This week we look at our seventh core value—striving for excellence (not perfection). Webster defines excellence as “the quality or state of being outstanding or superior” whereas the term perfection implies “the quality or state of something that is as good or suitable as it can possibly be.” I have worked with many an artist whose primary
preoccupation was with “getting it right,” never making mistakes, chasing the elusive “flawless”performance. I can identify. As a young organist in my dad’s church growing up in Dallas, I was routinely evaluated by my mom at lunch each Sunday, which included her estimate of how many mistakes I had made that morning. (Bad Mommy--she had many other fine qualities!) Thank God for therapists!
But the pursuit of excellence in our ministry is not the same as seeking perfection. I remember years ago reading the motto of a music ministry at a very large, nationally known church in south Florida. It was simple but memorable: Excellence in all things and all things to God’s glory. Be excellent. Glorify God. On the surface, it seems fairly non-controversial. But in my experience with numerous worship ministries throughout the country, I believe that some “church musicians” seem to believe these two concepts are mutually exclusive.
Some would argue that the moment you begin to pursue excellence in your art, you quickly move to self-gratification or glorification. After all, the proponents of this viewpoint are quick to point out, the Bible says to make a joyful noise, doesn’t it, so all that matters to God is what is in our heart? The psalmist reminds us in Psalm 115 that at the core of our craft should be this attitude: “Not to us, O Lord; not to us but to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness.” And the apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:31 that the pursuit of glorifying God should touch every phase of our life: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
On the other side of the coin, it could be argued that we were made to exhibit excellence. After all, we were created in the image of God, the Original Artist, and that since He only created that which was good or very good, should not our creative pursuits be characterized by
excellence as well?
The scriptures are pretty clear that those who are chosen to use their art to lead God’s people in worship should do so with diligence and excellence, not just a pure heart. Psalm 33:3 reminds us to “sing to the Lord a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.”
1 Chronicles 25:6 describes a musical family which was assigned responsibilities for worship leadership, with this interesting emphasis: “they were all under the direction of their father in the music in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the house of God. The number of them along with their brothers, who were trained in singing to the Lord, all were skillful, was 288. And they cast lots of their duties, small and great, teacher and pupil alike.”
Again, Paul in the New Testament reminds us that the focus of our lives should not be on the adequate or the ordinary but rather the highest and best, when he writes “whatever is true, whatever is
honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about theses things. (Philippians 4:8)
A final rationale for Christian artists and worship leaders pursuing excellence is that we in America are trying to reach a fairly sophisticated listener when it comes to the music and art available to our members and guests every day of their lives. If the arts are considered a language through which we can communicate the gospel, that language must be clear, precise, and relevant to the culture around it.
So which way to we go? Do we “worship the Lord in the beauty of
holiness”, as the Psalmist encourages, or do we reinterpret that verse to say “worship the Lord in the holiness of beauty?” Do we seek the beauty and glory of God through worship, or worship God through the achievement of creative and artistic beauty?
My question is, why must it be an either/or? In every area of this ministry, we can be moving toward higher ground. Spiritually, we must agree with Paul that we “have [not] already attained [spiritual] perfection, but I press on to make it my own because Christ has made me his own.” (Phil. 3:12) Artistically, we are entrusted with certain gifts which can always be improved upon, sharpened, and honed (Parable of the talents—Matthew 25:15ff).
When we view “excellence in all things and all things to God’s glory” as two sides to the same coin, we see ministry for what it is: a high calling which is at once a free gift and that which demands my life, my soul, my all. What about it, Hope Church worship team? Can we dare to become the church arts department that gets it…and gets it right?
-tad
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Short Accounts - 1.21.10
A belated Happy New Year, everybody! We return to those thrilling days of yesteryear (you know, just before Christmas) when we began unpacking our choir’s core values, one week at a time. To review:
Hope Choir Core Values
1. Know the Word.
2. Stay intimate with God.
3. Build up the Body of Christ
4. Find common ground with the seeker
5. Stay healthy.
6. Keep short accounts.
7. Strive for excellence (not perfection).
This week we are reminded that in healthy organizations and communities, relationships depend on honesty, openness, and remaining current in expressing our feelings toward one another. The familiar passage in Matthew 18:15 reminds us what to do when things do break down and we begin feeling at odds with each other: “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses.”
The issue is not getting even or even getting something off our chest—the goal is restoration of the relationship. And in cases of the heart, timing is everything. To delay the direct approach often leads to suppression of feelings which give way to anger and resentment. Worse, we begin to “triangle” the relationship by sharing with a third party how we are feeling about the second party. This is usually less threatening to us personally, but is also almost always more destructive.
(By the way, if you are ever tempted to enter into one of those tri-angled conversations, remember a good question to ask is, “It what you are about to share with me about “so-and-so”
going to make me think less or more of that person? In other words, praise anyone to the hilt with others, but if you have a beef with someone, start with them!)
This concept particularly rings true for those involved in upfront leadership. Many passages remind us that we can’t love both God and hate our brother. What we do to the least of our brothers, we do to HIM, and (my favorite) “if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar (public worship)…and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and [worship] God.” (Matt. 5:23) If we are to have credibility as lovers of God, we must also do everything in our power to remain connected and “clean” with each other.
One final note: keeping short accounts means no sandbagging. What does that mean? Simply this—rather than collecting dirt (or hurt) on someone over a long period of time, only to erupt when the bag bursts with a laundry list of wounds and offenses, try staying current. When someone says or does something to hurt or offend you, gently approach them immeditely. Use “I feel” statements rather than “you did…” or “you always… “
Another way to approach a hurtful incident is to ask the (offending) person to “help you understand why he did such and such.” The key is to live in a posture of humility and forgiveness, realizing how much God through Christ has forgiven you. To ignore these principles may make you feel more comfortable momentarily, but you will end up breaking the heart of God and losing a brother in the process. Will you, members of Hope’s worship community, join me in seeking to keep as short accounts as possible with one another? If the God who is holy is able to remove my sins as far as the east is from the west and to toss them into the sea of forgetfulness, who am I to keep score? Can I get a witness?
-tad
Next week: Strive for excellence (not perfection)
Hope Choir Core Values
1. Know the Word.
2. Stay intimate with God.
3. Build up the Body of Christ
4. Find common ground with the seeker
5. Stay healthy.
6. Keep short accounts.
7. Strive for excellence (not perfection).
This week we are reminded that in healthy organizations and communities, relationships depend on honesty, openness, and remaining current in expressing our feelings toward one another. The familiar passage in Matthew 18:15 reminds us what to do when things do break down and we begin feeling at odds with each other: “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses.”
The issue is not getting even or even getting something off our chest—the goal is restoration of the relationship. And in cases of the heart, timing is everything. To delay the direct approach often leads to suppression of feelings which give way to anger and resentment. Worse, we begin to “triangle” the relationship by sharing with a third party how we are feeling about the second party. This is usually less threatening to us personally, but is also almost always more destructive.
(By the way, if you are ever tempted to enter into one of those tri-angled conversations, remember a good question to ask is, “It what you are about to share with me about “so-and-so”
going to make me think less or more of that person? In other words, praise anyone to the hilt with others, but if you have a beef with someone, start with them!)
This concept particularly rings true for those involved in upfront leadership. Many passages remind us that we can’t love both God and hate our brother. What we do to the least of our brothers, we do to HIM, and (my favorite) “if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar (public worship)…and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and [worship] God.” (Matt. 5:23) If we are to have credibility as lovers of God, we must also do everything in our power to remain connected and “clean” with each other.
One final note: keeping short accounts means no sandbagging. What does that mean? Simply this—rather than collecting dirt (or hurt) on someone over a long period of time, only to erupt when the bag bursts with a laundry list of wounds and offenses, try staying current. When someone says or does something to hurt or offend you, gently approach them immeditely. Use “I feel” statements rather than “you did…” or “you always… “
Another way to approach a hurtful incident is to ask the (offending) person to “help you understand why he did such and such.” The key is to live in a posture of humility and forgiveness, realizing how much God through Christ has forgiven you. To ignore these principles may make you feel more comfortable momentarily, but you will end up breaking the heart of God and losing a brother in the process. Will you, members of Hope’s worship community, join me in seeking to keep as short accounts as possible with one another? If the God who is holy is able to remove my sins as far as the east is from the west and to toss them into the sea of forgetfulness, who am I to keep score? Can I get a witness?
-tad
Next week: Strive for excellence (not perfection)
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