A Musicians Perspective on Cultivating Creative Community
Adriana Perera
A community that sings is a community that has something to express. As we sing, we transmit our sentiments, beliefs and hopes. We also express our cultural distinctions and peculiarities. It is not surprising that dictatorial governments throughout history have taken measures to silence singers and songs that would question the status quo. French neurologist Boris Cyrulnik, a survivor of the holocaust, affirms that all dictatorial regimes have considered art a suspicious activity. (1)
Singing within a Christian community is an expression of worship, and as such, it is dedicated to God; yet as we worship with songs we also connect to each other, edifying the body of Christ.
In Colossians 3:16, Paul encourages us to teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. (2)
How can we create a welcoming space in our local communities so musicians will feel free to express worship through songs in creative ways?
1. GOD, MUSIC AND CREATIVITY
The Cambridge Dictionary defines creativity as the ability to produce original and unusual ideas, or to make something new or imaginative. (3)
The Hebrew Bible begins by describing God s creativity: In the beginning, God created . (4) The very first verb used in the Scriptures is bara to create. Creativity is intrinsic to God, and because we are created in God s image, creativity is engraved in our human essence as well. When it comes to music, whether may be to compose, perform, conduct, arrange or record, creativity is essential.
In the context of music making within a Christian community, musicians face several challenges regarding music and creativity. Some important questions to ask are: How open is the community to explore new musical expressions to worship? Should musical creativity be subordinated to established tradition or personal preferences? How can worship planners achieve a balanced relationship between music and theology? How open is the community to listening to the questions that musicians raise? How can we cultivate a creative community within the church?
2. A GLIMPSE AT CHURCH MUSIC HISTORY AND CREATIVITY
Throughout history, the Christian Church has been challenged by the introduction of new musical expressions and instruments into the prevailing tradition of worship. One of the elements to take into consideration is the fact that music and theology are different fields, sometimes wrongly considered as opposing fields:
The tension between music and theology led the church fathers in the fourth century A.D. to regulate and control musical creativity in order to avoid what they perceived as improper musical expressions that posed a threat to established truth and traditions. Worshippers were effectively silenced for around a thousand years.
In comes Martin Luther in the fourteenth century. Recognizing that Christian music is an expression of Christian theology, he advanced the Reformation with a musical revolution at its center. Luther was both an accomplished theologian and musician; and he understood the relationship between both disciplines as complementary rather than confrontational.
Luther writes: Except for theology there is no art that could be put on the same level than music, since except for theology music alone produces what otherwise only theology can do, namely, a calm and joyful disposition. The prophets did not make use of any art except music; when setting forth their theology they did it not as geometry, not as arithmetic, not as astronomy, but as music, so they held theology and music most tightly connected, and proclaimed truth through psalms and songs. My love for music is abundant and overflowing. (5)
3. CULTIVATING CREATIVE COMMUNITY
Today we can learn some lessons from the history regarding creativity in worship expressions and its impact on church growth.
The Hartford Institute for Religion Research concludes in its 2015 report that whatever a congregation s sense of innovation in worship, one thing has remained constant over our fifteen years of surveys namely the strong relationship that changing worship has to both growth and spiritual vitality. One of the reasons for this is the relationship between innovative worship and distinguishing oneself from other congregations in one s community. Such differentiation provides a notable boost in growth. (6)
Some suggestions that may be useful to intentionally cultivate creative communities in our local congregations are:
a. Listening: Listening is essential to cultivating any healthy community, writes Nicholas Zork. (7) Paul wrote about it as well. Take a look at his advice to the early Christian church: Well, my brothers and sisters, let s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you. (8) Don t be afraid of what people in your congregation have to express. A platform of genuine conversation needs to be provided so they have a true sense of support and confidence.
b. Invest time and resources: Quality music and a healthy creative community require the investment of human energy, supportive presence and financial resources (for equipment, training and community gatherings). It will not happen without the support of local ministers, lay leaders and the church board.
c. Stay open: Encourage participation and innovation in your congregation. Creative people usually come with unexpected ideas. Be ready to test those new ideas in the light of the Word of God, not of tradition.
d. Encourage genuine worship: Michal perceived David s dance as an inadequate worship expression. (9) God, however, accepted David s expression of worship because God understood his motivation. God knew David was being genuine. Even though we should strive for excellence in worship, we need to encourage authentic, genuine worship above all. Otherwise, worship can become more of a production or performance than an opportunity to come before God in honest, humble gratitude.
As I read the biblical Psalms, I enjoy the diversity of themes, authors and atmospheres created by the narratives. The book of Psalms represents a compilation of old and new expressions of worship, which constantly invite us to be creative as we come before the Lord to express our gratitude.
Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love,
so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.
Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery!
Replace the evil years with good.
Let us, your servants, see you work again;
let our children see your glory.
And may the Lord our God show us his approval
and make our efforts successful.
Yes, make our efforts successful! (10)
May the Lord make our efforts successful as we cultivate a creative community in which people may encounter and respond to a fresh revelation of Jesus.
The above article, A Musicians Perspective on Cultivating Creative Community was written by Adriana Perera. The article was excerpted from www.nadministerial.org web site. January 2017.
The material is copyrighted and should not be reprinted under any other name or author. However, this material may be freely used for personal study or research purposes.
This article may not be written by an Apostolic author, but it contains many excellent principles and concepts that can be adapted to most churches. As the old saying goes, Eat the meat. Throw away the bones.
