In this months episode we have great new song and interview from Soul Survivor's Beth Croft. Also Tim and Ben have a 'perfect pitch' show down!
27 December 2009 - 9:22am
Ok, first off, I know that people have to feed their families and I know that crafts like writing and recording take time if you want to do them with excellence. I get that. But where do we draw the line between giving and selling. At what point did we find ourselves selling to the church the popular elements to enhance their worship? We all know that worship does not require this song or that, but isn't that what some markets depend on, and doesn't that dependence create an unbalanced need to market something that is falsely the next "movement" in the worship scene?
If we as believers are the Temples for the Holy Spirit, doesn't it seem as though tables have been setup in our gates that sell to us the elements of our worship? I know that sounds uber cheesy in reference to Christ and Him whip, but doesn't it ring that bell?
I have more to say but I would like some input (and hopefully some balance) before I go off the deep end.
Anyone else?
Thanks,
Dan
27 December 2009 - 10:44am
Hi Dan
There was a very interesting thread not so long ago which touched upon a lot of this...
http://www.worshipcentral.org/forum/topic/contemporary-worship-study-help-needed
Have a read. The conversation wanders, but there's lots of good points there.
Hey Dan,
Good questions.
I have some unease about the modern "worship music" culture, (I think in general it's more influenced by consumer-culture than Gospel-culture) but I think it's probably overstating the case to compare it with money changers in the temple. No one is compelled to buy worship music to be able to worship God. And much of the music is genuinely helpful for congregations and individuals in worshipping God.
Is selling Christian books/sermons different?
Joe and Paul, thanks for the replies.
I read a bit through the thread you linked to (Joe) it seems to go a bit into intellectual property and that sort of thing. I'm not sure how we got that far anyways. I do think it is the "Consumerism Dream" so to speak that drives this idea that if you have something others can and do benefit from then it should be sold, given copyright and royalties paid every time a congregation sings or references. For example, it is illegal to sing "Open the Eyes of My Heart" in a place of worship without the proper CCLI royalty payments.
The whole royalty, copyright thing is really secondary because it hinges on Christians being labeled and sold to as consumers. On the Jesus and whips note, wasn't he purifying the temple because they turned his Fathers house into a market place, or a place for trade. Aren't we being made into a market place when we are sold "worship"? Aren't we God's temple? You can't deny that there is a sense of missing out if you don't buy the latest "worship" this or that. Where does that come from?
I don't mean to sound harsh, but this is impacting our churches and the way we approach worship.
I'm not sure that Jesus drove out people from the temple because they were selling stuff per se, but that they were selling stuff that was mandatory for worship and therefore were denying people who couldn't afford it access to the temple.
Dan, I hear and sympathise with where you're coming from, but what would you see as the alternative? I think we have a fair degree of freedom as is. I suspect Brian Doerkson's not going to be going round churches looking for unpaid royalties, and we operate within legal frameworks whether we like it or not.
As to your second point on consumerism, I very much agree. I think the church has been too quick to use market forces to "maximise effectiveness" and shouldn't be surprised that a generation or two of worshipper have very consumerist attitudes to worship. (Having albums titled "The best worship songs ever..." is real low point for me...) But I don't think "worship" is being sold, but certainly some of the music is and it can be difficult for some people to look beyond that to what worship should really be about.
Agree.
Every time I see a new worship leader with a cool haircut or stylish set of clothes on an album cover it makes me thank the Lord for giving me an untidy barnet and hand-me-downs...
More seriously, I do agree that it sort of glamourises worship a bit in that sense, which I don't really like. As far as charging for CDs goes, I don't have any particular issue with it given the reasons in the other thread you read. Equally, i've occasionally sent people worship MP3s before out of decent intentions, and I don't think Kingsway are going to send the bailiffs round either.
Hello
First, a huge aside.... according to NT Wright in "Jesus and the Victory of God" the action in the temple wasn't about the "money" side of it at all, but it was a prophetic act of judgement designed to symbolise the coming destruction of the temple. Turning over the tables would (temporarily) bring the temple and the sacrificial system to a standstill. Jesus quotes from a couple of Old Testament passages, and it's quite instructive to read the whole passage in each case: Isaiah 56:4-8 and Jeremiah 7: 2-15.
Anyway.....
Yes, I agree with much of what has been said. But, I don't tend to buy a lot of worship albums anyway, so I'm not a big "consumer" here. I think you should buy the albums if it is music you like listening to (don't buy them just because you feel you "ought" to as a worship leader). Play songs in church that you think will help the congregation grow (which might or might not be from the latest album, but many of the new songs coming out are really good). Do use the CCLI system, because (1) it'as the only legal way, and (2) for all its faults, it is the only mechanism I know of that gives a little back to the songwriters out there.
Finally, if you don't like the commercial side, then (1) write your own songs, and (2) start looking through the songwriters forums. There are literally thousands of songs out there, many are just as "blessed" as those you'll find in Songs of Fellowship. Consider using some.
Dan, I appreciate this wasn't your main point, but you said: "For example, it is illegal to sing "Open the Eyes of My Heart" in a place of worship without the proper CCLI royalty payments."
Not quite right. It's the storage and display (projection) of the lyrics that needs a licence. If your church uses hymn or songbooks - or, taking it to the nth degree, doesn't use songbooks or projection at all - then you do not need a licence to sing worship songs (in the UK). As others have said, it's not a perfect system and it does work within the legal and commercial frameworks already set up, but it's one we should be using nonetheless.
Ignore me, but just to further that tangent a bit, my bugbear is not CCLI licences for lyrics display, but publishers who place heavy restrictions on sheet music and MP3 distriubtion, meaning you effectively have to pay money to teach a new worship song to your worship team.
Yes... I generally just type out the lyrics and write the chords above them for people myself.
So do I, but you still need a licence for that, Joe.
I know.
<< shrugs >>
New Song
Podcast
Forum Latest
