Assumption: Music as an art form, communication form, form of expression has an emotional effect on the listening audience. Music is by it’s very nature manipulative.
Assumed Conclusion: Worship within the context of music is inescapably manipulated whether to a very minute or flagrant degree. Willfully and/or subconsciously.
Assumed Problem: If one’s idea of worship is limited to what is experienced in a musical setting, the potential for misunderstanding the nature, catalysts of and/or outcome of true worship is greatly increased - potentially leaving a deficit in the individual’s worshipful existence.
3 comments:
The movie trailer for The Gospel had me thinking similar things.
Several questions:
1. Is the music in the Bible manipulated?
2. I hear you work for a church. Is its music manipulated? If so, to what end?
3. What isn't manipulated? Is the message of your Blog manipulated by you? If so, to what end?
After posting this last entry I decided a defining of manipulation was necessary along with possibly a shifting of emphasis.
What is necessary is any worshipper determining his heart and motives in any given worship context.
I like your term Brett, “emotive.” Any and all forms of art are emotive. I am an artist. I’d prefer not to think of myself as a manipulator by profession. It is in fact not what I seek out to do. I seek out to aid in the revelation of truth in all it’s beauty and value to the experiencing audience.
Perhaps the catalytic idea behind this entry is the feeling that I am unable to truly worship God in the context of music. It’s always been hard. Perhaps it’s an attempt at providing a way out for me. I have a feeling it may stem from other issues.
I do believe that there is truth in the statement that we have become way to reliant on worship aids in getting us to a place were we feel like we’re truly worshipping God. And perhaps feelings themselves have taken on a greater importance than they should.
When emotions become the primary measurement of the quality or even existence of worship in our lives we’ve failed to grasp the essence of worship. The challenge is that often times emotion is a byproduct of true worship whether it be joy, brokenness, hope etc. I have yet to decide whether emotions are an intrinsic byproduct of worship however. I have a feeling the answer is no.
Ricardo brought up a good point in asking whether God manipulates us into a state of worship through nature. I wouldn’t use “devious” as a word to describe God so the answer to me would have to be no.
Hank, thanks for reading.
1. I guess that depends on how you answer the question, “is all music manipulative by nature?”
2. Obviously this is a sensitive topic in light of my present circumstances (yes I work for a church). In short I know the worship leaders heart and therefore feel certain his intention isn’t to manipulate but to aid in worship.
(Side Note: Where does one draw the line between “manipulate” and “aid”?)
I do feel, however, like there are elements to our service that serve no other purpose than to manipulate the crowd. Dimming and brightening the lights at key points during the music for example.
3. My intention isn’t to manipulate you but to express myself. You could however say that I have emotive intentions here. That is to say I hope that you will experience some sort of reaction to what you read that perhaps will enrich your journey in the process.
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