We refer to the Shoals Christmas Praise as a presentation. While I agree that semantics can get to be a burden, I also agree that terminology can help assist in clarifying motives. Such is the case here. Unlike the rest of our services, the Shoals Christmas Praise is not congregationally-driven. It is more of a declaration of truth, of the entirety of the gospel, putting the Nativity in its proper perspective, to where our congregation can rejoice in hearing the gospel through music.
Over and over again, we hear folks who attend say how blessed they are in worshiping through listening. The argument over whether or not one should do music specials in a church is entirely different than the point I wish to make in this post, however.
What is the difference, then? When I think of performance, I take it as a mindset of impressing an audience to the end of entertainment. I think of drawing attention to the performer. The word “performance” speaks of working and striving and attempting to earning applause or other positive forms of feedback from an audience.
When I think of the word presentation, it speaks more of unveiling truth. It points more to looking past the presenter and seeing the message of the presenter. It is driven by the truth, with success being determined at pleasing God first, with edification of the congregation (not audience—another important terminology distinction) as a secondary motive. It is not focused on the response of the listener but on the Subject. While church music is NOT preaching and should never be used as a replacement for expositional pulpits, providing presentations rather than performances is more faithful to a church pulpit and more closely aligns with it.
Brother Music Minister, try making sure that you call your seasonal programs “presentations” and not “performances”. It’s one small but very important distinction.
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