Just read this interesting post from Darren over at the Youth Ministry Blog.
It's about manipulation in youth ministry. It made me think that it's probably quite a fuzzy boundary between being culturally relevant and proclaiming the good news of Jesus and simply manipulating young people to do or think whatever you say they should. It also got me thinking about how you define manipulation when it comes to young people. I've posted a comment there which is still awaiting moderation. So should appear soon.
Good food for thought.
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Hey Chris,
ReplyDeleteI read your reply to the blog and liked it.
I think when it comes to manipulation it is really important to consider motivation and intention.
Can you manipulate with out meaning to. I think that by definition of 'manipulate', you probably can't.
Manipulation is something that comes up over and over again in music ministry. You don't have to do much to be accused of emotional manipulation. The second a chord sounds underneath a prayer or an outro lingers too long someone cries manipulation.
I think here it really does come down to choice, I think one of the primary roles music has in the church is to allow people to respond emotionally to God and his word. So sometimes we try and create an environment where this can happen. It's not an attempt to make you respond emotionally its an attempt to allow you to. I'm not going to force you to if you don't want to.
Is that manipulation?