I wish to interpret the above topic as; the position of or the degree
of involvement of contemporary music in missions and evangelism efforts. There
are five words to understand in this topic, they are the roles, contemporary,
music, missions, and evangelism.
A. Music: is putting together or
arrangement of variety of sounds in a way that is pleasant and exciting to our
hearing
B. Contemporary: simply means belonging to
the present time or the modern time.
C. Contemporary music: music of the
present or modern time. Examples, Yahooze, Makossa, Fuji, Waka, Tungba, Bolojo,
Ogodo, Calypso, e.t.c
D. Roles: talks about the impact, the
position, functions of somebody or something in a place or a programme
E. Mission: the oxford advanced learners
dictionary defines missions as the work of teaching people about Christianity
especially in foreign land or country.
F. Evangelism: the same dictionary
explains it as: the act of a certain Christian group that emphasizes the
authority of the bible and the importance of personal salvation through faith.
This group travels around wanting very much to persuade as many people to
accept their views and opinions about their beliefs in the Sonship and Lordship
of Jesus Christ.
INTEGRATION
OF MUSIC IN OUR RELIGIOUS PROGRAMME
Shakespeare once said” if music is the food of love, then lets play on”
I wish to say “if music is the food of life, then lets play on” because music
had become an integral part of our church programme. It is difficult to be separated.
If we try it, it will be as if we are trying to remove life, the backbone of
the religious activities. The question here is how did music creep into our
religion or church programmes?
At conversion: an average
African or woman is a musician to a certain level. As one or more of the
individuals are been converted, they are still with their various types of
music, it may be traditional or any of the contemporary music.
Occupation: some member of
the church have been trained or had been in active performance wit some of the
above mentioned types of music and have taken it as their work. Whenever they
are opportune to gain access into church music, they likely to introduce what
they know very well.
Social influence: Members of
the church relate with the public through occasions like, weddings, celebrating
birthdays, dedicating new houses or cars, naming ceremonies, burial of our aged
and loved ones, etc. There, musicians (even gospel artiste) will want to
impress his clients and so will need to borrow some “unholy” rhythmic pattern
as intro or interlude to make their music more lively, danceable and acceptable
to both Christians and non- Christians. If it is acceptable, they will
introduce it into church bit by bit.
Media: particularly the
electronic media such as Television, Facebook, DVD, cinemas, internet, handset
(phones), etc, where all types of music from all over the world may be
advertised. Music practitioners, who would like to be seen as well as informed
and full of varietal knowledge of music of the present time, would be close to
the electronic media.
THE
ROLES OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC IN MISSIONS AND EVANGELISM EFFORTS
I.
Invitation:
contemporary gospel music is very good in missions and evangelistic programmes.
It is a good means of inviting people to a crusade. Since we know that these
people live with various types of music. I will compare it with a teacher
introducing his/her lesson from known to the unknown. Our Lord Jesus Christ in
St. Mark 6: 34-45 and 8: 1-9 knew the multitude must be hungry. He fed 5000 and
4000 people respectively. Paul the apostle too in Acts 17: 22-34 started his
teaching/preaching from what the Athenians knew and worshipped “the unknown
god” to introduce them to the Living God of Heaven and Earth. At the end, many
accepted the doctrine he introduced. Some great evangelists have used gospel
music (recorded live) during their crusade successfully. If it is appropriately
utilized, it is like a bait to the audience. Such music like Yahooze, Makossa, Fuji, Waka, Tungba, Bolojo,
Ogodo rhythms etc
II.
As
stimulant: the contemporary music particularly its rhythmic pattern can be used to encourage
activities like rigorous dancing, clapping and singing e.g., Makossa, Yahooze,
Tungba, Reggae, etc
III.
Creativity:
these types of music encourage easy creativity in using short passages of the
bible to write melodic line or harmony that is not highly academic. In this,
the theme of such crusade is easily turned into a song. E.g. Bro Tella’s songs.
IV.
Understanding:
most of the contemporary music are performed in local languages. The musical genre
and idioms ( technical) are familiar to the listeners e.g. Ogodo (in Egba
dialect), Bolojo ( in Yewa/Awori), Waka, Fuji, juju, highlife etc
V.
Special
lesson: if a particular message or lesson is to be passed across to the
audience, congregation or the public, it could be done through simple song
accompanied by contemporary rhythm. E.g. Ebenezer Obey’s – Oro awa eda nile
aye, A! enyin eyan mi e sunmo bi e wa gbo… etc
As I close this presentation, I have an assignment for you my audience.
I wish you go back a little to where we talked on how and when the contemporary
music or the non-sacred music crept into our church and think on the negative
roles it is playing.
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