We continue our interview with Martin Smith. For part 1 click here.
Everything Christian: You managed to bridge the gap between worship and performance. Was a conscious decision?
Martin Smith: I think it has been instinctive. It is who we are, it is who I am as a person. I love being in the presence of God, whether that is at a Radio 1 road-show or in church on a Sunday morning it doesn’t really worry me too much. That has always been the aim, to get people there [in the presence of God]. We were fearless in some environments, especially on the Bon Jovi tour, with the songs we did, and you are always hoping for the glory of God to come and to touch people and change people. That’s the mandate really.
EC: It seems quite a vulnerable place to be, to be exposing your own act of worship on stage in front of thousands of people. How have you dealt with that vulnerability?
MS: King David did it didn’t he? He did it in his underpants – I’ve never quite gone that far! He did the vulnerability thing really well and he was the king of Israel. I think it is knowing who you are, being confident in that. You only find out who you are when get to know God a bit more. I feel comfortable in my skin to be the person I am on stage and off stage too.
EC: Through Compassion Art and some Delirious projects – you mentioned India – you have placed social justice at the heart of what you have done. Here, in the West, do we have too much stuff?
MS: Yes – definitely. I don’t know where you put the slide rule, but there is just never ending consumerism and I am as guilty of that as everyone. It’s a tension, and we need to know God and be guided by the Holy Spirit as to how we use our money. That’s a daily thing.
EC: What role does worship have in helping us to prioritise things?
MS: When we worship God we find out who we are. You find yourself looking in a mirror on a regular basis, “Is this the person I am? I need to change this. I need a redesign. I need salvation. I need forgiveness.” Worshipping God is amazing because you connect with someone extraordinary, someone eternal and you see yourself in that light.
EC: How do we live in the modern world with CDs, books, websites etc?
MS: I think that is a very individual decision to make. You have to stand before God and ask him, “How do I live my life with what I have,” whether it is twenty quid a week or twenty grand. I don’t think the amounts are the issue. You can say, “You’ve put this in my hand, God, what do you want me to do with it?” That should be a daily prayer with whatever you’ve got.
EC: What does the future hold?
MS: I would love to think there is music in the future. I know that’s in me, but in the short term there is a season of ‘hanging back’, listening and being at home more – which will be fantastic. Just enjoying life for a season.
Martin Smith: I think it has been instinctive. It is who we are, it is who I am as a person. I love being in the presence of God, whether that is at a Radio 1 road-show or in church on a Sunday morning it doesn’t really worry me too much. That has always been the aim, to get people there [in the presence of God]. We were fearless in some environments, especially on the Bon Jovi tour, with the songs we did, and you are always hoping for the glory of God to come and to touch people and change people. That’s the mandate really.
EC: It seems quite a vulnerable place to be, to be exposing your own act of worship on stage in front of thousands of people. How have you dealt with that vulnerability?
MS: King David did it didn’t he? He did it in his underpants – I’ve never quite gone that far! He did the vulnerability thing really well and he was the king of Israel. I think it is knowing who you are, being confident in that. You only find out who you are when get to know God a bit more. I feel comfortable in my skin to be the person I am on stage and off stage too.
EC: Through Compassion Art and some Delirious project – you mentioned India – you have placed social justice at the heart of what you have done. Here, in the West, do we have too much stuff?
Yes – definitely. I don’t know where you put the slide rule, but there is just never ending consumerism and I am as guilty of that as everyone. It’s a tension, and we need to know God and be guided by the Holy Spirit as to how we use our money. That’s a daily thing.
EC: What role does worship have in helping us to prioritise things?
MS: When we worship God we find out who we are. You find yourself looking in a mirror on a regular basis, “Is this the person I am? I need to change this. I need a redesign. I need salvation. I need forgiveness.” Worshipping God is amazing because you connect with someone extraordinary, someone eternal and you see yourself in that light.
EC: How do we live in the modern world with CDs, books, websites etc?
MS: I think that is a very individual decision to make. You have to stand before God and ask him, “How do I live my life with what I have,” whether it is twenty quid a week or twenty grand. I don’t think the amounts are the issue. You can say, “You’ve put this in my hand, God, what do you want me to do with it?” That should be a daily prayer with whatever you’ve got.
EC: What does the future hold?
MS: I would love to think there is music in the future. I know that’s in me, but in the short term there is a season of ‘hanging back’, listening and being at home more – which will be fantastic. Just enjoying life for a season.
