Reflections on the state of Gospel Music today
http://tri-statedefenderonline.com/articlelive/articles/4538/1/Reflections-on-the-state-of-Gospel-Music-today/Page1.html
By Tri-State Defender Newsroom
Published on 01/14/2010
Gospel music has been separated from its theological and historical foundations. It has now become a source of entertainment rather than the goal of ushering people into the very presence of the Almighty God.
Reflections on the state of Gospel Music today
by Deborah Manning Thomas
Special to the Tri-State Defender
Gospel music as referenced by Dictionary.com can be described as an art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony and color about the teachings of Jesus Christ and the apostles along with the Christian revelation.
It is impossible to imagine the people of God without a song, especially when speaking of the African-American religious experience. Our music certainly exudes all these elements and more.
Gospel music has been separated from its theological and historical foundations. It has now become a source of entertainment rather than the goal of ushering people into the very presence of the Almighty God and sending them into the vineyard to serve. There is a sharp distinction between “sacred” and “secular.” Gospel music came into prominence in the 1930’s and was made popular by the recording industry in the 1940’s. The use of pianos and organs caused some to label it as “honky-tonk” music and it was looked upon with great disdain. As the years progressed, drums, guitars, tambourines, electronic keyboards would give us full orchestra sound! Vocalists must now sacrifice their natural vocal chords as they compete with sound levels they were never intended to.
African Americans are not the only cultural group to utilize this great art form, but there is a distinction in the way we sing gospel music and the way we respond to the worship experience. It is important that we hear and understand the message of the song. We must remember that we are singing the Gospel, the GOOD NEWS of JESUS CHRIST! Anything else is distraction and takes our minds and thoughts off HIM!
The Celebration of Gospel Music is presented annually by the BET Network. It aired this past Sunday and certainly had its ups and downs. There was much artistry, excellent singing and orchestration, and many distractions. As a Gospel singer, I was dismayed by worldly attire and the lack of reverence in several performances.
Romans 12:1, 2 (NIV) kept coming to mind: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
As Christians, we are to set a higher standard. Once our music in all its beauty brings others into the fold, we are to teach them a more excellent way. We should not lower our standards or allow the world to convince us to compromise. The good news of Jesus Christ is strong enough to stand on its own.
One of the evenings’ performers, Donald Lawrence, in his song admonished us to get “Back to Eden” and live on top of the world. Yes, we should go back and review what our forebears in Gospel music did that sustains us even today. Their songs were based on scripture, not on what felt good; the melodies were reverent and made you be still so you could hear the voice of God; their attire was modest and did not draw so much attention to themselves that the focus was taken off the spiritual and manifested in the carnal – and their music prepared the worshipper to receive the Word of God.
Gospel Music Hall of Fame nominee, the Reverend Rance Allen, in his classic style, reminded us that there is just “Something about the Name of Jesus”; and we can really go back to one of the first songs most of us learned in church: “Oh, How I Love Jesus” – go on, finish it – “because He first loved me”!!
Since He loves us so much, let us not conform to the ways of Satan and the world. Let us raise our standards as He would want us to. Let us begin to study and glean from the work of Dr. Thomas A. Dorsey, Jr., Clara Ward, Mahalia Jackson, Rev. James Cleveland, and fellow Tennesseans Cleavant Derricks, Sr., Mrs. Lucie E. Campbell-Williams, Dr. William Herbert Brewster, Sr. and Dr. Wendell Whalum.
Let us continue to build on it as we exalt the “good news” of Jesus Christ in worshipful song.
(Deborah Manning Thomas is a well-known area gospel singer who has performed in numerous venues.)
Special to the Tri-State Defender
 |
Deborah Manning Thomas |
It is impossible to imagine the people of God without a song, especially when speaking of the African-American religious experience. Our music certainly exudes all these elements and more.
Gospel music has been separated from its theological and historical foundations. It has now become a source of entertainment rather than the goal of ushering people into the very presence of the Almighty God and sending them into the vineyard to serve. There is a sharp distinction between “sacred” and “secular.” Gospel music came into prominence in the 1930’s and was made popular by the recording industry in the 1940’s. The use of pianos and organs caused some to label it as “honky-tonk” music and it was looked upon with great disdain. As the years progressed, drums, guitars, tambourines, electronic keyboards would give us full orchestra sound! Vocalists must now sacrifice their natural vocal chords as they compete with sound levels they were never intended to.
African Americans are not the only cultural group to utilize this great art form, but there is a distinction in the way we sing gospel music and the way we respond to the worship experience. It is important that we hear and understand the message of the song. We must remember that we are singing the Gospel, the GOOD NEWS of JESUS CHRIST! Anything else is distraction and takes our minds and thoughts off HIM!
The Celebration of Gospel Music is presented annually by the BET Network. It aired this past Sunday and certainly had its ups and downs. There was much artistry, excellent singing and orchestration, and many distractions. As a Gospel singer, I was dismayed by worldly attire and the lack of reverence in several performances.
Romans 12:1, 2 (NIV) kept coming to mind: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
As Christians, we are to set a higher standard. Once our music in all its beauty brings others into the fold, we are to teach them a more excellent way. We should not lower our standards or allow the world to convince us to compromise. The good news of Jesus Christ is strong enough to stand on its own.
One of the evenings’ performers, Donald Lawrence, in his song admonished us to get “Back to Eden” and live on top of the world. Yes, we should go back and review what our forebears in Gospel music did that sustains us even today. Their songs were based on scripture, not on what felt good; the melodies were reverent and made you be still so you could hear the voice of God; their attire was modest and did not draw so much attention to themselves that the focus was taken off the spiritual and manifested in the carnal – and their music prepared the worshipper to receive the Word of God.
Gospel Music Hall of Fame nominee, the Reverend Rance Allen, in his classic style, reminded us that there is just “Something about the Name of Jesus”; and we can really go back to one of the first songs most of us learned in church: “Oh, How I Love Jesus” – go on, finish it – “because He first loved me”!!
Since He loves us so much, let us not conform to the ways of Satan and the world. Let us raise our standards as He would want us to. Let us begin to study and glean from the work of Dr. Thomas A. Dorsey, Jr., Clara Ward, Mahalia Jackson, Rev. James Cleveland, and fellow Tennesseans Cleavant Derricks, Sr., Mrs. Lucie E. Campbell-Williams, Dr. William Herbert Brewster, Sr. and Dr. Wendell Whalum.
Let us continue to build on it as we exalt the “good news” of Jesus Christ in worshipful song.
(Deborah Manning Thomas is a well-known area gospel singer who has performed in numerous venues.)