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this is a talk I gave in our church a while ago which descibes some of my thoughtsWorshipping a Creative God
Intro
Good
morning, you have seen me up here many times before but never preaching.
I feel pretty nervous as I usually only feel comfortable when I am
hiding behind a guitar or keyboard (or maybe these days twin turntables) I was
asked to speak on Worship, but not given a title so I have decided on
“Worshipping a Creative God”. I will admit that I have strayed
rather onto creativity alone as well as creativity in worship. As I
was thinking and starting to pray I remembered some excellent tapes of a
talk by David Ruis from the Vineyard that I lost after lending to a
friend a number of years ago. I had tried many times to get them back
but with no success. So not really expecting much I rang and had to
leave a message with his wife as he was out. 10 minutes later he arrived
with them at my door! I was really surprised and taking into account how
disorganised he and his house is this encouraged me that God wanted me
to speak on creativity, so I hope I manage to put across what God wants
to highlight to us this morning. Some of this talk comes from those
tapes. I know that my main passion is music and I am concentrating on this aspect
of creativity. Of course I recognise many other important streams of
creativity and what I am saying is probably relevant to these as well,
but still I am going to focus on music. God
the Creator Genesis 1 1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2Now the earth was£ formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. God brought everything into existence but it is so hard to take in how
awesome God’s creativity is. The size of the universe is staggering.
In all the Sci-Fi I can think of, the whole story remains in our 1
galaxy. Even at warp 9 it would take a space ship 70 years to cross it.
It contains 100,000,000,000 stars like our own sun. And yet
there are an estimated 100,000,000,000 galaxies, 1,000,000,000 have been
mapped, each like our own. But it is not just the size, but also the detail. The chemical reactions
in one single animal cell are more complex than we have yet discovered
and the detail of one atom is quite surprising. God is the God of too
much. In the sea there are fishes and creatures we are yet to discover,
God didn’t just make a few birds, he made an incredible variety. There
are animals in the Rain Forest yet to be found. There are too many
beetles – 380,000 different species. There are 50,000 types of
weevils. And the quality of
God’s creation. Complex, beautiful, efficient, wonderful, vast,
glittering, lush, stark, flamboyant. Are we meant to be dull and passionless, boring and austere? They
created man in their image So I
got to wondering what is the nature of mankind, what did God make us
like. Genesis 1
27
So God created man in his own image, in
the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them. God
made us creative like himself. He made us tool-makers, musicians,
artists. He made us to name and discover what he had created. He made us
capable of decisions, thoughtful, inventive, complex, sometimes
confused, able to determine right and wrong - capable but not often
successful. I
found it interesting that in the garden of Eden the only creativity I
noticed was naming the animals which was probably quite hard to decide
really good names. But after the fall we made clothes 3:21 - actually
God made them the first time, we worked the land 3:17 but we were forced
to or starve, we starting playing music 4:21, we made tools from metals
4:22, and we were making boats 6:14 with design advice from God. The
final vision in Revelation of mankind in Heaven is not a return to the
Garden of Eden – naked with nature. But in Rev 21: 9-21 a Holy City of
God’s people with God himself living there. A colourful creative city,
the walls made of Jasper, the city of pure gold, with foundations
decorated with precious stone and gates of pearls. The
g g g g grandson of Cain was called Jubal. Genesis 4 19Lamech
married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. 20Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those
who live in tents and raise livestock. 21His
brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp
and flute. 22Zillah
also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of£ bronze and iron. What happened here? Somehow all harp
and flute players, possibly all musicians are descended from this man.
Did God mess around with this man’s chromosomes in some fancy way and
out popped a musician. Am I a descendent of Jubal. It does seem clear to
me that God gave us music. All
creativity comes from God I find
it also interesting that many non-Christian musicians have come to the
same conclusion as they can’t explain it any other way. I met a
musician once who was visiting our church. He had found it previously
insulting when people said that his music came from some higher source
than himself. Then he slowly realized as he saw the passion and
inspiration in other peoples music that he was missing and he was
searching for that. He had came along to church with the main aim to try
and make his music better. To touch the Creator, the source of
creativity. A few
years ago on a Friday I had just had a call that my mother was very
seriously ill – sent home basically to die. That afternoon as I got
ready to travel to see her, I sat at my keyboard and played a piece and
recorded it. Not just piano, but an arrangement of guitar, strings and
flute. I just played it straight, no thinking, no preparation. I still
am confused as I listen to it. There are complexities to the harmony I
had not dreamed of. I don’t think I could compose a piece like that.
Yet full of sadness and emotion it just came out of my soul straight
onto the recording. Maybe coming straight out of God’s heart. I think
most musicians recognize this – Christian or non-christian. Lets
look at Revelation 18 verse 21-24. Babylon in the bible usually
represents the kingdom of rebellious man or the Kingdom of the Devil. At
the end of all time With
such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be
found again. The music of harpists and musicians, flute players and
trumpeters, will never be heard in you again. I think I am still prone
to thinking that in Hell there may be something attractive, loud music,
free sex, gambling, danger, excitement, really wild things. But this
passage says there will be no music. No workman of any trade will ever
be found in you again. In Hell there will be no creativity, no art, no
houses, no furniture, no gadgets, nothing even to sit on. Maybe we’ll
just float. Satan cannot create, only misuse or misdirect. All that is
expressive, inventive, creative, is from God. When finally those who
reject God are sent with the Devil to Hell, all that is of God will be
taken away from them. And I see now that that will really be Hell. As I
have said to be creative is not just the arena of the musician and
artist. Anyone who creates, who makes, who designs, who invents, some
new combination, new thought, is using God’s creativity or the
creativity God has given them. Look around this room we are in. The
building has been created to be functional and to look pleasing, the
wood has been carved, painted, glass coloured, floors varnished, the raw
materials of metal, paint, plaster created by us. Even the most
analytical of us are creative in what we do. It is probably one of the
main characteristics of Mankind and it all comes from God. God’s
anointing in the world Does
this passage then suggest that God’s creativity is running through all
music, non-Christian or Christian. I’m not saying that all
non-Christian music is good as such. There is of course a lot of
rebellion against God in it, but also something of God. I was
thinking about what the common themes of popular songs are (possible all
song ever). I came up with two main ones. One is about boy meets girl
love, the other about dissatisfaction with life and looking for more.
Both of these themes can be very close to the themes of worship music. Sometimes
God’s anointing seems to really shine through a song written by
someone who doesn’t actually know Jesus. For instance there was a
70’s band called foreigner who wrote the song “I want to know what
love is”. I have heard of a number of people becoming Christians
through that particular song, but not daring to admit it to other
Christians (words on acetate). Something in it is speaking of and
leading people to God, although it was written by a non-believer. There
is so much searching in popular music for an answer to life, the
universe and everything, sometimes of course suggesting wrong and
misleading answers. Another
examples – One of the Spice Girls, Mel C had this hit in the charts
just recently. The words are excellent and I think this would be make a
great worship song (words on acetate). I know she has a large Celtic
cross tattooed on her shoulder, but I’ve not heard that she is a
Christian and some of the words imply this is about love for another
person. But our love relationships have a lot of similarities to our
love relationship with Jesus – like in Song of Songs. A
lot of things will end eventually pass away, but music and singing will
continue forever as we worship our creator. There is singing in heaven
as in Revelation 14 & 15. In Ecclesiastes 3: 11 it says “He has also set eternity in the
hearts of men”. In the same way there is a longing in all men and
women to sing the songs of heaven. I
would like to mention a number
of examples in the bible of God’s Spirit anointing non-believers. 1. 1 Samuel 19: 18-24. Saul was intent on killing David. Murder was in his heart, yet 23So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But
the Spirit of God came even upon him, and he walked along prophesying
until he came to Naioth. 24He
stripped off his robes and also prophesied in Samuel’s presence. He
lay that way all that day and night. This is why people say, “Is Saul
also among the prophets?” 2.
In Exodus 35 verse
32 it says – that the LORD has chosen Bezalel an Israelite 31and
he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and
knowledge in all kinds of crafts. Yet In 1 Kings 7:13-22 Solomon chose a man called Huram to make the
decorations for the first temple of God. His mother was an
Israelite but his father was from Tyre, not from the chosen people. And
yet he had the best skills, he was presumably filled with the Spirit of
God to make objects which would then be in the holy of holies, the most
sacred place of God. 3.
In numbers 22 v 30 God even prophecies to Balaam through his
donkey. God’s anointing and his creativity will flow through who he
wants. Musical Styles “Music was my first
love”
I want to go on now to styles of music. Too many times still I have heard
Christians saying some style of music or beat or instrument is of the
Devil or just silently rejecting it. What sort of music is acceptable in church to worship God? I feel there are two main principles in tension. All styles used to worship God
The first one is from what I have been saying so far. All creativity
comes from God and so I think that all styles of music could be used to
worship God although the origins of that style may be impure. We have
our acoustic guitar based folk music in this church, which we use to
worship God and it is good. Do we look at heavy rock or at techno dance
music and say that there is something wrong about the music - it isn’t
Godly and can’t be used to worship, or do we just say that it isn’t
for us. The club scene over the last 10-15 years has been one of the most
significant factors in the development of the culture of the 18-35 year
old people in England – the so-called Generation X. This culture
included dancing all evening, drugs mainly ecstasy and a sense of
everyone being everyone’s friend with of course plenty of sex which is
common to any grouping of young people or just any grouping of people
– A good film to visualize this is Human Traffic. But if someone from
this background converts to Christianity should they also convert to our
musical expression and our culture. Our nicer, holier folk music –
based on the culture and music of the late 1960’s with plenty of drugs
– LSD which is probably more harmful, and even more freer sex, but
less dancing, eastern religions, a rebellion against the past cultural
rules! I think we sometimes mistake our church music for holy music
instead of it just being a previous secular style. Probably the origins
of all styles of music are impure like the people who created them.
Where did the old hymns come from? I know that some of them at least
came from German pub drinking songs. We sometimes seem to believe that if everyone in our country acted like a
Christian, spoke like a Christian, looked like a Christian, sang
Christian songs and played Christian music then the place would be a
whole lot better. But NO – the sin would continue and the whole thing
much boring and plain – sounds quite horrific to me actually. We
shouldn’t try to change people from the outside in, the gospel works
from the inside out. What we need is Jesus in the center of our life,
obedience and love is the most important. Idolatry is the biggest
problem. We need to redeem all this creativity, not kill it off –
leading to blandness and lack of passion in the church. And more
strikingly still - whenever the church is in a state of revival then it
tends to sing music from the culture
of the time. This has happened again and again throughout the history of
the church. I first started listening to music in 1981, when I was 16 and joined a
small social club. We had twin record players and took it in turns to
DJ. Every month 100 of us packed in this small room and danced all
evening. I think in some ways I have been looking to recapture this ever
since. We listened to Duran, Deplete Mode, Madness, David Bowie, The
Jam. I came to University in Bristol in 1983 and became a Christian in
1984 and came that week to this church. I loved the atmosphere, the
meeting with God, the supernatural, the friendships and community - and
I’ve enjoyed the music and the worship – but it has never really
been my music, my roots, the music I am passionate about. It’s more
like my older sisters music! I converted to Jesus, not 60’s folk. I do understand that to have a service with a wide range of people of
different ages and backgrounds there needs to be an appropriate music,
probably of a rather middle of the road sound. This is important and
good. But I do sometimes long to express myself to God with others in an
expression more of my background. I can and have worshipped God through
many styles of music, but some styles are closer to my heart and I can
express myself deeper through them. I have tried to keep us in this church in touch with the songs the
youngsters are listening to so that in 20 years time we won’t all be
50 with no younger people here, singing the same style songs as now –
and being sidelined as younger churches take over – just as we did to
older churches in the early 1980’s. I know I have started these
electro-dance worship evenings. I didn’t do this primarily for the
youngsters – I did it for myself. It may be just a little fun or it
may be something very significant in God’s plan – I don’t know. I
fear it is just my pride and passion out of control – but I pray to
keep this pure worship. The Mix at Woodlands every month has louder rock worship and is aimed at
teenagers. But I know many 20 year olds and 30’s who go there as it is
the only place they feel at home. The idea that they would move on to
the adult celebration meeting as they get older just isn’t going to
happen. It’s not their place. Be aware of Associations
I mentioned a while back, two principles in tension. The first was that
all creativity comes from God. The second is to do with associations. What Paul writes in 1 Corinthians
8 is relevant to this and quite clear. There are associations attached
to these musical styles and some of this is really bad news and
obviously evil in God’s eyes. We may feel able to play this music, use
the style, beats, patterns and instruments without the associated bad
culture affecting us. We also may not be able to put it aside, so that
it leads us into sin – so we should avoid it. It is also clear from
Paul that either way we shouldn’t judge someone else who comes to
another conclusion. I myself would like to redeem and keep all musical
creativity for God and use it to worship him. This however may not
always be wise. Other tensions
There are a number of other factors which may influence whether certain
music is good for us. Certain styles or beats are said to be repetitive
or hypnotic, in a bad way – I am not sure what to say on this. I love
dancing to these repetitive beats and find it clears my mind so that I
can focus on God. Maybe this also depends not on the music but our hearts on whether it is
beneficial or harmful. Other factors to consider which I haven’t time
or possible answers - are whether evil spirits can lurk in music. How
much rebellion in the words or style can we cope with… This is a little thought of mine - Some things are powerful some are less
so. The powerful things can do more bad, but if done right can do even
more good. Just of note - Is there even a pure secular music? The origins of most
modern popular music goes back to a triad of styles called the
Blues/Boogie/Gospel family. This was an inseparable mixture of Christian
and non-christian music and this first came out of Big Gospel Camps in
the mid 1800’s in the USA when blacks and whites met together. One last point
All creativity belongs to God and should flourish in
the church. But very creative artists often don’t fit in well in a
church as their ideas can be too new and different for us to cope with.
But God loves these people and the creative work they do. God
always wants Christian artists to be part of a church although they may
need to express their creativity in a wider arena. The
church may not be the best place, but it is the only safe place. This
is of course true for the lone evangelists or intercessors that we
sometimes meet as well. Conclusion
This is a big subject I have touched upon with many other aspects I have
missed out. You may not agree with some of my conclusions. Do come and
talk to me further if you would like. I have prepared a bible study for
cell church about -Why do we sing new songs? – which is closely
related to what I have said today, but looks at it from a different
angle. I am not planning any dramatic changes in our church’s worship although
I am doing some experimenting in and out of the services. My main aim is
to help us meet God himself during our time together. This is my heart
– to meet God in worship. Steve Smith said a few weeks ago - are we
thirsty for the Holy Spirit like we thirsty for water. Acetates for talk creative
[kri
áytiv]
adjective 1.
new
and original:
using or showing use of the imagination to create new ideas or things 2.
able
to create:
able to create things 3.
resourceful:
making imaginative use of the limited resources available 4.
FINANCE
intentionally
deceptive about financial information:
employing deceptive methods to distort financial records (ironic)
Ó GOD 2000
In
my life there’s been heartache and pain I
don’t know whether I can face it again Can’t
stop now I’ve travelled so far To
change this lonely life I
want to know what love is I
want you to show me I
want to feel what love is I
know you can show me
Pop
Adult New Romantic Teen Chart Euro Dance
Ambient D 'n' B Trance Balaeric Techno Breaks & Beats Hard House
House Trip Hop Electro Disco Eclectic Garage UK Garage Leftield Rock
Emo Classic Contemporary Punk Hardcore/Noise Rock n' Roll Soft/AOR
Thrash Gothic Experimental Rock Alternative Rock Metal Industrial Indie
Alternative Indie Indie Rock Lo-fi Urban
R & B Nu Soul Soul Funk Hip
Hop No Skool Nu Skool Old Skool Classical
Orchestral Chamber Opera Choral Contemporary Experimental Instrumental
Vocal Global Spanish Arabic
Asian Mediterranean African Eastern European South American New Age
Instrumental New Age
Meditation Jazz Big Band Fusion Latin Acoustic Modern Free / Avant-garde
Jazz Funk Mainstream Swing
Blues & Country
Blues Traditional Country Folk
Acoustic Singer Songwriters Easy
Listening Lounge Orchestral Reggae Dub Ska Roots TwoTone
Recognise and respect the wide scope of creativity in music, art,
crafts, building, design, technology, words, speech… All creativity from God – see and accept the creativity in all mankind
– while being wary of the added
rebellion (us and non-christians) Accept the non-christians affirming their God-given qualities and
drawing them and pointing
them to God the source of their creativity. We can be relevant to the world without smudging our principles. Redeem everything for God (well not quite everything). The Church may not be the best place, but it is the only safe place Questions1.
Should all creativity have a purpose or is it OK in itself? 2. a. In what ways are each of you creative ? (for you are) share and encourage each other in this. God loves your creativity and what you do. b.
How can you find an outlet for your creativity in or outside of the
church, and how can you give or dedicate it to God. c.
Can this creativity help you to worship God or meet God?
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