What Would Rick Warren Do Differently?
- Posted on May 02, 2006
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- (8) comments
[The Christian Post] Rick Warren writes...
I'm often asked what I'd do differently if I could start Saddleback over. My answer is this: From the first day of the new church I'd put more energy and money into ensuring a first-class music ministry that matched our target. Music is an integral part of our lives. We eat with it, drive with it, shop with it, relax with it, and some even dance to it! The great American past time is not baseball – it is music and sharing our opinions about it!
In the first years of Saddleback, I made two mistakes in this area. One, I tried too hard to appeal to everyone's taste (We'd cover Bach to Rock in a single service!) and two, I underestimated the power of music. Because we didn't have many talented musicians, we minimized the use of music in our services.
A song can often touch people in ways a sermon can't. Music can bypass intellectual barriers and take the message straight to the heart. It's a potent tool for evangelism. In Psalm 40:3 (NCV) David says, “He put a NEW song in my mouth ... Many people will see this and worship him. Then they will trust the Lord.� Notice the clear connection between music and evangelism: “Then they will trust the Lord.�
Even Aristotle had some thoughts on this subject. He said, "Music has the power to shape character." Satan is clearly using music to do that today. The rock lyrics of the 1960s and 1970s shaped the values of most Americans who are now in the 40 to 60 age bracket. Today, MTV shapes the values of most people in their 20s. Music is the primary communicator of values to the younger generation. If we don't use contemporary music to spread godly values, Satan will have an unchallenged access to an entire generation. Music is a force that cannot be ignored.
Despite realizing I may be walking into an area full of land mines, I want to offer a few suggestions regarding music. Regardless of the style your church chooses, I believe there are a few rules you need to follow.
• Preview all the music you use. Don't have surprises in your service. I learned this the hard way. Once a guest singer decided to sing a 20-minute song on nuclear disarmament!
If you don't manage your music, your music will manage your service. Preview with an ear for both the lyrics and the tune. Ask, Is this song doctrinally sound? Is it understandable to the unchurched? Does it use terms or metaphors that unbelievers wouldn't understand? How does the tune make me feel? Identify the purpose. Is this a song of edification, worship, fellowship, or evangelism?
Even when we invite popular Christian artists to sing at Saddleback we insist on previewing every song they intend to sing. The atmosphere we're trying to maintain in our seeker service is far more important than any singer's ego.
• Speed up the tempo. Many worship services sound more like a funeral than a festival. The Bible says, “Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.� (Psalm 100:2) John Bisango, pastor emeritus of the 22,000-member First Baptist Church of Houston, Texas, says, “Funeral dirge anthems and stiff-collared song leaders will kill a church faster than anything else in the world!�
FOR DISCUSSION: If you were starting all over in ministry, what would you do differently?
Comments
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Rich on Tue, May 02, 2006
Amen from us music types. Preach it Rick.
BeHim on Tue, May 02, 2006
In all honesty, I would have spent more time learning the doctrinal differences in Scripture and sought out Sound Doctrine.
I had no idea teachers could be wrong and that there are multitudes of views.
The Lord is Sovereign however and I went down the path He ordained for me (as did Rick Warren) and all Praise and Glory to
Him.
Phil Hoover-Chicago on Tue, May 02, 2006
Amen, Pastor Warren, Amen!
Music is very important in our Christian discipleship and our regular worship. The Scriptures say so much about “music” and “song.”
We should pay alot of attention to it!
DanielR on Tue, May 02, 2006
There is a Christian Rock station in our area, 89.7 Power FM, or http://www.897powerfm.com online, and most of our worship music can be heard there.
My wife’s signature block on all her e-mails is “My church rocks!” and not just because of the music.
One thing we would definitely like to have done, and are trying to do still, is have a complete band. We have a great vocalist, an electric guitar, an acoustic guitar, and a bass guitar, but no drums or rythym section. I don’t know anything about music, but I’m pretty sure they would sound better with drums.
Music is a big part of our service, not as big as the sermon/message, of course. But the songs are usually coordinated with the message.
Randy Ehle on Tue, May 02, 2006
DanielR, may I suggest you also consider using some of the more “classical” instruments. If you have a good, broadly-trained musician in the group, then adding things like flute, violin, saxophone, clarinet, etc. can really add to the musical flavor. (By the same token, without a good ear guiding, any of those could simply add noise…as could drums.)
Pastor Al on Tue, May 02, 2006
Music!
I thought people just came to hear me?
I am so bummed! Now I have to change my paradigm again… this is killing me… http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/wink.gif
DanielR on Wed, May 03, 2006
Randy,
Thank you for the suggestions. We do hope to expand the musical flavor. Today I was talking to a pianist, but a piano isn’t real portable and we conduct our services in a rec center/gym. She’s going to look into the possibility of an more portable electronic keyboard. And I work with someone who plays something called a hammer dulcimer, I think it’s sort of horizontal string instrument you play with litle mallets, but if I can get him involved we’ll find a way to arrange the music.
I’d love a sax or clarinet because I’m fond of jazz. As for the ear, our worship leader has that covered. Thankfully because I sure don’t.
drbob on Mon, May 08, 2006
If I had to start in the ministry again I would be more honest in interviews upfront. Not try to “sell” myself, but truly find out if my gifts and style were compatible with the church I was looking at. “There ain’t no good guys, there ain’t no bad guys, its just you and me and we just disagree.
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