|
WHO IS FLAVIU MITAR? |
A: Like many men around my age (40), I get to ask myself lots of times the same question: “Who am I?” But without getting too deep into the subject of “who I really think I am”, the least I can say is that I see myself as a man still searching for answers in my Christian walk, as a man getting more and more thirsty for the “knowledge” that gives life. I see myself as a husband that’s still looking for ways to express love to his adoring wife, as a father that is trying (full time) to be in touch with his kids and their “reality” and at the same time to be and stay a Christ figure for them.
Q: How did you get involved in music?
A: I grew up in a family that embraced music. For as long as I can remember my family was “head on” with the local church because of our “style” of music. I remember my father adding a pick up to a mandolin and my sister playing it in the church on a power amplifier for the first time. It was quite a “cultural shock” for those times. That was fallowed by an electric guitar and than a keyboard. From the traditional “armon” to the “powered” instruments and microphones was a revolution in our church (and surrounding ones) in Arad. When my father thought my time came to learn an instrument I was obligated to learn it. Summer died suddenly for me and the pain of learning took over my childhood. Not fun, but with a determined father, in 2 –3 weeks I learned to play few songs on guitar and we went to a village near Arad to play in their church. My older brother, my two sisters and 2 kids of one of our dad’s friend and me made the band. Can you imagine electric “stuff” in a Pentecostal church in a small village out in the middle of the fields? Quite a stir!
How did I start playing music? I had no choice!
Q: What is your place in music?
A: My place? I was introduced a few times as a “pioneer” in Romanian music. Now, either the guy was trying to make me look good or he was trying to say that I “had my time”. When someone calls you a pioneer somewhat makes you feel old and outdated. My place? I still see my place in the church worshiping and trying to make the people around me aware of the fight that we are all called to keep.
Q: Praise and worship through music in its contemporary form begins to be more and more embraced by the Romanian Christian churches. How do you see this way of worship?
A: In the last decade “praise and worship” finally invaded the Romanian churches. Most of the Romanian children raised in the US had come in contact and immediately embraced this type of music. It is a beautiful way of engaging mind and soul and to help you come into the presence of God. Because it can minister to you at any time and in any place is widely accepted and practiced.
Q: Why do you think some churches are still very reluctant to this way of worship?
A: The more legalistic a church is the less you will find “praise and worship” segments in their services. I strongly believe that is simply a misunderstanding in the part of the churches that refuse this style of music. We are called to witness to our generation the word of God. If our generation found a way that can help into bringing us closer to the Throne and at the same time a way that is appealing to the seekers I think churches should promote this style of music. Limits? Definitely! We must have well defined limits in our praise and worship music. Not everything should be accepted. We should learn to hold ourselves accountable to one another even in music.
Q: How can we promote the praise and worship in our churches?
A: Open mind ness. Our children must have a place where they should feel welcome to worship God even if it is not what some consider “our ancestors style”. When the leadership of a church begins to understand that each generation is responsible to bring the Gospel to each own kind, than we will see churches making “room” for young worshipers to step up and even more to encourage them into growing into the knowledge of God in their new “style” of worship.
Q: Is there anything missing in today’s worship?
A: Two things come to mind. One would be the lack of knowing of the Word. A lot of songs based on interpretations of the Bible or on misunderstood Scripture. Second one would be the lack of real worship. We have learned a few good things in this county. One is praising; praising others for their achievements. (By the way: we have learned that praising is not a Romanian quality; but since we are now Americans we have learned to use it. Works wonders in our businesses!) It is commending that we spend so much time and energy on praising. What I think we lack in our life is worship. Praise comes natural to us. It seems somehow that we have nothing but to gain when we praise. On our daily encounters with people if you praise them you can gain their appreciation, confidence, trust and why not, their business. Somehow I think we approach God in the same manner. Yes we are good at praising. We learned so well to polish our words that even when we feel we have been wronged we master to respond in a somewhat sarcastic praising way. We have no problem with praising.
The problems I see, is when it comes to worship. Worship is deep. Passes the lips and goes all the way down to our daily living. Worship is required more than just on Sunday morning from 9 to 10 am when all eyes are on us. Worship coming just from our lips is deadly and many don’t seem aware or interested in this word. Worship is not an experience. Worship has to become a lifestyle. Praise without genuine worship is meaningless. Apostle Paul writes “brothers (sisters) bring your bodies as a living sacrifice”. Now to me, this is worship. Imagine a lifestyle of worship guided by the Word of God. Then praises will be like water splashing out of a cup full with water in the hand of a runner. It is impossible to run without spelling; impossible to worship without praises.
Unfortunately many Romanian Christian artists lack worship. And this aspect reflects very strongly in their lyrics, music style and lifestyle. What a waste, to see many merging musicians today, simply praising without understanding the part of worship.
Q: What would you like to say to our readers in the end?
A: Dive into the Word. Don’t just wet your feet. Dive! The true worshipers will worship in spirit and in truth. The spirit of God is in us. It came without our intervention. Our duty is to seek the truth. “Your Word is Truth”. Do you want to be an affective worshiper? Study the Word. Do you want to have a sturdy worship group or band? Get your friend and form a Bible study group and boldly put questions and earnestly seek answers. You will learn God’s will for your life and you will learn to worship Him in truth. Only then, my young friend, you cannot go wrong. Do you have the gift of composing? Make sure you spend time in the Word so that your lyrics and topics will bring people to the heart of worship, to Jesus.