what I wish he’d said

A few weeks ago at Break Forth, one Canada’s largest Christian conferences, I attended a workshop on songwriting, led by the composer of some of the church’s best-known recent songs. The workshop package contained several brand new songs and we spent a lot of time sight-singing. Our presenter spoke about the origins of songs—ideas, research, collaboration, melodic lines, etc.

The group wanted to focus on the songwriting process. “Do you write the words or music first?” Our presenter said he tends to write music first, qualifying that this is partly because that’s his expertise, while his wife and their co-writer specialize in lyrics.

He also explained that while he highly values solid lyrical and theological content, he sees music as the key to a great song. If you have great words but terrible music people won’t sing it; if you have great words and great music people will definitely sing it; but if you have bad words and great music, people will still sing it. So first priority, in his opinion, is sing-able music.

Many people in the room thought he meant that melody MUST happen first. That’s not what he meant at all. This particular approach just works for him and his co-writers. Whether you write words or melody first, if the music isn’t “good” it doesn’t really matter what you do.

This led to discussing inspiration. One lady claimed, ”God gave me my song complete, words & music together.”

The presenter looked at her blankly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he declared. “God has never given me a song that’s complete. I believe that God has given me gifts and skills and I work with those.”

I could tell the woman felt dismissed. In fact, she left a little early and looked like she was crying. I wanted to follow, but was too far away to get out quickly. I prayed and prayed for her, sensing that the speaker’s response was like a slap.

What I wish he had said was this: “That’s never happened to me. I believe that God has given me gifts and skills and I work with those out of faithfulness and obedience. I suppose sometimes God might do that, but usually even the most inspired song needs work before it’s finished.”

That’s what I wish he had said. He didn’t have to shut her down. I understand his reaction. The lady talked about “my song” as if it’s the only one she’s ever written. And looking at her it was easy to assume that her song might be unsophisticated, contain clichés, with basic rhyming of the “roses are red” variety. However, none of us actually heard the song, so how could we really judge? I wish he had given benefit of doubt to the quality of her song and the integrity of her process.

There is an important relationship between inspiration and craft. Christians typically claim the Holy Spirit as muse. Unfortunately, upon that claim too many Christians do not delve into craft, so their work is trite and shallow, aesthetically weak. An undeveloped doctrine of inspiration leads to error on two side: (1) if it’s from God I shouldn’t have to revise it, or (2) it’s up to me to work hard.

I prefer a middle ground: not imagination vs. intellect, but both imagination and intellect. Both are part of a person’s mind, and both need to be transformed and renewed as per Romans 12. This applies in all areas of life. To say “that was just my imagination” is a conversation-killer with God, with others, and with our own selves. To elevate logic limits us.

The Lord clearly gives people “wisdom, intelligence, and skill,” as he did with the craftsmen for Israel’s original tabernacle in the desert. Sometimes this inspiration seems to come “out of nowhere,” but ultimately its source is the Spirit of God who invites us to participate in his creative, redemptive work.

So the people of Israel – every man and woman who wanted to help in the work the LORD had given them through Moses – brought their offerings to the LORD. And Moses told them, "The LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. The LORD has filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, intelligence, and skill in all kinds of crafts. He is able to create beautiful objects from gold, silver, and bronze. He is skilled in cutting and setting gemstones and in carving wood. In fact, he has every necessary skill. And the LORD has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach their skills to others. The LORD has given them special skills as jewelers, designers, weavers, and embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn on fine linen cloth. They excel in all the crafts needed for the work. Bezalel, Oholiab, and the other craftsmen whom the LORD has gifted with wisdom, skill, and intelligence will construct and furnish the Tabernacle, just as the LORD has commanded." (Exodus 35:29 – 36:1)