It's called "Using our gifts for God"...not "Showing off!"

I recently heard someone say “They go and stand there in church singing and jamming just to show off”. This really set my mood off as I listened to Mr. X sit and bring down the talent God has gifted some of us with. He also went on to say “They shouldn’t sing rock like songs in church”.

Well, this is where I start my defense; probably he isn’t going to read this so let me say what I feel. He doesn’t know who am and after all, this is my blog!

1. “They go and stand there in church singing and jamming just to show off”.

Firstly, as I stated earlier, God has gifted us with differnt kinds of talents. As it says in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6:

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men"

Talents definitely vary from person to person. For instance, I love writing. I take it as a talent – and for sure my writing is not at all great, I’m still learning and dream that one day something I will write something that would change someone’s life for the best. Many are gifted with musical talents – singing, composing songs and playing instruments. It’s amazing how they use these gifts to glorify God. Writing a song isn’t easy at all, people who don’t know music take this for granted. Now I’d like to say, Mr. X has the talent of being a spectator & critiquing. He sits in the pews watching the band & choir give their all to God and then goes and passes offending remarks about them to other people.

I admit, sometimes I too do judge and have bypassing thoughts in my head about certain people. I think that’s human nature. But I never, openly say it out in front of anyone and mostly the people who were up there singing. Haha! That’s right, dude X didn’t know two of the vocalists were in the room while he criticized the song which was being sung. Well I guess he wanted to be the guy who is cool and talks crap about other people to fit in. Well get this Mister – it’s not cool.

But I forgive him. I also pray that he doesn’t assume people sing, write, play instruments, act, preach, pray or do anything to boast but to glorify the one who is the judge – God!

2. “They shouldn’t sing rock like songs in church”.

So obviously if someone is interested in hip-hop or classical, jazz or rock – they can use their interests & talents to worship God in a different style. Quoting the scriptures, as David said in Psalm 150 vs 3-5

"Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,
Praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute,
Praise him with the clash of cymbals, Praise him with resounding cymbals"

That’s sort of self explanatory. Obviously there was no rap or trance in those days, so David didn’t mention it but he did say we can praise God with "resounding cymbals & strings". I reckon Rock falls under that category yea? Being part of a youth group, people can’t expect our generation to sing choir like songs in notes some of us cant even think of hitting. We are the future church and in a world today where youth have been drastically misled, music is one of the key fields in which these troubled youth will be drawn to God.

Everyone else loved the performance and I'd like to believe they were speaking the truth. I always assumed the older generation would be more encouraging to talents, gifts & ideas shown from the younger people these days, especially in church. But I was quite disappointed with this reaction. Nevertheless, I am going to continue working on my gifts and pray that the others do too.

Shine your gifts & talents for the glory of God to be revealed!