I believe it was a popular shoe company a few years back that urged individuality with the three-syllable slogan, “U.B.U.” Now, one might question how wearing the same sneakers as your peers is expressing individuality. Another point could be made about the originality of the slogan itself. It seems that the company was trying to copy another more popular brand that had a wildly successful three-syllable campaign a few years earlier.
Nevertheless, this isn’t a blog about sneakers. This is a blog about worship ministry, and when I look across the majority of our churches, there is one thing I see that is lacking in our music ministries: Diversity.
I realize that many of you think that you are different, and I am sure there are some real exceptions out there, but far and away most of us (note I say us) are quite uniform. We play the same songs, we have the same instrumentation, we use the same lighting techniques, we have the same videos on our screens, and we even wear the same kinds of clothes. Quick confession: I saw Josh Baldwin in a pair of black Chuck Taylor’s that I thought looked cool so I went out and got some myself. Unfortunately, they don’t look nearly as cool on me.
I think I know a few reasons we do this, and none are good:
- Someone was “successful” with it so we copy their style hoping to emulate their success.
- It is comfortable to conform. Not always fun to stand out.
- We are forced by our church leadership. They saw someone successful with the style, and they are sure that if you’ll just cram your square self in their round box, your church will find success, too.
I believe that the church can (and should) be leading the way in the arts. It has happened before. Bach made a pretty large dent. I wonder if he ever felt pressured to conform to what a larger congregation was doing or if he ever felt the need to present a watered down version of a popular “secular” musician. I doubt it. You see, Bach was the trendsetter. He couldn’t copy someone else because he was leading the way.
God was very careful when He made you. He didn’t try to clone someone else and accidentally produce you. He made you to be you. You are a creative being crafted in the very image of the Creator. Let’s make a real effort to stop settling for anything less than the very best God has to offer. Let’s show the world that Jesus is worth more than a second-rate, sterilized, ultra-safe version of what the mainstream music market was putting out 15 years ago. Get out there and be the unique creative being that God made you to be. U.B.U.
Josh Hamrick is Worship Leader at Patterson Springs Baptist Church in Shelby, NC. He has led worship for over fifteen years at churches across the country. His desire is to worship Jesus, to see others worship, and to equip the next generation of Worship Leaders.
