Russ Hutto - Latest Comments in Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

russhutto — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:27:44 -0000

@Alece: more specifically, Bono said, "Coolness might help in your negotiation with people through the world, maybe, but it is impossible to meet God with sunglasses on. It is impossible to meet God without abandon, without exposing yourself, being raw. That's the connection with great music and great art, and that is why it's uncomfortable, that is why cool is the enemy of it."

I'm pretty sure it was metaphor. Meaning, to truly worship you have to be real, not a pretender.

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

Alastair Vance — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 11:09:58 -0000

Well, if Bono said that why on earth are we having this discussion? :-)

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

alece — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 10:00:46 -0000

Bono once said, "It is impossible to worship God with sunglasses on."

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

xpandy — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 11:29:06 -0000

Heya - way too many people speak (or try to speak) on behalf of God. And that is what is wrong. God gave us a brain that makes each of us 'individual' and we all have a basic need to express our individuality. If an individual feels comfortable with his/her sunnies on, then surely it is far more important to that person's attitude, that they be allowed to be themselves, rather than conforming to someone else's idea of how God wants us to appear. Everyone who attends worship should be comfortable being there, otherwise fellowship can not exist. God says that He accepts all comers. Why shouldn't we? (and no, I am not saying that we should not have standards)

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

Russ — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:52:01 -0000

@Fred, that's thanks to Tam over at inprogress throwing a little link love my way! My highest reader day yet.

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

Fred McKinnon — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:33:41 -0000

Dang, in the midst of a very busy week, this thing is BLOWING UP over here!

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

mandythompson — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:06:08 -0000

jonmark is SO in trouble!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

russhutto — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:53:19 -0000

@indianpapa: I love you man!! Great vid response!

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

inworship — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:34:07 -0000

Bad, there's a lot of wisdom here...

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

Russ — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:28:08 -0000

@brent: definitely, a fun mess! welcom to the party.

@indianpapa @tam: I'm blogging from my phone so I'll catch those vid responses a bit later.

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

badguy — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:21:34 -0000

sunglasses == statement

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

inworship — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:12:43 -0000

Let me be clear though...what you guys were doing was for a statement. I thought that was fun. for general use though, probably not necessary.

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

inworship — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:06:12 -0000

Look at this mess you've welcomed into your site Russ :)

Haha!

I would be one to stray from the glasses. To me, if they are not for actually blocking the sun, there has always been an attitude behind them. That's fine. If they are worn indoors, it is clearly for a fashion statement. I tend to believe that we can set aside our personal statements while we are attempting to declare God's.

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

tam — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:36:06 -0000

papa - i love you!!!

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

Russ — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:22:55 -0000

@everyone Thanks for the thoughts! We got some funny looks, but you havw to know the atmosphere of our worship set to really get that the shades probably weren't a huge distraction.

We don't do the typical charismatic/contemporary fast then slow worship set for 20-45 minutes.

We do 3 high energy songs and then move right into transitions to messages.

More worshipful tunes happen at the end or during our special nights of worship...at those I probably wouldn't ever wear shades.

And again shades or not, it's about connecting with God and with people. If it's to be "hip" you might as well wear a white belt, vans, and a olive drab castro hat.

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

Indian Lake Papa — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:21:47 -0000

{seesmic_video:{"url_thumbnail":{"value":"http://t.seesmic.com/thumbn..."}"title":{"value":" "}"videoUri":{"value":"http://www.seesmic.com/vide..."}}}

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

tam — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:15:26 -0000

'nother thought. dont know if its in the comments above. but one of the vocalists i sing with has quite a flare for fashion. she owns a little boutique here in town and is very trendy and bold. she commented on her own pants this weekend - the things were electric blue! i kid you not! and she just died her hair from its natural black color to blonde. so i wonder...what would be more distracting...electric blue spandex (yes, spandex) black to blonde hair - or - sunglasses? maybe either or, maybe both, maybe none. anything can be a distraction. we can not please the masses. we never will. i know its been said over and over, but its a heart issue. my fellow vocalist friend is all about being God focused! she is an intense worshiper and very passionate about drawing others in...and she does best, by simply being herself. people can spot authenticity - but they're looking for counterfeits. if youre trying to put on a show - you'll crash and fall.

hows that for some randomness. oh yah!

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

Tyler Braun — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:55:29 -0000

Love what you said in the video Russ. I pretty much agree with what you said. I don't have much of a problem with the theme idea, but maybe it was unnecessary for the sunglasses in the whole set.

I do think sunglasses would distract many in the congregation and the interaction between the band and the congregation would be much less I would think.

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

jon mark — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:24:49 -0000

badguy : the hawaiian shirt and barefoot can only take place in a grass skirt...just sayin...

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

God — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:20:55 -0000

yes. I would leave a video of myself but you would all vaporize - sunglasses or not.

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

tam — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:10:49 -0000

GOD? is that You???

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

tam — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:10:24 -0000

{seesmic_video:{"url_thumbnail":{"value":"http://t.seesmic.com/thumbn..."}"title":{"value":" "}"videoUri":{"value":"http://www.seesmic.com/vide..."}}}

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

God — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:03:25 -0000

You can't hide from me. I still see into your heart.

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

badguy — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:02:38 -0000

reminds me of acting like I'm deep in prayer during a sermon, when really I'm fast asleep.

sure. go ahead. go for it. wear a hawaiian shirt and go barefoot as well.

Re: Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do

Cindy Beall — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:42:19 -0000

Hey Russ. Found your blog through Tam. I used to lead worship with my husband YEARS AGO and so I'm interested in these types of topics.

I don't feel there is a right or wrong answer to this question. However, I've always felt that it's the job of the worship leader to disappear up there on that stage so that the congregation might meet with their Creator and give Him the praise that is due. So for my husband and me, it was all about doing everything we could to NOT draw attention to ourselves but to just worship the Father and hope that others would follow suit.

But that's just me :)

Have a great day!