Prophetic...
Sunday, February 27, 2011 at 12:13PM As is always the good part about touring with lots of bands, there are moments of great conversation over bulk cuisine in a cafeteria style setting.
Worship and it's many forms has been the topic for a few days. Artists feel the crunch of the walls as they compact the definition of worship down into a small block of twisted metal a la Death Star trash compactor. We all yell.. "C3PO! Where could he be!!"
(Sci-Fi nerd analogy alert)
As the conversation progressed or fragmented off into other topics, I began to think about the gap I hear and experience in our current form of worship music.
It is the lack of a prophetic voice. What I mean by that is, there is a lack of songs that describe the present. It may be confusing that I would speak of the present when writing about the prophetic voice, so let me define it.
We often mistake the prophetic voice as the voice telling us about the future. The prophetic voice can be that, but most often it is the voice describing the present. It is looking at the world and describing it as it is.
The prophetic voice allows us to have a perspective on how we currently navigate our culture and engage our world. That perspective allows us to find hope for the future. It gives us the opportunity to make different choices and change course. It also brings the gift of confession and repentance and forgiveness and mercy into the conversation.
We don't love the prophetic voice as it often feels a bit like a mirror that doesn't lie about the pants that make out butts look big. We don't like it when we are given a clear picture of our humanity. Not just because it shows us our folly, but because it also surprises us to know we were clueless about some of the ways we were being destructive to ourselves an others.
But this voice is what allows us to find the end of our rope. And at the end is where we acutely become aware of God's life giving presence.
Our worship songs are brilliant at talking about how "awesome" God is, and even, whether it is a lie or not, proclaiming how we worship with our whole hearts and give all of ourselves to God.
Our worship songs describe the way heaven will be, and the way God has entered into our souls and captured us... And all of these things are positive and inspiring, but it can also be a form of denial. We can avoid the present and forget that we are still in need of constant grace and every day is a chance for God to save us from ourselves.
Don't hear me saying that this is what worship music should be. It is a part of the worship landscape that doesn't find it's way into the church litany in any palpable form.
Consider the best of prophetic voices... Tolkien, Dylan... I recently discovered a song by Elvis Costello called, "Satellite." It is a song about pornography. It was written in 1989, pre-Internet. It describes a single act where a man is looking at a woman performing sexual acts. The description is haunting. The song clearly shows the lose, lose scenario and without presenting an opinion or turning into propaganda, the song made me feel like something needed to change. That the fallout from that experience was worth finding out how to undermine the infrastructure if the porn industry. It was powerful. It simply described a part of life as it is. It allowed the listener the chance to feel and interpret the experience. It gave the listener a chance to follow their own convictions and find an emotion point of entry. Could our worship include such voices? Would our churches be different? Would our reach be a little longer if we were describing our world as it is?
Just a though.
Reader Comments (11)
I definitely agree. I've been thinking A LOT about worship recently and how it could be better and what parts of worship are doing great.
The prophets of Israel mainly spoke about THE PRESENT rather than the future. Here's why: most of the prophets were PLEADING with Israel/Judah to STOP WORSHIPPING IDOLS. This was a present command for them to follow, not some future unknowable time, but a present reality. If Israel and Judah would have listened, then they would have continued to be independent nations and not have been defeated and exiled.
So the prophetic voice in modern worship is a definite need BECAUSE of human nature. Human nature is the same today as it was in the prophets' time, so that's why we need to realize that our present actions and decisions need to be dealt with with the utmost care. It is in this need of our present predicament that worship songs ignore where we find God's grace to live day to day, hour to hour.
So yes, worship needs the prophetic voice, i agree wholeheartedly.
Good thoughts Dan! I appreciate this blog, I really do! I'm glad that my favorite band's singer is open about his heart and mind :D You've got me thinking for myself and stretching my perceptions of the world and God! Thank you :D
God bless!
~Alex
"We don't like it when we are given a clear picture of our humanity."
how interesting that you post this today. i've been taking people's suggestions on what to watch on dvd (i denounced cable years ago) and someone suggested hbo's "in treatment". the entire 30-minute episode focuses on one patient, just that singular patient/therapist relationship, without the outside interference of additional storylines. i'm amazed at how the therapist (paul) can take a common statement made by the patient and interpret it in a whole new way, sometimes surprising or even angering the very person who made the statement.
my main issue with myself is how i don't like my mistakes or sins pointed out. 'love keeps no record of wrongs' takes on a whole new level with me. i want to be loved and appreciated despite my errors. in that, i tend to blame God for everything wrong or misplaced in my life.
" [The song] gave the listener a chance to follow their own convictions and find an emotional point of entry."
i've never heard it, but i've heard quite a bit of worship. it could learn a lot from a song about porn. as always, thanks...
Love this post and the questions you pose.
We practice prophetic worship often in our church - it is usually brought forth with scriptures that have been laid on our hearts during the week or that morning, and songs or choruses are drawn from it. It really brings us together as a church, because it gives us a chance to respond to what God is speaking at that moment. It also keeps our worship organic and sincere. There does need to be a balance of it, however - while I believe that the prophetic voice is a necessary component in the Church, there is something truly valuable about thoughtfully (and intentionally) orchestrating the worship service.
Also, though sometimes it is humbling like you said, I do believe that we need to make sure that whatever prophetic word is being spoken, it is meant to completely edify and build up the church, and it is necessary to give space for people to respond to the revelations they receive. There are times that people will need to be told like it is - but even in that humility should lead us to recognize Christ, the hope of glory; the hope of redemption; the hope of restoration; the hope of freedom; the hope of His kingdom come.
Like you, I am praying for the prophetic voice to find its way more and more into the Church today. Thank you for your thoughts.
Corporate worship is tricky business. Really I think we’re afraid of presenting God with something that isn’t perfect, or that reminds him that we’re sinners (hoping he’ll forget). I’m a big advocate for exploratory worship, and glorifying God in the places that are painful or painfully lackluster… but even in my own congregation I doubt they’d join in if I sang:
“I can’t feel you anymore, but I trust that you’re here”.
The trick with prophecy is that confession is a prerequisite.
I haven't attended church, except for weddings and funerals, for several years. There's no dramatic reason. I don't hold a grudge against the church or Christianity. I'm no Anne Rice. I didn't give up on Christianity, I stopped believing in God. It doesn't bother me that other people believe, but I can't make myself believe something that I know is not. Is my opinion on this subject still valid if I have no intention of attending church? I'll let you decide.
Many people chose to stick with the traditional worship methods because tradition is comfortable. Some prefer their worship as comfort food. It doesn't lessen sincerity of learning scripture, introspection on what it means to self and community, and prayer and praise in general. Singing Amazing Grace in the original composition that the mind and soul already knows and loves is akin to pouring the same gravy on the same mashed potatoes you've enjoyed your entire life. In a chaotic world, having a constant can be a good thing.
Hey, I know this isn't about this blog post (great post though), but I just wanted to tell you that I bruised my right hand from clapping so hard last night. Thank you, Jars of Clay, for being so awesome. I will treasure this bruise while it lasts. Fortunately my voice has already returned to normal and I can keep singing Jars songs all day today.
Every word I hear is spoken by a human. Everything I read is written by a human. Every song I hear is sung by a human and every picture I see was drawn by a human. These human beings, like all human beings, are imperfect and susceptible to personal agendas, bias, pride, greed and countless other failings. I wonder then, when I hear any of these human beings claim that what they or others have said, written or created is prophetic and was inspired by a god or a spirit.....if I should believe them?
How do we sort out the prophetic messages that come from the spirit and the ones that come from human failing?
I think that a real prophet does not sparkle. They gain very little , if anything, from prophesying. They live life on the edge and can really upset people. A fake prophet, however will shine like the sun, and will be loved by many... almost to the point of being worshiped. I could be wrong.
(Interesting too, that Jesus, apparently a most infallible prophet, who was to bring the most crucial messages of all time to humankind, never wrote a thing. Instead he allegedly trusted his message to fallible human beings to document and spread to the world.)
Blessings!
The human dilemma. Problematic. But God gave us eyes and ears and reason and art. We aren't trying to interpret the future so much as offering a view of the present. This hopefully is a spiritual pursuit. Alas, we must be satisfied to trust our view is not so completely tainted by personal gain that we lie about what we see and experience. This is also a great argument for community. As we are not left to proclaim or prophesy or interpret in isolation. Thanks! -D
I've been reading a wonderful book by Brene Brown, called "The Gifts of Imperfection" (she also has a wonderful talk from TEDx Houston that's around on You Tube if anyone has 20 minutes and wants a prophetic, inspiring, encouraging wake-up call). She's a researcher/storyteller who studies shame, vulnerability, and connection.
This, along with your post, has made me ponder the idea of being vulnerable in worship. So often, I feel like the words, or the posture, or the expectations almost work against vulnerability, either with God, or with each other.
Vulnerable worship. Not comfortable. Maybe not pretty. But definitely real. And the only birthplace of connection.
That Satallite song is weird. I am a realist. I just don't listen to stuff like that. I'm not all artsy fartsy. haha. I have never read this much into anything. I don't think about worship as "describing" "present" or "future"...I don't think about what worship music doesn't describe....I just love thinking about and focusing on God when I worship. Worship stimulates my thoughts...but, what you're saying is it's not stimulating enough thoughts or the right thoughts??? So, if worship music includes porn it will be more real?
I love you're voice Dan. I love the songs you sing with Jars of Clay. But, your thoughts are waayyy to deep for me. I read your blog, and I can't comprehend a lot of it. Maybe I'm too simple...or dumb. ?
This topic is something I've been strugling with for a long time. Worship music dominates Christian radio almost entirely (very frustrating, in my opinion). While I think worship music has it's place, I find it disheartening that songs about human experience from a Christian perspective finds itself outside of the popular (Christian) realm. In a Christian culture we don't often expose our wounds. We see each other singing, praying, and listening to sermon's on a Sunday and walk out the door never knowing about the true struggles we face daily. We often feel alone or ashamed because we think that everyone else in the sanctuary is stronger in faith and that maybe, we just don't belong.
For two years now my husband has been going to church without me. I just couldn't bring myself to go. When I did go, I was even more discouraged. However, I decided to try again.
I realized, the hardest part about going to church, is worship. I find myself distracted as I sing song after song with the same premise. I know God is great and wonderful, far beyong my comprehension, but... it's through my weakness and my failures that I see even more how amazing God is. We don't often contrast in a worship song that part of the human story. We don't dig deep, and we don't do much of anything to spark a moment of vulnerability. When I think of most worship music, most of it has this type of criteria, 1. Praise God, God is awesome, God is great. 2. Don't worry be happy 3. Repeat.
How often does that message ring true in life? (Especially number two) It's lacking realism. Instead of just proclaiming how great God is, let's talk about why, let's talk about genuine truths. The Bible isn't a fairy tale, and to be honest, I often feel like most worship music is just a soundtrack for the Bible, as edited by Disney.
Truly most worship music, as it is, can be alienating of those who are not feeling the message of the song. I know this isn't exactly the route Dan was going here, but I do get what he's saying. What would result if a Sunday morning we sang something a little more applicable to life on a daily basis? I think it might just encourage some people to be a little more open about themselves. Wouldn't we be more effective in encouraging one another in faith if we actually knew what each other's struggles were? Wouldn't we feel a little better knowing that we aren't the only one's who struggle? That's why I love the message in so many of songs written by Dan and the guys in Jars. The songs are genuine, thought provoking, and filled with human experience, and examples of God's mercy, and His love. Thank God for Jars not being just another cookie cutter Christian band!
- Just for the record, I'm not a hater. Worship music is good, we just need to crack the mold.