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Blackberrys
and the Power of (Godly) Perspective
January
26, 2009
By Laura
Payne
President-elect
Obama is “clinging to his BlackBerry,” saying “they are gong to
have to rip it from my hands.” President Bush awaits his January-20th-reunion
with his BlackBerry. Upon leaving her post, Condoleezza
Rice planned to buy an iPhone! It is bizarre to imagine that great
world leaders live out their “calling” in such an insulated way.
Living an insulated life
Then I consider my own life calling. I am a music pastor. Let's
face it… I live an insulated life too. Like many music leaders at
Apostolic churches I “do ministry” with the so-called-spiritual-elite.
Those who fall into my ministry team are those who have already
traveled the path beyond spiritual infancy, through the gates of
modesty, and into the realm of “approved for the platform.”
Let me be honest. This bugs me. Some days I feel like I've been
forced to surrender my Blackberry. Sometimes I crave the raw perspective
of a new convert. Or the passionate worship of a newbie. I sometimes
wonder if the insulation hurts my effectiveness more than it helps.
Do Apostolics Impact the World?
As I see it, this is one reason that Apostolic musicians are not
carrying the battle-cry for Justice. Israel Houghton and Donnie
McClurkin are singing to 400,000 in Africa. But the majority of
us are not challenged to reach the world because our job descriptions
are to lead the sanctified.
How can we begin to comprehend mercy and justice when we are solely
rubbing shoulders with saints who allegedly have it all together?
How many Apostolic music leaders and musicians visit the prison?
How many feed the homeless? How many ever mentor a new convert?
How many visit impoverished nations of the world? Or minister to
orphans? Are we pre-occupied with consulting our own inner-circle
and managing the occasional “administrative scandals” that rise
up? Does our only glimpse of the “real world” come through carefully
staged tours?
What about Isaiah 61?
What if our next choir rehearsal was filled with inner city kids?
Or we were asked to minister to orphans in Guatemala? Or our band
was entirely filled with new converts? I don't know where to begin,
but I pray that Apostolic musicians begin to impact the world as
it really is. It is tragic to think that non-apostolic musicians
are leading the way in fulfilling Isaiah 61:1:
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD hath
anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me
to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.”
Can I have my BlackBerry back? I need to gain some perspective.
ninetyandnine.com
© 2009, Laura
Payne
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After serving
as the Dean of Music at Christian Life College from 1996-2005, Laura
Payne now serves as Music & Creative Arts Pastor in
Goodlettsville, TN, under the leadership of Tim Zuniga. The
big move to Tennessee has made it necessary to have family-sponsored English
lessons with her three boys. Or, as the oldest says, “I want
to talk 'country' but my Mom doesn't want me to!”
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