Catching Up with ...Chris Tomlin
The well-known worship leader has an aw-shucks, wide-eyed wonder that has survived commercial success, industry accolades, and worldwide popularity. Millions sing his songs in churches every week, but he remains in awe of God's faithfulness. We talked to Tomlin about his new album, See the Morning, and more.
by Stan Friedman | posted 10/09/2006
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Do you sit down and say "I'm going to write a song," or is it more of waiting on the Spirit?
Chris Tomlin I can't just sit down and write. Songs come to me in pieces. Some come right away. Others take a long time. It's usually inspired by a Scripture I've been reading.
Is it a worshipful experience when you are recording in the studio?
Tomlin Work is our own worship to God. How we go about our lives is worship. It is a worship process. I think that's very biblical.
Do you always feel worshipful when you are up front leading?
Tomlin I don't know how you lead people where you're not going. But worship is not just how we feel at the moment.
How do you lead worship when you're not feeling it?
Tomlin That's the sacrifice of praise. Those are the times you know what your relationship is about. That's when you find out how true it is.
Is there room for biblical lament in modern worship songs?
Tomlin There is so much pain in the world, and there is lament in so much of the Scriptures. I think that's why Matt [Redman]'s "Blessed Be Your Name" really connects with people. People need the opportunity to cry out. That's the whole idea of See the Morning. The Bible keeps talking about the morning. The morning is a symbol of hope for a new day. Psalm 35 says, "Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." Lamentations 3:23 says the Lord's "mercies are new every morning."
How can a worship leader help people lament and work through their pain?
Tomlin It's one thing if you're leading a different group night after night [on a concert tour], because you're not in a community of people. It's different when you're leading a church body, where you have a better sense of the people and what they're struggling with.
Do you think about how we worship with our bodies? Some raise their hands, some dance, some stand still, and so on.
Tomlin It has a lot to do with our culture. We're pretty bad at our bodily expression of worship. It can be a bit frustrating when people are standing there with their arms folded.
How do you deal with being a celebrity and a worship leader?
Tomlin I don't really concern myself with that. I want to be where God wants me. When the spotlight is on me, it's on God. I just want to be a reflection of God's light. It's like the moon—it doesn't give off its own light; it's a reflection of the sun's light.
How do you maintain your humility?
Tomlin I come from a very humble place. I come from a small town. I also can't get caught up in what other people think. In the Bible, everyone who saw God was humbled. Isaiah and Moses and Paul—they were all humbled. You can't help but be humbled.
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