Comments on: Is good art good religion?

By: Mary St.Clair

Mary St.Clair — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 14:17:35 +0000

Rhonda hit the ‘nail on the head’. Southern Gospel has gained a very bad reputation, especially in my area of travel, because of those who can’t carry a tune in a 10 gallon bucket. I’ve seen many local ministries get kicked out of doing sing in public facilities (malls, resturants, ect.) because of the lack of quality and professionalism in the talent they selected.
Which leads me to agree with LSJ (Greetings Levi!) that one needs to actively seek to improve their abilities before they ruin their ministry’s reputation and loose opportunities to sing.

By: Rhonda Berry

Rhonda Berry — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 14:23:30 +0000

Daniel,
You are right in that we can’t imply our standard of style, type, genre or whatever term you want to use should be the standard for everyone. Yes, the music of other countries is good in it’s own way and should not be judged by the criteria we set for SG. However, I think you need to come and hear some of our “local” people who are claiming a public ministry. We are members of two smaller organizations. One does not have criteria for involvement, one does. The one that doesn’t has members who aren’t on beat, are out of tune with the music-from an artistic level just plain bad. I have seen countless people, saved and unsaved, get up and walk out on these groups. These same groups are booked into churches and events once, then those churches will not book another artist labeling themselves as SG because they have seen these groups and solists and think we are all like that.
I love SG, and even tried to sing it a few times in my church. I won’t do that again, I am not very good. But I know that the Lord has a place for me in our ministry, it just isn’t singing. Instead I run the sound, drive us to the next event, design and maintain the website, book the hotels, keep up the schedule book, and do anything else necessary to furthering what we do.
Would this be a major issue if churches and events only booked the professionals and no one else? No. But most churches can’t afford to book only the professionals and need a viable option for their congregations. These churches want their congregation to get the message, and that isn’t going to happen if they can’t get past how awful it sounds. Like it or not, we are ministering to humans with all of their prejudices and fleshly ideas.
It isn’t fair to compare what this discussion is about to the music of other countries of the world, because the discussion is about Americans and SG. I enjoy and appreciate the music of other countries for the art that it is, but it is SG that speaks to my heart and it is SG that needs to raise its standards at various levels.

By: LSJ

LSJ — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 13:05:55 +0000

I think it would also be a good sign of faithfulness for one to try to improve one’s abilities, as well…for many, their individual best has not been reached. There is a great potential untapped and shapeless. Perhaps one’s current best is not as good as it could be with a little practice or seeking some assistance.

By: Daniel J. Mount

Daniel J. Mount — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 11:18:09 +0000

Phil, I believe I can safely say that you have come up with a better example to illustrate my point than the ones I came up with. Good job, and thank you!

By: Phil

Phil — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 07:31:02 +0000

The parable of the talents, Matt 25:15 “To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability;–clearly shows that it wasn’t how many or how great the talents, but what we do with them that the Lord was interested in. Although I think many times Biblical applications are not “seen” by Avery…

By: GospelMusicFan

GospelMusicFan — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 20:14:47 +0000

Now a majority of us are on the same page on this subject.
Thank you for clarification.
Job well done.

By: Daniel J. Mount

Daniel J. Mount — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 17:14:59 +0000

David,

I actually fully agree with your last paragraph. Anyone who wants to sing in a quartet can do so…in their living room, and if they can carry a tune and a part well enough, in their home church. They should do their best, even if they will only do that song once for that one audience. That, incidentally, is the way I’ve done most of my singing…just at my home church, no more, no less.

By: David Bruce Murray

David Bruce Murray — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 17:10:36 +0000

I agree with you on this. The argument Doug Harrison put forth implies that unskilled people have no business participating in art at all. This notion would rule out congregational singing in 99% of our churches.

Of course, I’ve heard a few who can’t carry a tune at all, and in those cases, maybe it would be better if they just listened.

That being said, at the professional level, there must be standards of quality. Bad art has no business posing as professional or top tier art, and people who know better shouldn’t assign that status to bad art.

By: Daniel J. Mount

Daniel J. Mount — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 16:42:22 +0000

I know that I will never be the best vocalist out there. But I am still to do the best I can, and that is what all of us are commanded to do. There is nothing in the Bible that says we have to be “the” best musically, we just have to do our best (like you were saying).

By: GospelMusicFan

GospelMusicFan — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 12:12:25 +0000

It is nice to see some spiritual application in our discussion.
I am sure folks from another viewpoint can find applications from the Bible to support their way of thinking.
I just wonder what the words in the song “give up your best to the Master” means give your best or be the best. I do not mean do the best you can but be the best.