'Dress for the job' follow-up
I'm writing this just as I have a spare second while riding home. A lot of comments on Instagram about the blog and I just want to do a quick follow-up.
1. I think the thing that frustrates me the most about church guitar culture, and church culture in general, is that the church isn't supposed to be just one culture. It doesn't say, "Go into all the world and establish a place where anyone drinking Sumatra coffee, wearing a North Face and Chaco's, and reading David Platt is welcome." It says, "Go into all the world and preach, making disciples." We have a culture unto ourselves, you'll see it when a hundred thousand students congregate at Passion, we all look the same. We all read the same books. Listen to the same radio stations. Watch the same movies. Vote the same. Heck, we all speak the same—we have a language as American Christians that is all our own. And that's fine, when it happens, but be careful not to get so engrossed in your church culture that you neglect the cultures of the world around you. Am I being a good Christian should sometimes take a backseat to the question, am I being a good Tennesseean? (or, you know, insert your own state there) Am I working to adopt and innovate on the culture of my workplace? Am I penetrating a subculture of interest in hopes to bring light there? You know? Who's going to reach the punk rock kids if your youth group's full of preps? Have you shared a meal with your unbelieving neighbor? Are you reaching out to the poor, needy, orphaned, widowed, ill, and oppressed? Then this subculture of guitarists in church has us even more insulated from the world. That's bad.
2. A kid commented on my Instagram that he doesn't understand my ethic, or something. A lot of criticism I let slide but this one I want to address, because I want to make sure I'm sending a clear message to the world. My ethic is this: Love God, love others. Strive to be more with less. As for the guitar, play what you play, like what you like, be who you are. Don't go into debt to buy gear. Don't compare yourself to others. Don't feel pressured to make a gear choice because it's hashtag trending. Start with a guitar that stays in tune and frets well up the neck, and an amp that allows you to express yourself. Then buy pedals—slowly—no flash purchases. Lastly, if it sounds good it is good.
To this kid: Any judgment you're making about me based on my Instagram feed is going to be a hasty judgment, as Instagram doesn't show you the full picture. Read my post, 'More is more to lose' if you'd like to get to know me better. And know that everything I'm doing, I'm doing in an effort to leverage my following for change in our culture.