CONCERT

(DISCLAIMER: I know some of my church's youths are going for a Hillsongs Concert but what I am going to touch on later is by no means targetted at them but on the general Christians. This is my personal conviction impressed upon by what the Lord is speaking to me and what I have witnessed. If you disagree or have any inputs, pls feel free to leave a comment )

Hillsongs are coming once again to Singapore. If I’m not wrong, one of the mega churches has invited them. And everybody is going around talking about the Hillsongs Concert. Who doesn’t know who Hillsongs is. They are a spiritual band with spiritual leaders and singers, with beautiful and spiritual songs. They are role models to many of the Christians individual and bands. I personally do love Hillsongs, especially Reuben Morgan. I always find his composition very down to earth and yet so meaningful and spiritual. For example, “Who compares to You” and many many more.

For the last 7 years, I had attended countless Christian concerts and I must say I am very blessed by the spiritual elements. My understanding of God has improved, my understanding and application of worship, individually and corporately has been broaden, my passion for music has been widened. I see that there is no reason why I shouldn’t attend more of such concerts. Or am I wrong?

Theoretically, I should and would want to throw myself into any opportunity to witness and encounter any Christian concert that comes along the way. But somehow or rather, the Lord is speaking to me. He is giving me a new perspective of the way I should look at Christian Concert. He is still talking to me and showing me the different angles but as for now, I will just like to share with you what He has spoken to me.

I guess the first thing I will talk about is the word “Concert”. By far, this is the word that has been used by the general to mention about the event. I am not trying to be legalistic here but I feel it is important not to take things or words for granted. I believe in justification. What do I mean by that? If we were to check the dictionary, what does the word Concert mean? Quick definition will be Performance, Show. We as Christians know that worship is never a performance or a show. It is an outward, sincere expression of our love for God. The word itself has undermines the true faith and does not justify our sincere worship unto God. Another point is that, if I were to mention that there is a secular so and so Concert, what does it tell you immediately? The concert belongs to the so and so band. For example, there is an XYZ Concert and we will immediately register it as a concert that focus on XYZ band. Likewise, calling it Hillsongs Concert, or whatever name Concert, it does not emphasize on the focus point. There is a chance that many or rather some will be pulled away from the main focus, which is God, and instead place their focus on the band or the music (disclaimer: I am not blaming the bands. I am just making a point that the word Concert is not a very good word to use). Having critically assessed the word, so is there any solution? I have thought through if there are other better words. Conference. Sounds too secular and management. Symposium. Hmmm, another word for conference. Outreach. Threatening to non-believers. Fellowship. Something that I like but the word sounds too heavy compared to Concert. I don’t have a definite solution. I guess the word Concert in itself denotes a safer and less threatening environment and I believe very much the main attraction is FUN. I personally am fine with the word Concert (no! I am not contradicting myself). I wish that there could be a better word to justify our worship onto God. Even though the word Concert is to be used because of practical reasons, then as a Christian, I must know that my worship is never a concert.

The second point I want to bring up is the purpose of the concert (for practical reason, I will use the word concert when mentioning about the event). I remembered my first concert was when I was 17 or 18 and I attended the Festival of Praise. I was a new Christian then and I was very encouraged, inspired by Hillsongs Australia. My spiritual life has changed after since. And after every subsequent visit to such concerts, my life grew. However, I came to this point of realization. What’s my intention of going for such concert? The music, the big crowds, the occasion, the fellowship? I start to question my intention. As I looked at the concert, I realized that the original intention was always to be an evangelistic outreach. That’s the purpose of the concert. All these while, I have been attending such concert because I found it beneficial to MYSELF only. Never have I once even contemplated to bring or invite any non-believer to the concert. I see no purpose in going to such concert and not bringing or even inviting a non-believer along. Don’t get me wrong. I am not discouraging or judging those who go and not bring a non-believer. If an individual feels that he/she is blessed by God when he/she goes for the concert, by all means go. But personally, I feel that I would have missed out on the best blessing if I do not bring a non-believer. Until I have seen God doing a miraculous work in a non-believing friend, I can firmly say I have not seen the full blessing of God.

The third point is more of a precaution to all Christians. Such concerts are always beneficial and a blessing to our spiritual life. But at the same time, it can swing to the other side. Every time I attend such concerts, I always see the charismatic side. Everybody is pouring forth their voices, hands risen to the max, jumping to the beat (in some cases, catching up with the beat), dancing to the melody, speaking forth in tongues. This is in fact a beautiful sight. Every tongue and tribes will worship the Lord. Yet after witnessing such sight, I couldn’t help wonder if every single one is an authentic worshipper or not. How’s their personal worship like? Is it consistent with the way they worship when worshipping corporately? Back in their own church in the service, are they able to worship with the same attitude together with the more traditional congregation? Some may argue that they feel more comfortable to worship in such occasion than back in church where everything is less ‘charismatic’. True! I agree! Sometimes back in our own church there is certain style or inadequacies that restrict the more ‘charismatic’ worship. But let us remind ourselves, worship is not about convenience. It is about sacrifice. God is like a 7-11, always there but by no means is He a convenience shop. Come to the Lord with awe and reverence. And also, our personal worship dictates our corporate worship and not the other way round. So if even in your own personal worship time, you can’t even raise your hands or sing out to the Lord, I don’t expect to see these when you are worshipping corporately. If one’s personal worship does not reflect one’s corporate worship, then I must say the word Concert fits perfectly into that one’s life.
Another precaution is addiction. Such concert becomes an addiction. It becomes a booster to people spiritual life. After such concert, they feel energized and ready to go out to battle and when they have lost energy, they come back for another booster. These people are no different from a drug abuser. Let me get myself right. Such concert do having refreshing, renewing, healing purpose but then it should not draw our focus away from God because all the refreshing, renewing, healing are from God and not the event. If such events are not held, then will you still be able to be refreshed, renewed, healed?

It is not my intention to discourage people to go for such concerts. If the concert can bless you richly, by all means go. But I just feel that we should go with a purpose. It’s more than just for worship because we all can worship God anywhere, anytime. If it’s an evangelistic outreach, then do make an effort to bring a non-believer. If it’s fellowship, then invite the whole church and not be exclusive. At that same time, I want to end with a note of thanksgiving to God. I thank God for raising so many wholistic Christian band who have committed their life to bring the good news to the world. My prayer is that we as Christians will know and most importantly carry out Your purpose.