Selah: NorthWest

      trevorduplissey:

                   

As discussed in Pt.1, the job of the songwriter in the local church is to create a way for their congregation to more easily and fluently worship God. To do this well, we as songwriters must make a transition in the way we approach songwriting. The following is a list of ten distinctions between the casual songwriter and the others-minded songwriter. I compiled this list based out of a recognition for change in my own mindset about songwriting. It is important to note that nobody is, or ever will be perfect at this. Struggling with one of these points, does not meant that you struggle with every single one. Amidst these points I can spot several areas that I can definitely work on, along with other areas that I am thriving in. This list is not meant to condemn, but to inspire a change in heart and mind as we move forward as songwriters.

1. The casual songwriter writes solely out of their own experiences. The others-minded songwriter writes out of a place of balance between their personal walk and the season of their church.
2. The casual songwriter prays for inspiration. The others-minded songwriter prays for others and derives their inspiration from God’s promises.
3. The casual songwriter gets emotionally attached to their song. The others-minded songwriter views their songs as a tool to help othersworship. 
4. The casual songwriter is excited royalties. The others-minded songwriter is excited about lives being changed.
5. The casual songwriter is somewhat withdrawn from their congregation. The others-minded songwriter seeks to pray and care for their congregation.
6. The casual songwriter shutters at the thought of rejection. The others minded songwriter openly invites feedback from credible sources.
7. The casual songwriter writes because it is trendy. The others-minded songwriter writes because it is important for their church.
8. The casual songwriter is tentative to share their material. The others-minded songwriter is ready at a moments notice to share their songs.
9. The casual songwriter shys away from co-writing. The others-minded songwriter realizes that in most cases, two are better than one.
10. The casual songwriter is focused on the song. The others-minded songwriter is focused on Jesus.

I hope this helps! Please feel free to offer any feedback via social networks, email or leaving a note! 

trevorduplissey:

Songwriting has been an extremely important aspect of man’s relationship with God for centuries. Both the Old and New Testaments are teeming with examples of great men and women of God crying out to Him in song. This tradition has been handily carried over from generation to generation, leading up to this very day when worship has taken on a new found resurgence in the church and even to some extent in pop-culture. Obviously, songwriting has played a vitally important role in this. Songwriters (myself included) are abound, and we are constantly searching for the next trendy musical fad or poetic lyrical idea to step up our game. A passion to grow as a songwriter is a great thing, but I feel as though we have collectively missed out on one of the most bountiful and certainly one of the most important sources of inspiration; our own congregations.

As songwriters, we spend a great deal of our time drawing upon our own experiences for inspiration. There is nothing wrong with that style of writing (many of David’s psalms were written this way), but we seldom stop to ask ourselves what the people we share a Sunday morning service with are going through. The job of the songwriter is to create a way for these people to more easily and fluently worship God. The songs we write serve as a lens, through which worshippers can gaze upon God and celebrate His glory. To be particularly effective at providing this service, the songwriter must be interested in the needs of their congregation while being invested in praying for them. 

I believe that God has called the church songwriter to be others-minded. His or her voice should be should be like a thermostat to their church; taking the temperature of the congregation and writing songs that remind them of the goodness of God in every situation, both joy and sorrow. While most of us dwell in the place of being ordinary songwriters, focused on our own experiences (which is not a negative or selfish thing), I feel as though it is time for songwriters in the church to look outside of themselves and write based out of a desire to aid their congregation in a seasonal and timely fashion. 

Check back in the next couple of days for more on this topic! For now, please feel free to weigh in via social networks, email or by leaving a comment below!