crossroads Praise Team here at Sugar land FUMC is giving their first ever concert on June 5th at 7 pm. This is not just a series of songs you might like, but a spiritual, historical, theological journey FULL of meat on the bone for those who care to experience more than just some good music. Here is my explanation of the theme and direction of the concert. I will post my “liner notes” for each song later in the week. I hope I will see you there.

Together We’ll Pass it On

Generation after generation stands in awe of your work;
each one tells stories of your mighty acts.
Your beauty and splendor have everyone talking;
I compose songs on your wonders.
Your marvelous doings are headline news;
I could write a book full of the details of your greatness.
The fame of your goodness spreads across the country;
your righteousness is on everyone’s lips.

Psalm 145:4-7

The 1960’s were just as tumultuous for Christianity and really all religions as it was for society in general. Radical change and new ideas pushed their way into the culture despite a resistance by mainstream America. The Catholic church convened and released the Second Vatican Council between 1962-1965. The most radical change in music was the inclusion of the “guitar mass” as an accepted practice. Catholic churches across the globe, but especially in America, began incorporating services lead by guitar players and singers using a folk style of music that was very popular in secular recording at the time. This was not because the Catholic church “endorsed” this variation, but because the church opened the door to the use of more contemporary instruments and musical stylings.

The Jesus Movement of the late 1960’s mirrored the blurring of the lines between traditional Christian music and popular music. As the Christian element in the hippie movement (or the hippie element in Christianity) the Jesus Movement embraced Christ from a secular perspective and sought to bring Jesus to the people. They did not want to do this through traditional churches and music, but on the streets, using music that sounded like what they enjoyed listening to on the radio. Churches were home based, or they were opened in store fronts in local shopping malls and the music that drove them was Psalms and other scriptures set to guitar based melodies. The result of this movement can be experienced musically today, 45 years later, in the Contemporary Christian Music industry which directly owes its heritage to the Jesus Movement of the 60’s

However, the desire for increased spirituality did not only reside in Christian circles but in the entire counter culture movement of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Musicians, especially, began incorporating spiritualism into their lyrics and exploring spirituality through their music. It seemed that everyone, regardless of who or what they called “god,” was seeking a spiritual reality that they could understand and express to others. Eastern spiritual influences can be heard in the use of eastern instruments, like the sitar, in the music of the time. Christian ideas and even actual scripture turned up in the lyrics of mainstream artists.

Tonight we are going to enjoy some of the secular music from that period. However, when you listen to these secular songs you can see and hear how the lines between secular and sacred were blurred and that God speaks to all, not just the mainstream Christian. We will see that there is a desire for truth among us all and that words of truth can be found in many places. With each secular song from the hippie era we will pair a modern contemporary Christian song whose lyric seems to answer the searching lyric of the “secular” song.

Tonight you will see that every generation seeks God and wishes to proclaim His glory. I hope you will enjoy this journey. I know this is a lot to read and absorb prior to a concert, but I hope this information will help you understand the journey we will take tonight. I am including commentary with each song to further illustrate what we are trying to say, but most of all I hope you have a good time at that you meet God tonight in a meaningful way.

I am back at the keyboard for Worship Ink. I hope you will forgive the lengthy hiatus, but I went through a significant drought of creative thought that left me gasping for an expression of my thoughts, ideas, and motivations.

I believe all creative types cycle through down times when it is difficult to express themselves in a way that is meaningful. I was always told to “write through” such an impasse, but in today’s technology, posting such meanderings is a permanent record of 0′s and 1′s in digital space. In the words of Bob Seger, “rock and roll never forgets” and neither does the net.

So I have abstained for the good of all and I am now ready to return. I hope you stayed with me and will be truly interested in some of the discussions I have planned. The first is on cultural relevancy and worship. I believe I have a take that is moving us away from what has been the norm for the last decade on this subject. I will post before the end of the week. Until then, ponder and respond as you see fit to the following question:

How is the Church (global) that worships the most counter cultural figure of his time, Jesus Christ, supposed to be culturally relevant in our modern post-modern, even post-christian, world? And what does that mean for worship in our local church?

Hollar back soon!