Spoken Word, specifically Christian Spoken Word, is an oral form of Bible engagement utilizing free form or slam poetry. It is popular with millennials and integrates wordplay, beat, reiteration, voice inflection, hip-hop, modulation, music, prose monologues, or even comedy to present/perform the Word.
While Spoken Word is a form of poetry, four elements differentiate it from other forms: It’s written for performance, the themes are biblical, and it should be challenging and involve some acting.
Performed, biblical and challenging. “The ‘blessed are the underdogs’ message of Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount – had it been filmed for YouTube – would certainly have gone viral, particularly if he’d performed it in rhyme. Jesus was all about new messages in new ways – speaking from boats and atop mountains and from his friends’ living rooms – and always with an epistle intended to make his congregation think about the accepted status quo.” Spoken Word Applied to the Word – Premier.
So what are some of the basics of Spoken Word? My daughter, Christie Warren, writes, performs and teaches Spoken Word. I learnt the following at one of her workshops:
- involves rhythm and repetition that produces a “flow”
- can be set against a musical background
- presentation should be dramatic
- words should be emphasized to bring a focus to the theme
- there should be a clear message that invokes a response
- can utilize visual images
- it’s not a rigid form of poetry
- it’s not necessary to follow grammatical rules
- be creative!
- can be presented in a church service, as a street drama, or in any suitable public forum
“Oh Taste and See.”
by Christie Warren
O taste and see that the Lord is good.
Hmm…to taste
In haste
Would be a waste
Of the sweetness of His words
Or so I’ve heard
And see, apparently,
They’re sweeter than honey
And more desirable than gold
Or so I’m told.
But if you have truly tasted of the kindness of the Lord
It’ll surely strike a chord
And certainly afford
The opportunity to become
The salt of the earth.
For one cannot simply taste
And not wanna chase
Change pace
About face
Run the race
While fixing one’s eyes on Jesus
And see
Literally
Undeniably
Indescribably
Unequivocally
See that He is good
No other thought will do
No other can be true
So how can we continue
To live our lives this way
When He’s shifted our perspective
When everything has changed
How can we put up this facade
And play with full bravado
And silently just plod, plod, plod
Through this life?
We can’t
End rant
We have to take a stand
We have to actually be His feet and hands.
For when we taste and when we see
We’re changed eternally
And I, for one, can’t simply let that be
Join me?
And here’s one for you to watch:
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Summary
Christian Spoken Word is a dynamic form of Bible engagement that combines free-form poetry, rhythm, and performance to communicate biblical themes. It incorporates elements like beat, voice modulation, repetition, and sometimes humour or music to challenge listeners and encourage reflection. This style of poetry invokes a response by using dramatic presentations and visual imagery to emphasize the message. It offers flexibility, allowing for creativity and the freedom to break traditional rules of grammar, making it suitable for various settings, including church services and public performances.
© Scripture Union Canada
