Chris Russell's book Ten Letters (DLT, 2012) is a great read and a good book. I especially love his set of questions for worship leaders (with records deals):
Do you have to have your picture on so many things?
Why do you shoot a video of your song? And when you do are you acting or worshipping?
Could you stop doing album/DVD/book tie ins? Because isn't it just about making more money ...
Could you stop launching albums at big Christian festivals which up your sales (our keep teenagers keep falling for it)?
Could we re-think worship tours? Is it right to charge people to come to praise God? What of those who can't afford the entrance fee? Are they not welcome to come and worship God?
How do you decide what to do with the money you make from drawing people close to God?
How about giving your music away for free?
How about turning the big lights off on the stages, or at least the cameras?
Next time they want to include one of your songs in the best worship album ever, could you say no and point them towards the psalms?
You don't really think putting the word 'justice' in a song makes it holistic, do you?
How about some songs of lament?
If you met Jesus of Nazareth at one of the big music festivals what do you think he would think of the worship?
Could you listen to some of the aspirations of teenage Christians who want to be famous worship leaders?
How do you think this culture has arisen?
Reminds me a bit of the kinds of questions (according to his biography) Keith Green wrestled with... although he did have his photo on his album covers!
Posted by: Terry | May 29, 2013 at 09:27 AM
Have you seen this? - www.onenameonly.org
I think it takes a different approach to some of what he picks out in Christian worship music culture - worship music without Christian personalities.
Posted by: Joel Goodlet | June 04, 2013 at 11:43 PM