Leading people into the presence of God through worship is,
and would continue to be, a sensitive part of the whole worship service in
which individuals that perform such duties are themselves qualified by Grace. It
should not be about the vessel, but all praise and glory should be to God (Ish 42:8).
What then should the attitude of the church towards its
worship leaders be? Should they be seen as ministers chosen by God’s election
(Ish 61:6)? Or should they be regarded as worship
celebrities that need to be acknowledged each time after leading God’s
people into his presence (2 Cor 4:7)?
There is a sad story of a very anointed and vibrant worship
leader that was excellent in taking the people into God’s presence in worship,
everyone always got overwhelmed by the grace and gifting of God on his life, he
was so much celebrated and talked about that he subsequently decided to expand
the scope of his ministry and or gifting. A few years later, he became involved
in drugs and started singing at nightclubs.
I believe this may sound familiar to some. There is so much effect
that people’s influence can have on a person’s mind, especially if it’s outside
the will of God.
Has the church celebrated its worship leaders to the point
of worshiping them (Rom 1:25)?
The issue of having the best worship song listed by a
Christian magazine or award ceremony usually tends to present a narrow
understanding the purpose and scope of worship. Sometimes it appears as if God
has approved those singers as the ones he loves the most (Rom 11:34).
Don’t get me wrong. Recognition of a worship leader’s contribution needs to be acknowledged
but when it gets to a situation where it leads to them having so much “power”
that they cannot be corrected because the church is afraid of losing them, then
that begins to set a negative pattern that can destroy the individual’s life.
Could it be
that most worship leaders that strayed far away from the church were actually encouraged by the church to do so unknowingly? What has your
experience been?
The worship leader can't clap for himself very loudly.
ReplyDeleteI am a worship leader and itinerant writer of worship music. Pastors will go on and on in the introduction if I don't ask them not to. Though they are trying to honor me, what they don't realize is that they are setting me up for a fall.
After one of those introductions, everyone sort of sits back, folds their arms and says "Ok, show me" instead of focusing on the Lord. So for many years now I make sure to tell the Pastor to only say, "from Dallas TX....."
But I am responding because of your comment about a musician who went to play in clubs. It makes me wonder if they were being given more than laudatory words? As important as worship is to a local congregation, it would seem that church leadership would understand the value of a worship leader who can help them.
And I have to chuckle when I hear preachers going on and on about tithing being a commandment without noticing that the tithe always went to the Levites...
Thank you Ted.I can see that some pastors actually choose what they want to obey.The office of the levites has been reduced and in some cases removed.
DeleteThere is no more office of the Levites, just as there is no more Aaronic priesthood. New Covenant, new parameters.
DeleteBy Office i am referring to, is an understanding of the place of worshipers in terms of not a room with a chair and table.The office i am referring to is more of a position(standing) and not a place.
DeleteI'm coming back to the heart of worship.
ReplyDeleteIt's all about You, its all about You, Jesus.
Jesus is the heart of worship!
Yes! It's all about him.Thank you.
DeleteI have been leading worship for 16 years and I find that many worship leaders step into a church culture that is performance driven. They talk about songs they want to hear that so and so did years ago. It seems they drive a rating scale for the music rather than focus on their own personal worship experience. They many times have a "sit back and entertain me" mentality which can be an easy trap for worship leaders to fall into. That being said, a worship leader, as every believer, should examine his or her own heart and in those moments that they are being "lifted up" by the congregation, redirect the praise to whom it's due. I believe a worship leader should constantly be training believers in the art of worship or face years of a superficial "worship performer".
ReplyDeleteIn my own experience it has served me well to remember that as long as my heart is pure, there will be those who truly worship as well as those who are just listening for their own pleasure. It also helps me overcome "hiccups" in the service where everything is not perfect as well as the squeaky wheel of the member who says, "This music don't do much for me" or "Those drums were just too loud!" :) As long as I feel I am providing a sincere and "audibly safe" opportunity for connection with the Creator, as well as counsel the congregation into a spirit of worship, God will sort out the rest.
We all face temptation in different ways and it's unfortunate when one becomes trapped by selfish desires. I wonder how many friends in the faith actually tried to counsel the worship leader who began singing in clubs? Many have a "hands off" idea of church leaving many worship leaders, pastors, teachers without any king of spiritual support system. Even when mistakes such as this come to light, Kick'em while they're down is way to often the mentality leaving in its wake damaged broken ministers.
I guess I said all that to say this...It's a heart thing. If you see anyone from the pastor to the janitor heading in a dangerous direction whether its a nightclub or a "big head", we are commanded to lovingly confront them, counsel them and pray for them.
Agreed and very well said, "Anonymous March 25,2013 at 9:32 AM". :)
Delete