When Multiculturalism Trends...
When Multiculturalism Trends…
It will quickly become obvious to you that Common Hymnal is multiethnic. This, against a backdrop where racial diversity is trending in Christianity. This interest in multiculturalism, especially in worship music, is a fairly recent development, and it is all-too-often happening in churches that are led by white people or birthed out of a white frame of reference or built on the algorithm of a theologically ‘white centered’ ministry. Truth be told, a disproportionate number of these entities have sketchy histories when it comes to racial justice, and are very often led by people who have loudly and publicly supported politicians with racist histories, racist rhetoric and racist policies.
When Jesus commissioned his followers to go out into the world and ‘disciple ethnicities’, the presumption was that we would go out in the way of the sermon on the mount - from the bottom up. Sadly, the spreading of the gospel was often tied to Empire and the colonization of the world - from the top down. With the backdrop of the teachings of Jesus, we see an inseparable bond between the sharing of the good news and a respect for the multifarious ethnicities of the world, which the prophetic psalms describe as Jesus’ inheritance.
The 1960’s birthed two movements in America: the Civil Rights movement and the Contemporary Worship movement. Both made their way around the world, but, in the overwhelming majority of situations, have run on separate, parallel tracks. Common Hymnal was born out of a conviction that worship and justice are tied at the hip. Hence the slogan: Praise and Protest.
When unity and diversity are championed across racial lines without a simultaneous commitment to tackling systemic racial injustice, it creates an unbearable dissonance in the lives of the congregants and discredits Christianity in the face of a watching world. That is why people of color are speaking out more and more about the evils of white supremacy. You will probably never hear us throw around words like diversity or unity as we are not merely pursuing a multicultural aesthetic but a just society.
One of the consequences of white privilege, and its inattentiveness to the historic realities of racial injustice, is the way that people of color are often backed into a corner needing to compromise deeply held convictions when they are offered financially rewarding opportunities within these kinds of organizations. We are committed to seeking out places and spaces where we can thrive without having to bow the knee to white access. More specifically, we are not looking to work with white people who have not had enough self-awareness or compassion to think through the painful consequences of their indifference to the realities of people of color.
Malcolm du Plessis
More Blog Posts By Malcolm du Plessis
Social justice is trending in Christianity. Sometimes it becomes fashion. Often, it begins as conviction — people trying to make sense of faith in a wounded world.
“Jesus was not results driven. He was always focused on the process and never the outward performance. It is inconceivable to think of him reveling in big outcomes for the sake of influence.” (Malcolm du Plessis)
The bible is a relay race from one generation to the next — and it is not a story of clean handoffs.
"We live in a world of leveraging - where people use their platforms and their privileges to get places and get things done." (Malcolm du Plessis)
"Four bible sentiments to consider when collaboration entails negotiating a business agreement." (Malcolm du Plessis)
"The sixties birthed the civil rights and the contemporary worship movements. Sadly, they have run on separate tracks ever since." (Malcolm du Plessis)
"I read this story many years ago. And have read it many times over the years. It has the same effect on me each time I review it." (Malcolm du Plessis)
“The book of John describes the incarnated Christ as being full of GRACE and TRUTH. Inextricably intertwined.” (Malcolm du Plessis)
Honor your father and your mother so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
That less visible space, on the outskirts of Christendom, where unconventional and unlikely candidates do life and mission together in less-formal structures.
"I found this cutting many years ago. No doubt there are countless such stories throughout history. So much food for thought." (Malcolm du Plessis)
"In recent days, when I have listened to worship music, my historic convictions have been freshly reinforced." (Malcolm du Plessis)
As we reflect on the life and legacy of Bishop Tutu, let’s listen to Nontombi and Malcolm …
"It will quickly become obvious to you that Common Hymnal is multi-ethnic." (Malcolm du Plessis)
"Make contact with the rest of the team prior to the writing session, identifying a leader to set the stage and guide the team through potential challenges along the way.” (Malcolm du Plessis)
“This business is named “Music Publishing” because of the way that songs were publicized and monetized before the invention of the LP. Back in the day, songs were spread by being transcribed onto sheet music, and printed, promoted and sold by Music Publishers.” (Malcolm du Plessis)
"A friend recently made a tongue-in-cheek comment about the trending theology of contemporary worship: “God is great. And we are great."" (Malcolm du Plessis)
"It has felt, increasingly, like I moved from South Africa to South Africa, excepting, in my old South Africa, we knew we had a problem." (Malcolm du Plessis)
“We live in a consumer society, in a culture of big, loud, and fast brands, where production and performance rule. It is very tempting to want to harness these elements of cultural influence to accomplish the work of God.” (Malcolm du Plessis)