I was recently introduced to Gungor in my search for worship music that breaks the mold, which they unquestionably do. This video gets too happy hippy for me by the end, but there is some extraordinary truth in there too.
Here's Michael Gungor on the Gungor view of worship:
"If leading worship is just about bringing a group of people into a room so we can get goosebumps and sing songs together, there's not much value in that. But if leading worship is a means to an end, that we leave this place as a different kind of people, as part of a new humanity that God wants to create—the people that are caring for the widows and orphans, that aren't bound by the systems of this world but becoming free, becoming fully engaged in our world—then that matters."
Just curious: did you decide to use this song in your worship service?
ReplyDeleteI considered it but decided there are songs out there that work better in the context of a worship service.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I get a little persnickety when it comes to song choices. But I'll not say anything more because I'll quickly turn into a jerk.
ReplyDeleteI do like the little I've heard from Gungor so far though...just not necessarily for church.
"If leading worship is about"..."becoming fully engaged in our world" or becoming fully engaged with God? I say the latter, which should then cause us to become engaged with the world.
ReplyDeleteWe did their song "You Make Beautiful Things" last week. It was the perfect song for that moment and I'd never heard of them before that. I'll check out ore of their stuff.
ReplyDeleteVal - I can dig that.
ReplyDeleteAdam - I like that song too. Definitely thinking about doing it in the future. Check this one out.
We did "Beautiful Things" a while ago at DCF when both Dave and Andy and myself were still there. It was a worship song that ALL of us felt lead us into a posture of reverence, thankfulness and humility. And Justin, you know us. For everyone to agree on a song in that group, it really says something.
ReplyDeleteCool.
ReplyDeleteI second Shannon's support! We also did "We will run," "Fly," and "Prodigal." When Dave first introduced the songs, I have to admit, I was skeptical- not because I didn't like the music- but because I was nervous with our limited practice time that we wouldn't do the music justice. I think we managed to create respectable versions- and those songs quickly became some of my favorite worship songs we ever played.
ReplyDeleteI think what I like about Gungor the most- is that there is some space in the music. That is to say, there are musical interludes as well as lyrics that are written with a level of artistry that seems to be atypical of most "contemporary worship." I felt like those attributes allowed a worshiper to engage in some level of meditation, or repentance, or reflection (or maybe even other experiences) that more simplified music tends not to evoke.