Grammy awards nominee, Jonathan McReynolds has responded to a recent comment by international Gospel recording Deitrick Haddon who said that Gospel musicians should not leave out the "art" in their music as it is extremely essential. The comment however received so much criticisms and Jonathan decided to pen a response which reveals his views "for" and "against" the comment. It's lengthy but worth your time. See Jonathan McReynolds' reply below:
Earlier today I posted popular gospel singer Deitrick Haddon admonishing other artists to never “lose the art” in our worship music. He posited that there is room for purposeful entertainment, anointed art, and that God can certainly use music that is not classified as straight ahead “worship music” by today’s standards. A lot of what he said was valid, but there were a few people that argued that “entertainment” should have no part in the Christian music creators’ minds, but that our charge was simply to “lift up the name of Jesus” for it will “draw all men.” Now, that is not a bad idea, but their interpretation of that particular scripture is not correct. The “lifting up” of Jesus referred to how he was going to die. Even if this were not the case, and Jesus was really telling his followers to “lift him up” so He could “draw,” we still have different ideas on how that is done.
Some imagine “lifting” as standing on a mountain and screaming “Jesus,” which I don’t recall ever happening in the Bible, or anything close. Some imagine it as repeating “Jesus” over a couple chords. Some lifters will add strings, some rock-inspired (which is gospel inspired, which is jazz inspired, and negro spiritual inspired, which is African tribal music inspired, which is…never mind) drum beats, a few more lyrics concerning the bigly-ness of God and some shout-inspiring promises. Some feel like it’s putting their testimony to guitar. And some feel like lights, smoke, heavy beats, and dance moves are what Jesus deserves. Well, you are all right! And God help the child who places one above the other. There is no biblical hierarchy of God's music and art. There are uses, but only our hearts make one more noble than the other (2 Tim 2:20-1). The only thing that redeems our hilariously imperfect macaroni-art is that we give it to our Father! HE puts it on the fridge as if we really did it well, because he loves us and senses our love for Him.
The beauty of the Bible is that there are like 35 authors of different classes, creeds and cultures. The beauty of the Christian faith is that it is even more diverse than that! And while Paul once had to be ALL things to all people, thinking like a Jew so he could convert one, thinking like a Gentile so he could convert one, thinking like a weakling to reach one, now he has plenty of help. Some of us will have to think like a nerd to reach one; think like a thug to reach one; think like someone who has only been exposed to hip hop, in order to reach one. It’s only muddy because we are human. Our motives and actions don’t always line up. We do the right things for the wrong reasons. We sing the right songs for the wrong reasons and vice versa. There are sold out “entertainers" and wavering worship leaders. To make matters even more complicated, we are performing for broken, guarded, satisfied, unsatisfied, crazy, sane humans too! So on Instagram we come up with all these half-biblical truths on what music is good for the Kingdom, though it is very hard to track how things resonate with people and whether it pushes someone toward or away from God.
Let me explain. Very early in my career, my now good friend, William McDowell invited me to his worship concert. I had only been doing this for a year or two, so I was pretty nervous. And as I watched him and four other incredible worship leaders (one of whom owes me a basketball game, Anthony Sheppard), I got even more afraid. Worship leader after worship leader called out the wind and the fire and the flood and the storm. In my head, I remember being almost knocked into blindness by all the elements flying around that place, lbs. So powerful, the entire church went up in passionate worship to God. Armed with just a guitar and a couple songs that didn’t even sound like church music, I asked God, “what on Earth am I supposed to do after all this?” He turned my attention to the back of the church, where there were about five rows of people who didn’t have the same worship stamina as the front rows. They were possibly even more lost than I was in all the wind and rain. I knew my job was to sing for them, consider them. As I told my little jokes, the back rows were the first to laugh. As I sung my non-singalong songs, they were the first to try to sing along. They appreciated that though I scatted and used comedy, they were thinking about their relationship with God more than ever. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but God did. As dope as the worship leaders were, and as CLEARLY anointed and God focused the music was, there is room to say, someone would have been missed and maybe even discouraged from the church experience had I not been there. And had it just been me there, someone else would have been missed.
By extension, a gospel music movement/industry without Andy Mineo, or Kirk, or Toby Mac, or Cece, or Tasha, or Kiki, would have missed someone. And maybe we are missing others, because YOU haven’t done your job yet! Just how the art of the temple worked with the liturgy in the temple to create an atmosphere “worthy” of God and conducive to heart change, so does the worship leader and the less traditional Christian “entertainer” WHEN DONE WITH GOD’S LEADING AND HEART. It all works together! Let me repeat: it all works together!
I don’t run from art in my music because I know God loves it. He’s proud that of all the routes I could have taken, I’m so concerned about giving Him my gifts back. I don’t shun entertainment either, because God never told us not to enjoy him, but rather that we should absolutely delight in the Lord and I’ve learned that a little joke opens hearts as well as any chord on the piano. Humans can't help having a little bit of entertainment in anything we do. Travis Greene has a dip, run, spin. Todd Dulaney has a hop, yelp. Tye Tribbett has a dip, run, spin, hop, yelp. Tasha Cobbs has a high note, I have a joke, and Beverly Crawford has both! You can't tell me that us six NEED to do those things, but you can't tell me that God is not pointed to, focused on, and smiling either. The conscious and unconscious nuances that entertain some, don't take away from our case for Christ, but they generally just remind you of who's making the case which can be quite powerful in itself. Have as much "entertainment" in your music, in your set, that allows you to be authentic. Tye's motor is high. To stand in one spot would be manufactured. Brian Courtney Wilson is more chill. To do the newest dance would be inauthentic to him. If I got to the mic and was any less nerdy, any less awkward, any more goofy, and more choreographed, I wouldn't be authentic. I ALSO (and I’m really going to get crucified now) feel that moderate allusions to things of the world, worldly slang, etc. are usable by God. We should not overdo it, but chiefly in explaining things to new or possible converts, music/sermons that REFRAME worldly truths and ideas to illustrate a REAL Godly truth are highly effective and biblical. The covenant in the Old Testament is a reframing of a suzerain-vassal treaty used by pagan nations. “In him do I live, move and have my being” is Paul turning one of the common phrases of the time's secular poets (like Jay-Z) into a lesson on our relationship to the true God. 2000 years later, we sing that phrase like it’s ours—for now it is!
Modern day worship leaders find comfort and pride (as they should) in the fact that what they do, most closely resembles what was done in the Old Testament temple, though today’s music infrastructure muddies that up tremendously. Christian artists that don’t make liturgical, “worship music” can find their origins, not just in Jubal, the father of music, but in Uri, the artistic designer of Noah’s ark, whoever made Joseph’s crazy coat, and the incredible artists that decorated, designed and furnished Solomon’s temple.
For all of you who, like me, feel called to artful transparency like the Song of Solomon, creative teaching like Psalms 49:4, or representing God in your entertainment, just be careful. You run the risk of being a god to some. You run the risk of thinking you’re a god yourself. You will get attention, but you must have a plan as to what to do with it. This is what your fellow Christians are often afraid of with you. There are many pitfalls for those who carry this cavalier brand of Christian music and art. For Joseph, the gaudy, art his father gave him resulted in literally a pit...fall. What does that say for the funny looking gift the Father gave you? Wear it without shame, but without sinful pride paying special attention to your own heart and the hearts of those around you. Deitrick's premise was wrong in the fact that your entertainment value alone will reach people. The level of entertainment value that allows you to authentically relay the gospel will reach the world and bless the Church.
There may be many arguments with specific points in this article, most of which come down to preference not actual biblical truths, but there is one thing that you will never argue me out of. And that’s that we are supposed to do this together. Some music rallies the troops and other music knocks down the walls between the people of God and the new land they are to conquer. (Jericho, I could preach that.) Quite honestly, the average non-Christian consumer doesn't even perceive such a huge difference in the gospel artists with the modern swag and the ones without it. To a lot of them, we're all simply talking about that church stuff. Yes, me without William is not enough. But look at society. Look at the harvest that we could have as a Church. William without someone like me won’t accomplish it either. And without God, neither one is even worth the conversation regardless of what they claim to “lift up,” nor how they do it.
"In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” 2 Tim 2:20-1
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