What the Folk? Is Our Worship Becoming More Organic?**

John Mark McMillan, Gungor, and Chris August.
photo by flickr artist Jesus*saves

You cannot pretend that you do not notice as your lead guitarist puts his Gibson down, in exchange for a Mandolin as the band sings  "10,000 Reasons" by Matt Redman. 


You cannot deny the fitting nature of those glockenspiel trills at the beginning of "The Earth is Yours" by Gungor.  When Hillsong United's Aftermath tour removes an acoustic guitarist Matt Crocker to extra percussion, bells and melodica, you know that it is official: folk is here.

"Come on, My Soul" by Rend Collective Experiment

What is happening? Why has our distortion driven, 4/4 time, key of C jump-around slowly lost it's commonality? 


If you don't know what I'm referring to, listen to "I Am a Friend of God" by Michael Gungor, then check out "You Have Me"- same artist (granted, many years and what was sure to be inevitable musical growth between songs), but very different approaches to worship. What in the world is going on?


The buzzword people are using to describe this new music style is Organic:
or·gan·ic

   [awr-gan-ik] 

adjective

1.

characteristic of, pertaining to, or derived from living organisms.

2.

of, pertaining to, or affecting living tissue.

(Dictionary.com)


If the Dictionary's definition had any bearing on the christening of this music genre, the term organic would imply that the music is made by people, as opposed to the synthetic beats and pad arrangements that had been common in previous years. 


To many, the use of new instrumentation, new melodies, and experimenting with uncommon "worship keys" are a way of giving a new creation to a very creative God- that a God that is truly infinite has the right to every beautiful sound humans can create, whether that be from an electric guitar or an accordion. 


If Genesis 1:25-27 is true, and we are in fact made in the likeness of God, then every time we expand our creativity to new heights, we are giving a nod to the hands that formed us that way.

Perhaps King David was onto something when he wrote Psalm 33:1-3:

1 Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. 2Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! 3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

Cindy Brenton, who attends Frontline Church in Oklahoma City, says the new organic worship endeavor could simply be representative of the young pop culture:

"I think a lot of where worship music is headed right now is reflective of the generation of 20-30 somethings dominating church halls and modern tastes, trends, and ideas influencing that sound. That being said, there's a lot to be said about the more somber, meditative, and reflective qualities that are brought with the tonalities from bands like Gungor or Bellarive. We're left to simply worship, rather than process excess showmanship."

Dr. Jim Wilson of Fresh Ministry says that there is something about "organic worship" that resonates with Christians in a new way:

"Organic worship services...remove the engineered 'predetermined destination' feel to the experience.The routine, pedantic, predictable patterns are replaced with anticipation, expectancy and a raw, multi-sensory encounter with the Creator."

Perhaps this music style is merely a fad that will pass in a matter of years. I know that I personally am partial to the reverence and peace that the instrumentation is conducive to. However, regardless of organic folk's longevity, as long as artists continue to discover new ways of giving praise to a creator God, we can continue to live up to the name of "image-bearers."


Until then, who doesn't love a little banjo?


-Adrian




Disclaimer
**Please pardon the thinly veiled play on what some might consider crass language. It was too catchy of a title to pass up.**