Strong Words from Gloria Gaither

[Bill and Gloria Gaither were recently named Christian Songwriters of the Century by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Their concerts outsell Elton John, Rod Stewart and Fleetwood Mac, selling more than 1 million tickets for their 60 concerts a year. The following comments by Gloria Gaither were made at a recent workshop held by the Gospel Music Association. While her comments do not apply to me directly, they certainly hit me between the eyes in principle.]

After some 250 writers, publishers and others had gotten comfortable for the session, she [Gloria Gaither] asked them: "How many of you are involved in praise and worship? Either you write praise and worship, you lead a team, publish, or record praise and worship."

Almost all the audience members raised their hands. So she sked a second question: "How many of you, who obviously spend your life in praise and worship, have read First and Second Kings in the last two years?"

Three hands went up. Gloria leaned forward.

"Then what right have you to go through the Psalms to pick out a few positive lines here and there?" she asked. "Because most of the Psalms is beating the chest and lament and 'I don't know if God exists' and 'I don't know where He went' and 'I don't know if He loves me.' Finally the psalmist resolves a few things -- and we'll find one little line and have it on the screen by Sunday morning. But what right have you to take his line that he paid for if you don't know what he paid to get it there?"

Praise, she tells them, has to be the outcome of a "gut-living life" and is sincerely real for those who have tried it on the caldron of pain and survived. "When that happens, you will praise Him," she told a now-rapt audience. "You can't stop it. But to just walk in on Sunday morning and start with the punch line? I don't think you have the right."

[Excerpted from Charisma Magazine, January 2006]