This is NOT a post to embarrass or condemn those involved in the post. It’s actually posted for quite the opposite reason. I want to celebrate what happens in this video and use it as a point of discussion! Check it out.
So here are a few of my observations:
- Kudos to the church for (1) Inviting this young lady who presumably is not “very churched” to sing a song of meaning to her during their program. I’m so proud and inspired by the innovation of this church community. In most worship services, everything is conducted by people who “already get it” and people we have heard a thousand times over. I love that this community has made room for a different expression. I’m not sure of the context of this occasion, but I will say that perhaps churches could think about incorporating “non-churched” talent into the service and helping people make connections back to faith. I would easily preach the **** (LOL! Yall won’t let me cuss) out of this song “And I am telling you, I’m not going-” SERMON TITLE: The commitment of Christ towards His Bride.
- Kudos to the church for (2) Encouraging her and not making her feel condemned. I love her honesty and the church’s appreciation of her honesty. Church folks problem is not the cussin’ or any other behavior; it’s pretending like we don’t. So we don’t bring “that” behavior into the church, but we bring “that” behavior into everything we do outside of the sight of other church folks. Now, granted I’m not suggesting we have cussin’ marathons and everyone do whatever they want to do. However, I am very concerned that church communities are not safe spaces for people to work out their salvation. Instead of the fear and trembling that comes from reverencing God, we fear and tremble the gossip and opinions of the religious. Transformation happens in spaces where you can be free, honest, and accepted rather than judged. I imagine a church mother coming up to this young woman and sayin’ “Baby you did a beautiful job. Such a strong voice and you look so pretty. Don’t worry about that cuss word. You will eventually find that you don’t wanna interrupt such beauty with those words not only in church but anywhere. You will find the words suga. Mother gone help you.”
- Finally, this raises a point that a colleague in worship ministry and I were discussing. That is in our ministry teams we only make room for “saved” non-cussing people, but that doesn’t always invite exposure and opportunity for transformation for the unchurched. My friend relayed a story about how a production team at a church had agreed that their goal as a team was to disciple the unsaved and unchurched. So they took a radical, bold step and invited a guy who was unsaved to be a part of their production team. Well, in the course of their work, the guy missed a cue or a shot while filming the worship service and in response on the headphones he said, “SHIT!” Well, the team was in an uproar demanding that action be taken to sanction this guy. The leader of the ministry calmed everyone, reminded them of the goal, and suggested to them whenever that happens again that instead of getting upset, they should celebrate that this soul is being brought into the kingdom. So it happened that a situation arose again and the unchurched guy exclaimed on the headphones “Shit!” No one responded or said a word until a little voice from one of the production team responded hesitantly, “YAYYY!” And then people clapped and celebrated. Now the ministry leader probably didn’t intend for them to actually verbalize their celebration, but indeed it shifted the focus of the team. Besides when you think about it…
- PEOPLE already know what they are doing wrong. Who needs the church to police and sanction them for that? Ooooo you not supposed to cuss in church–Tell me something I don’t already know!