Every so often, somebody will ask about why New Song Underground came to be. Most of the time, I don't really have the luxury of answering the question completely. I have to condense the answer into something that can be delivered while doing a band changeover, or a load in/ out process.
It's been suggested to me that now might just be the time to put a "long form" answer up where people can actually read it. In order to do this quickly, I've excerpted the following from a document I wrote a few months ago. If anything is unclear, I will try to explain (if asked).
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I once heard an excellent quote, which I have since modified to describe various encounters that I have had with maturing as a child of God: “When God was holding me over the pit of hell by my neck, shaking me vigorously, He wasn't trying to hurt me, and He wasn't threatening to drop me. He just wanted my undivided attention.”
The end of my involvement with Rising Artists Studios was a moment like this, where an unsettling time allowed for listening to the Spirit, and re-evaluating priorities. It also meant that there was time to re-think what an Underground-esque ministry was really about.
The ultimate aim of Christ's Church is spreading the gospel. It may be argued that spreading the gospel involves both the transmission of a verbal message, and the demonstration of how the power behind that message operates in people who have received it. Underground is a ministry that is mostly focused on the second aspect.
In order to display the transformative power of the gospel, Underground's philosophy is to be in opposition to the "economy of the world" which holds sway over the local music scene. This opposition takes the form of operating as an "economy of grace," which seeks to be welcoming and hospitable - rather than closed-off and self-interested. The way in which this manifests is described in the following assertions:
The economy of grace is an “I'll go first” situation. Logically, if God reaches out to us and takes upon Himself the risks of acting first, it is probably right to model that. One has to initiate actions within the wider community, because waiting for the world to “play nice” will result in a very long wait time!
The economy of grace is, for Underground, based on the idea of “I was a stranger, and you welcomed Me.” The idea of Christian hospitality, manifested in making our facility and equipment available to those desiring to use it, is the basic principle of what is being attempted. Everyone should get our best, because we have received the best ourselves.
The economy of grace demands that such hospitality be, at the very least, risk free to the recipient. A band promoting a show has already taken on risk and cost, so providing facilities for them to use is only hospitable if no additional risk is incurred. The recipient must be able to “Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” Underground may take a door split out of necessity, but that split must always have the possibility of being zero – otherwise, there is greater risk to the band, promoter, production company...you name it.
The economy of grace does not evaluate the recipient before they receive the benefit of the ministry. The band already “rich” in fans should not get preferential treatment over a band with “5 people going to show up, maybe.” This means that whoever books a date first gets that date. Even if the most famous band in the world asks for that date, the least important band in the world should have its booking honored.
The economy of grace is secure in being a light to the world, with that light being undimmed by the recipients of its illumination. If one desires to reach people that others treat like "prostitutes and tax collectors," one must spend time with them and welcome them. It may not always “look good,” but it is necessary. By welcoming people who are not welcomed by the world (or, unfortunately, by other Christians) one is “preaching one's message” to them, and not the other way around.
The economy of grace is an undertaking that deserves seriousness and extensive commitment. It is not a hobby, to be given time and attention only when it is most comfortable. Rather, the attitude ought to be one of high availability – every day other than Sunday being available to the community at large. The Kingdom is not only open on weekends.
