Howdy all,
I was a bit taken at the attitude of a few people at a "church1" I attend towards the music done by "church2" I help out with thier technical needs for a praise service.
Church1 is very well established in praise music--as a nondenominational church it's the mainstream style in worship and thier ministries. Church2 is transitioning from a strictly traditional genre of worship style but is adding in the praise service to reach another demographic of people in thier area.
I was playing a CD of church2's praise service quietly and to myself listening at how well the praise team had grown and sounded. Unfortunately I chose the wrong place to listen to the CD. I'd gone to church1, went to a room where the middle school ministry was setting up all thier lighting, props, and activities for thier well established and polished program and found and used the CD player in the sound booth. The tech guy put the CD into the room wanting to test the sound. Then all of a sudden the youth pastor walks by and says witha smirk "pleeeeeeeeeeease change the CD." The tech guy retorts, "Yeah, I'll find some U2"
I felt a bit downplayed at the good work God had done through the ministry of church2 represented on the CD with this comment. Now, I'd helped this youth pastor with his technical needs when he first was hired at church1, much in the same way I servied the praise service at church 2 with thier music.
I also realize the guys who criticized the music had no clue about the backround of the music played on the CD. They just made a comment basedf on thier preferences of the genres of music they were used to. It just seemed a bit prideful to me, like thier way was so much better than this group just starting out. I could say the same thing about how a traditional church calls a contemporary church thier version of "pleeeeeeeeeeeeease, change the music"
Well, I told off (kindly) the youth pastor and the tech guy who made the comment. Yes, I was on thier turf listening to a CD during thier set-up. I think I was in the wrong place in the worng time. I'm sure they think I'm overreacting in saying thier simple and instinctive comment was offensive and downplaying, but it's just this attitude problem they have like anyone who thinks one type of music is better than another. They just forget that, in this case, it's ALL God's music, and that which they criticise God uses in a way perhaps different than what their ministry is called to. But it's all still God's work.
I just wish I could find a way help others understand to celebrate God's work in all things rather than be critical of something they just think is different from THIER prefered concept of God's music. It's all used to further His work, so how do we get to that point? Am I overreacting or doing the right thing by pointing out my offense at thier comment?
Blessings.
I was a bit taken at the attitude of a few people at a "church1" I attend towards the music done by "church2" I help out with thier technical needs for a praise service.
Church1 is very well established in praise music--as a nondenominational church it's the mainstream style in worship and thier ministries. Church2 is transitioning from a strictly traditional genre of worship style but is adding in the praise service to reach another demographic of people in thier area.
I was playing a CD of church2's praise service quietly and to myself listening at how well the praise team had grown and sounded. Unfortunately I chose the wrong place to listen to the CD. I'd gone to church1, went to a room where the middle school ministry was setting up all thier lighting, props, and activities for thier well established and polished program and found and used the CD player in the sound booth. The tech guy put the CD into the room wanting to test the sound. Then all of a sudden the youth pastor walks by and says witha smirk "pleeeeeeeeeeease change the CD." The tech guy retorts, "Yeah, I'll find some U2"
I felt a bit downplayed at the good work God had done through the ministry of church2 represented on the CD with this comment. Now, I'd helped this youth pastor with his technical needs when he first was hired at church1, much in the same way I servied the praise service at church 2 with thier music.
I also realize the guys who criticized the music had no clue about the backround of the music played on the CD. They just made a comment basedf on thier preferences of the genres of music they were used to. It just seemed a bit prideful to me, like thier way was so much better than this group just starting out. I could say the same thing about how a traditional church calls a contemporary church thier version of "pleeeeeeeeeeeeease, change the music"
Well, I told off (kindly) the youth pastor and the tech guy who made the comment. Yes, I was on thier turf listening to a CD during thier set-up. I think I was in the wrong place in the worng time. I'm sure they think I'm overreacting in saying thier simple and instinctive comment was offensive and downplaying, but it's just this attitude problem they have like anyone who thinks one type of music is better than another. They just forget that, in this case, it's ALL God's music, and that which they criticise God uses in a way perhaps different than what their ministry is called to. But it's all still God's work.
I just wish I could find a way help others understand to celebrate God's work in all things rather than be critical of something they just think is different from THIER prefered concept of God's music. It's all used to further His work, so how do we get to that point? Am I overreacting or doing the right thing by pointing out my offense at thier comment?
Blessings.
