Allie's nursery
7 years ago
A band is banded together...
by Ben at/on 4/27/2009 12:20:00 PM
in
in
The ride back from Warner Robins yesterday may have been one of the best rides from my home to Athens ever...
It didn't seem to take nearly the two hours that usually lull me to sleep when driving it myself. And this is mostly because I spent the time with some great guys that have made this last year of college so worthwhile...
I can say with confidence that I would gladly have stuck around an extra year in Athens just to play music with these bandos. They are so extraordinarily talented, and not only have they continued to play with this immense talent that God's given them, but they've also strived to get better every step of the way...
If we never play another gig together, I know that while we played we were one of the tightest-knit groups I've ever seen when it comes to playing worship music...
Too often in this new scene of praise and worship churches have begun to hire out on a weekly basis for professional musicians...
And don't get me wrong...
They're absolutely getting what they pay for. They're getting a quality set every Sunday, and people certainly respond to it from a worship standpoint, which I would think in the end is the true goal, but...
One of the greatest things about doing worship music over the past 8 years or so of my life hasn't been so much the leading on the stage, but the growing with the band backstage...
More life change and growth has happened for me as a musician from growing with a set group of people pursuing a missional goal than anything else...
We push each other. And argue with each other. And create together. And love one another...
There's no way to create that kind of relationship playing together once every couple of weeks with random people...
Again, let me reiterate. I'm not knocking the current model. It absolutely works and works well for the congregations each week...
But, I worry for the musicians...
Are they being truly challenged in a way that they can respond to?
Growth is a personal endeavor for sure. If I'm not attempting to grow myself then no one's going to grow me...
I'm pretty confident that the musicians selected are striving for personal growth on their own time. These churches wouldn't use them if they didn't think that they could confidently put these individuals on stage if they didn't represent Christ in our world...
But there is something to be said for the growth of musicians surrounded by musicians...
A musician forced to work on his craft and his life around people that truly know what he's capable of and going through...
It's vulnerability...
And it's life-changing...
And it's just the type of small group that we should strive for regarding all our attenders...
So, why have we chosen to break this up?
For the quality of worship?
For the guarantee of yet another flawless Sunday?
Yes and yes... But let's consider this...
Doing something with excellence should mean doing what's best for all those involved...
The people on stage as well as off it...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
You guys do an amazing job! I know it takes a lot of work to prepare and preform with the quality you guys do at every Longleaf event. My hope is that you guys will feel our appreciation for all that work every time you guys lead at Longleaf. Keep up the good work. I know you have blessed me and my family.
Hey Ben! :-) It's been a long time - I just found your blog through facebook and thought I'd say hi :-) glad you're doing well - i love this post!
Post a Comment