My husband is an extremely wise man. He says things that often make me stop and think. I love engaging in conversation with him because I know that he’s going to challenge me.
One day, while I was sharing some of my worship frustrations with him, he made a simple, yet profound statement.
“Worship leaders, stop leading me into worship. Create an atmosphere I can worship in.”
Wow. I don’t think I could say it any better.
I’m tired of being pulled into worship before I’m ready, of being forced into “feeling” worshipful. I want to get there on my own. Being “led” into worship doesn’t always feel genuine. Instead, if you create a safe atmosphere that I can relax and be myself in, I can’t help but worship.
I think if I could say one thing to worship leaders everywhere, it would be this statement. Create an atmosphere I can worship in.
If you could say one thing to worship leaders, what would it be?
You’re not here to entertain us. You’re here to worship along with us.
Oooo, good one.
Stop trying to be cool, just be yourself. We all know when you’re putting on a show and we also know when you’re on the stage truly worshipping.
Oh, so true.
This. Is. So. Profound.
And yet so often ignored. The church I’m transitioning away from makes no bones about being man-centric in its approach to ministry.
What they mean is extroverted man-centric.
It’s all flash & boom!
Flash and boom is ok once in awhile but every week makes me want to hide under a pew.
If you’re going to have soloists, they had better be pretty good singers with small egos. Does that sound shallow? It’s already very easy for the focus to slide away from Jesus and onto the “band.” That can happen when a) the lead singer/solist is very good and prideful b) the lead singer is not very good (in which case, they should not be soloing and drawing attention to themselves and bringing everybody down. Depressing.) Anyway, when leading worship becomes a performance you have missed the whole point.
I can’t tell you how glad I am that you said this. I love that phrase: “pretty good singers with small egos.” What a perfect way to put it. I have a big problem with vocal divas on stage showing off during worship. And yes, the other annoying problem is vocalists who THINK they’re good when they really, ahem, aren’t. I’ve worked with a few of those. Always a little awkward.
It ain’t about YOU. It’s about GOD.
So simple. So true.
Please execute the music correctly! Sometimes it feels like the quality just isn’t there but if I were to bring it up, I fear that I would just be called judgmental. Maybe they are just playing some contemporary version that I don’t get. Does God care if the performance of the band and/or worship leader is sub par?
That’s such a good point, and yes, a touchy one. Sometimes it does feel like the music is sub par. I think God doesn’t mind if it’s sub par as long as we’re doing the best we can possibly do. I know I’m guilty of bringing just a little of my musical skill when I lead and not all. I get lazy and think, “This is good enough.” Not a real good mentality.