Over the weekend, my wife and I watched a gospel program (which will remain nameless) on which a singing group (also remaining nameless…mostly cuz I don’t remember) gave the audience two options by way of the song’s bridge: “If the Lord’s been good to you, get up outta your seat… If he hasn’t done nothing for you, sit down in your seat.”
I don’t really like that. I think it’s kinda unfair to manipulate audiences to stand up and support you. Glorify God with your performance and let the audience praise Him as they desire. I may sit in my seat and just rock, or I may get up and run laps around the TV studio.
But you can’t dictate to an audience of diverse and unique people what their appropriate responses to God’s goodness should be when they hear your song (you’re biased, see?). You think that by giving them an ultimatum, they’ll get with you because folks generally don’t want to be embarassed. But why make your audience uncomfortable just so you won’t feel that way? And who knows? You may have annoyed some poor seated soul who may have otherwise told people good things about you.
So yeah… that’s kinda buggin’ me. How ’bout y’all?
That's stupid.
That is SO irritating! I've always been the still, silent weeper myself. When people yell at me for not responding loudly, it makes me wonder about THEIR relationship with God. There's room for everyone's expression of worship. Plus, I don't yell in my husband's face when I want to tell him I love him, so why would I yell at God? Not my personality. Am I the only one that feels this way?
Its that manipulation thing U see in church all the time ... like when Pastors always say, "I don't hear you ... you don't want me to preach to you ..." or "I better hear someone say something in here ... ya'll don't wanna hear this..." You're setting yourself up so you elicit the response YOU want ...
It is completely manipulative!!!!! Me standing up or sitting has nothing to do with the goodness of God towards me. I could have been asleep at that performance you saw and not responded at all and the bottom line is God would have still been good to me!
don't be a new artist at some showcase with ANY of these executives and think you're gonna do that... they will make you feel kinda dumb and you'll lose your opportunity to share Christ. well, that's what you said you wanted, isnt it? i WILL NOT lift a NUTHIN' or stand up or sing or NUTHIN ELSE. you do it. that's why i bought a ticket or tuned in... this isnt a praise symposium. and i know you LOVE the Word and are developing your preaching ministry, but if your cd has music on it, that's what i want to hear! now sing and hush.
This whole topic is so funny to me! Basically because it is so true! I went to this little poetry and gospel music function at a church once. It was a small little thing, and I was sitting at one of the front tables. The headlining group was on the stage, singing, and doing pretty good, but then they hurt me with the "If the Lord's been good to you, Stand up!" I really didn't want to stand up. Nothing against them, and I KNOW God's been good to me, but I just wanted to sit. One of the singer's literally pointed at me and said "Stand up!" I was so embarrassed, I almost stood up and walked out. It was just a complete turn-off. Night: Ruined. So I totally agree, don't try to force your audience's support. Do what you do and be done!
@Akera: LOL soooo hard at "Stand Up!" Hahahaahaaaaaa!