Last weekend I was at a family camp for a progressive/liberal PCUSA church out of Boise. I had a wonderful time with the pastor, the youth and the people from their congregation. They did some wonderful self-reflection exercises that weekend, looking at their lives from a Jungian psychological perspective. Before the sessions where I left with the youth, we worshipped together, and I felt like I could have been at any other PCUSA or evangelical church family camp, even Wendell. We sang all the traditional camp songs with a few contemporary worship songs thrown in for good measure. Now, don’t get me wrong, I like these songs – these are the songs I am familiar with, the ones that remind me of camp. But the theology of the songs we sang probably doesn’t really square with the theology of those singing the songs. So this brings me to an interesting question about worship in liberal mainline churches [I am aware that for the most part, readers of this blog come from e(E)vangelical churches, but if there are any liberals/mainliners hiding out there, now would be the time to speak up!).
While I was at my family reunion this summer, my cousin told me that she had begun attending a local conservative Evangelical church because she really liked the music/worship. I asked her more about this, because I knew she was fairly liberal herself. She said [I'm paraphrasing] that she really didn’t like the theology, but worship was really important to her, and she was tired of the same ‘ole Mennonite hymns. Being someone who is musical myself, I have sometimes found myself choosing a church based on the quality of the music, or the style that I enjoyed, etc. I don’t think that’s the best way to choose a church, but I’m not passing any blame on my cousin for her decision, though it does intrigue me that she was choosing a church whose theology is fairly different than her own.
So what are the liberal mainliners to do…? Apparently there are quite a few people who are theologically progressive, but still like the musical ’style’ of the modern worship movement (ala Redman, Tomlin, Crowder, Hughes, etc). Where are the liberal songwriters? Where are the inclusive-language modern worship songwriters? While mainliners/liberals may want to appeal to the musical desires of the younger generation, are they going to do it using modern worship songs, which includes lyrics that use male-dominated language for God, talk *almost* solely about each person’s ‘personal relationship with Christ’, making them seem very individualistic and generally espouse a theology that is not consistent with mainline/liberal theology?
But what do liberal worship songs look like…? How does one write them w/o coming off as just stereotypical…I don’t know. How would liberal worship songs be different than those you’d sing at Saddleback or Willow Creek? I seem to recall Brian McLaren had an article he wrote awhile ago to Emergent/pomo songwriters, or just for a new view of songwriting…(ahh, yes, here it is). Well, I’m not sure what these new songs would look like, but maybe here are a few possible suggestions:
- gender-inclusive language (esp. in our language for God)
- a shift from a I-YOU-me & God focus, and a refocusing on the community
- a passion for the biblical themes of social justice, peace and a desire to speak for the oppressed
- maybe just some more songs straight from scripture (or from saints and desert fathers), letting God’s work speak for itself, instead of pressing our own interpretation onto it, and onto the congregation that will sing the song
Any other ideas, suggestions?
Related posts:
- Dana Decker – When We Sing: Music for Liberal Worship
- Creative Confirmation Class Ideas
- A Community Called Taize: A Review
- Minister for Youth & Young Adults
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I understand what you’re saying, but I’m not sure I really see the problem. There’s lots of music out there, including current music, that is straight from scripture (though I guess it’s possible that it’s not the right scripture?). Are there specific songs that you think are wrong in terms of theology or is it that you find pieces that are missing?
I readily admit most music refers to God as “he”, but that’s mostly because the bible refers to God as a he. Wouldn’t “letting God‚Äôs work speak for itself, instead of pressing our own interpretation onto it” be difficult to do if we felt a need to change the language?
Not trying to argue with you here, but I wonder if this isn’t a problem only because we’re trying to make it a problem?
i’d say that wild goose, iona, and taize are a great starting point on the international (western) level. the domestic response is yet to be seen…
As always, Adam, you come up with a great question. As the de facto contemporary worship leader at an Episcopal Church this is something that is very close to home for me. I not only lead contemporary music at my church, I’m also a volunteer (youth leader/musician/whatever) in our diocesan program (all of western Washington.)
Our diocesan program has a long history of modifying older contemporary worship songs (pre worship blitz) to be more inclusive. Humble Thyself (in the sight of the Lord) has a chorus that goes “and He shall lift you up…”. The way we do it, the girls echo “and She shall lift you up…” That might freak out a few evangelicals. Heck, we get some funny looks in our own church.
Lots more examples, but there’s one approach that works for us.
As for newer examples, I find lots of the newer worship music to be OK from a theological perspective. Even the most popular current worship song “Here I Am To Worship” is pretty good, with no cringeworthy theology. Matt Redman’s older “Heart of Worship” is a great song. Casting Crown’s pretty new “If We Are the Body” is an admonition against exclusion so I love that… Also Mercy Me’s “House of God” from Almost There which kicks serious ass to boot ;-)
Yeah, there’s some really awful stuff out there (songs I reject outright based on lyrics alone – can’t think of anything off hand, but I will eventually), but a lot of it is still pretty good.
As for liberal song writers, I think you’ll find that the “secular” world provides a bunch of great songs – U2, for instance, and Jewel, whose “Spirit” CD has better Christian songs on it (Hands, Life Uncommon) than most “Christian” bands can put out.
Hmm, I might have to write a whole bunch more about this…
Well Im not in a corporate setting so i dont have this problem, but when I do sing in community I write songs that are about God’s blessing and provision in our group, songs of thanksgiving and songs of sharing. They are unique to our setting. Perhaps it’s something a church could try.
I have no problem with the personal relationship with Christ. It does exist lol. Have you considered the concept of alone and together, rather than either/or?
Lucy
Great thoughts. I find this to be an issue not only in the mainline/liberal traditions, but also amidst the whole ‘emergent’ type movement.
I helped to plant a church this last September, and it was really hard to find worship songs to help push people in a direction of understanding beyond what they already know. Most worship songs do nothing but support what we already ‘know’ to be true (that is, what we have been taught).
So, I had an epiphane one evening as I was listening to an old album I had written songs for years ago: we need to begin writing our own songs… from our own experiences, for the good of the church and the good of the world.
I experienced this at Solomon’s Porch last month. They write all their own material and I found this to be very interesting/amazing/difficult/beautiful/poetic/mind-opening.
I remembered Doug and Tony Jones saying something at the Emergent Convention about theology being localized; I think this should be reflected in the songs written and sung.
And I also think that some U2, Deep Mosey, Over The Rhine, etc is a good idea too. And just the idea of using a ’secular’ song helps people see that the inspiration and goodness of God does stretch beyond just those who write in ‘the church’.
Just my thoughts. I am wrestling with some similar issues on my blog… pressing on in the dark. Dig.
I think a lot of the liberal songwriters are having trouble finding people to support their music. I have been writing my own songs for a while and continue, but I can never seem, to find any Christian guitarists who feel like playing for me because it’s not the view of God that they want to see. It’s too liberal for them. I’m trying to learn guitar to rid myself of this problem, but I know that once I can play there will be very few in the Christian world who would actually listen to my music. the reason for this? The church as a whole does not seem quite willing to let this liberal movement take place, which is quite understandable with how it has been corrupted in areas where it has been allowed.
I don’t know how much I told you about the church I interned at in Atlanta, but it was definately a place where the liberal movement had been so corupted that the church felt more like a socially aware organization than a house of worship dedicated to God. There has to be a balance. Preaching has to be kept true to scripture and many of the more liberal churches out there have lost that. This seems to be what causes the biggest hessitation with regards to liberal music as well. There isn’t much out there because it lacks proper support.
And the search goes on for liberal Christians to find music that expresses God in the way they know him…
I would, though have to say that there are some amazing hymns out there (ex. “They’ll know we are Christians by our Love”) that really do seem to capture the heart of Christ in a way that I think even the liberal movement can appreciate.
Ah, you have touched on one of my biggest struggles. We have about a ten minute period of “Praise Songs” at the beginning of our worship service, and I cannot bring myself to sing along much of the time because the language is so alienating to me. For the time that I was out of church, one of the things that kept me from finding a new community was the music. I loved the theology of one church, but I wanted a fresher blend of music. (And I’m a singer, so I have no problem busting out Mozart, but I also like to have a nice folky thing going sometimes, too. And Gospel.) The best place I ever worshipped was in seminary because they had a fantastic music leader and the worship was inclusive by rule — so we had great blended worship. Loved it.
Personally, I find the UU hymnal to be a great resource for not only hymns but inclusive, creative prayers as well. (You might also seek out some Catholic hymnal supplements. Some of them are quite good, as is the UMC supplement, The Faith We Sing. — particularly the work of Mark Miller which is included in TFWS.)
Sibeal, UU = ?
Thanks for the suggestions on music.
UU = Unitarian Universalist Some people get a little weirded when I suggest it, but I really like it; and I’ve found that I’ll use a prayer from it, and people will say, “Oh, beautiful. That was perfect.” And then I’ll tell them where I found it, and they are surprised.
Also — Mark Miller mostly writes hymntunes as opposed to lyrics. One of the lyricists he works with his Laurie Zelman who is quite talented. My favorite song of Mark’s is a resetting of O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing… (And, he’s in NJ at Drew, so once you make it out this way, maybe you’ll get a chance to see/hear him.)
Cleave– I like how you took that desert fathers idea and claimed it as if it was your own. . .
Great article – I found myself in a similar situation when I became involved with the UU denomination. I loved the music that I was playing at the big Christian Mega-churches but was not on the same page theologically. What did I do? I took matters into my own hands! I just finished up a new CD of music for liberal worship – you can listen to tracks or even buy a copy here:
http://www.danadecker.com
Enjoy!
That music is exactly what I’m looking for! I streamed a little on the site and bought one. Thanks for sharing.