Some thoughts sparked by a good post on ‘Developing a Songwriting Community’ over at theworshipcommunity.com…
One thing that the bible teaches, that we say we believe, but sometimes struggle to live out is “It’s better when we do it together”.
Sharing anything personal can be hard.
Especially so for anything you’ve felt in your heart, imagined in your head, and poured out on paper – whether it’s a song, poem, story or a work of art. For most of us, taking something we’ve created and putting it ‘out there’ is one of the hardest things we can do. Nevertheless it is absolutely necessary if we are to be good stewards of the gifts which God has given us. Here’s why…
1. Our gifts aren’t for us.
Every creative gift we have is designed to be a public reflection of the creator. If we never share the gifts and the things we’ve created, that aspect of his image and our creative response to him isn’t put on display and we don’t glorify him the way we should. Not only are our gifts designed to glorify Him, but they are designed to serve others. To inspire them to worship, to help them understand the greatness of our God.
The Bible instructs us to let our light shine before men in order that people will praise our father in Heaven (Matthew 5:15-16). This applies to every aspect of what we do – including our creative gifts.
2. Good stewards desire to grow in their gifts.
People who really want God to be glorified in them – and in their gifts – decide to be grow in their gifts as much as they can. Proverbs 27:17 says “as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another”. The truth is we all need help if we’re going to grow. This isn’t just mature and experienced mentors (although those are really helpful) but ‘one-another community’. Anybody who hears a song you write will have a response which is useful input for you – even if it leaves your song unchanged as a result.
A community is great because it includes people you trust, who care for you more than your creation, and love you enough to want to help you be great with your gift.
Ultimately it’s all about humility
It takes humility to go to people and say “I’ve written this song and I’d really value your input”. It takes even more humility to say “I think this song would be better if you could help me with it or we could work on it together”.
Humility has other implications as well. My problem is that I’m a perfectionist. When I create something I generally don’t see the good things, I see the flaws. I haven’t finished crafting it or there’s still something missing. Or maybe I haven’t found the time or space to come up with a perfect recording or a perfect performance. It takes humility (and trust) to let people in on my imperfect reality and also to speak into it.
Interestingly, every time I humble myself and put my creation ‘out there’ in front of people I trust and respect, I find encouragement as well as help. And all of us need that.
FULL 
As a worship leader AND songwriter, this was an excellent and challenging read. thank you
By: mandythompson on September 16, 2008
at 7:35 pm
That was a challenge to read. I love to write songs and have written several. The worship band that I play in have a couple REALLY talented and successful people in it. They have become my good friends, but a part of me still holds back when sharing my music. I’m afraid that a “rejection” of the song would feel like a “rejection” of me. Even though I know it’s not. I guess I’m just afraid of finding out that I’m NOT a songwriter.
By: Rachael on September 21, 2008
at 8:20 pm
It was a challenge to write! I got a very firm and encouraging mail from a good friend of mine asking when we were going actually use one of the songs I’d shared with him in worship at church!
I think it’s something all of us struggle with – but my experience is it gets much easier with practice.
I also found the other day when a friend and I were playing our songs to one another that we all have this tendency. I was listening to his stuff and wishing that I could write something more creatively different and heartfelt the way he songs are, and he was wishing he could write some songs that were more ‘usual’ for worship. It was good to share that with one another – and I also found through the experience of that time together that I was inspired in new and different ways.
You are a songwriter – because you write songs. If they’re from your heart and are an expression of worship then God loves them and they’re great songs. If you have that mind set then there can be no rejection.
The next question is “are these songs good enough to help and bless other people?” and maybe even “are these songs suitable for corporate worship in our church”. Only way to find that out is to take the plunge and ask someone.
If you’ve got some really talented and successful people in your worship band then great. I trust some of them might be generous and servant-hearted enough to have a listen and maybe even give you some feedback and advice to help you grow in that gift.
By: Daniel on September 25, 2008
at 8:37 pm