Gospel music digs deeper than any other music throughout the world today. And those who make it so, and those who have made it so in the past, form an uncompromising band of Christian saints men and women, who have spent decades in contention with all manner of difficult circumstances.
Few performers have had it quite so tough as gospel singers and it shows in the way they commit themselves within a song: The Christian vision of deliverance from spiritual and social shackles has always held out the greatest hope to those with least to lose and the gospel song is essentially a song of deliverance. The real, breathtaking power of gospel singing cannot be understood as anything less than the ecstatic victory shout of a soul set free at last.
There is no music quite like that of gospel music, no drama like the drama of Christians rejoicing, the sinners moaning and repenting, the tambourines shaking, and all those voices coming together in unity, crying holy unto, the LORD. I have never seen anything during my Ministerial life as an Evangelist, to equal the fire and excitement that gospel music carries, without warning can fill a church with the awesome power of God's glory.
Nothing that has happened to me since, can equal the majestic power and the glory that I sometimes feel when, in the middle of a worship song, I knew that I was somehow, by some miracle, really carrying, really singing, as they say, the WORD, when the church and I are singing and dancing, in anguish and rejoicing at the foot of the altar. So let your heart exult wordlessly into joyous song by breaking down all barriers in the immeasurable fullness of your countenance by the words of your songs, whether at the harvest table, in the vineyards, or elsewhere.
Stand you ground true gospel musicians, for true gospel is not how many scales you can sing but true gospel music is supposed to manifest the awesome power of God that signs, wonders and miracles are happening through the song being sung. For true, really, true goepel singers, groups or bands they will always worship God in Spirit and in Truth, and recognise that He and He alone gets all the glory, AMEN!!!!
(c) copyright 2008
Daniele Luciano Moskal
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Great article. I couldn't agree with it more. Gospel music is not dependent upon techniques or stage tricks (although plenty of performers seem to think that they do.) Like everything else that glorifies God, it only works when you sing out a love for the Lord, submitting yourself completely to him. I have had many occasions when I feel transported out of myself, and that God is using my voice and my body. Being able to sing is like any other gift. It's just that: a gift. It's nothing to take pride in. A spirit of gratitude and humility is the only reasonable response to a gift from God, whatever it may be.
Friday night, I sang with a 40 man Male Chorus of my church for our 31st Anniversary. I haven't been there all 31 years... It was a powerful experience, not because we were great, but because we gave ourselves completely to the Lord, and the congregation was moved by the Holy Spirit.
The "real" in your question is humility and a complete immersion into the will of God. Everything else, no matter how good it may be musically, is just show biz.
Jerry
