With all due respect, I disagree with Carlos Whitaker.
Carlos Whitaker is a well known worship leader. Last year, he posted a blog post about whether a worship leader should talk while leading, or just sing. He believes that a worship leader that just sings is nothing more than a singer. Worship leaders are a sort of preacher, preaching with melody as well as words. Even though I’m a year late in reading it, here’s my take on it.
I find talking during musical worship distracting. When I’m in worship, I prefer to be left alone with the melody, lyrics and the God I’m trying to focus on. When a worship leader begins talking, and sharing their words and prayers, I have no room left for the words and prayers I want to offer.
Part of this is due to my introverted personality. I like quiet and a space to be introspective, even when I’m surrounded by noise. Quite honestly, worship can be stimulus overload for me. If my ears are being filled with someone else’s words, it makes it so much harder for me to worship. I usually stop trying and just wait for the music to be over.
Years ago, when I first tried my hand at worship leading and had absolutely no idea what I was doing, there were certain things I felt I needed to do. Talking was one of those things. Whenever there was a long instrumental interlude, I felt like it was my worship leader obligation to fill that void with something. Insightful, spiritual words. A prayer. Memorized Scripture. Anything. It’s what worship leaders do. At least all the worship leaders I had seen.
Every time I tried, it felt weird. Forced. Awkward. Really awkward. Talking during those times when I wasn’t singing just didn’t work for me. Again, probably due to my introverted personality. When I lead worship, I prefer to sing the song as simply as I can, without any extra embellishments to the melody and without any extra words. I try my best to get out of the way and let the congregation worship in whatever way they need.
It just feels more natural to me.
I also feel that talking during instrumental interludes is rude to the band. Those interludes are the time for them to worship God with their gifts. If I talk over their music, I’m taking away from their gift of worship.
What do you think? How do you feel about talking during worship?
There may be a time for what Carlos is talking about, but often times I find the “noise” crowding out what I really find is important.
You know, I think it depends on the person doing the leading. And I’ve seen a trend that more and more worship leaders are calling themselves “Worship Guides”. Perhaps that could be a post in the works for you there.
I think talking is completely up to the skills of the leader. As a youth leader at my church I helped gather a group of teens to lead worship. They’ve been together 3 years now and have really excelled. This last year the lead singer met with a professional worship leader and wanted to try talking through a short devotional before singing – no one could have planned on it going so well. So now this 16 year old guy says a few words almost every time he helps lead worship.
So in my opinion, it works really well if the leader has a desire and skill to it. If not, then I am wholeheartedly for pursuing God with your giftedness – and I have seen many worship leaders who “only” sing, but that is all they need to do.
I’d definitely say this depends on the person and the church. In the black church, for example, you’d be hard-pressed to find worship leaders who just sang and you definitely wouldn’t find one who sang the melody without embellishment. That’s the culture and that’s what’s expected/desired by worshipers. However, in plenty of, well, white churches, the worship leader just sings, the preacher preaches, and ne’er the twain shall meet. 🙂 And of course, there are stops all along this spectrum. I think it’s just something a worship leader feels out with the church they’re serving and the gifts God has given them. You get to know what people respond to best and in turn, they learn to appreciate your heart and style (and if you stay long enough, people will come and go over the years until your church is largely people who prefer your style! ha).
My own experience has been a little out of the ordinary maybe. Naturally, I’m a lot like you–low-key and reserved. For a long time, that’s the way I led. I rarely spoke other than to pray at the end of the set, rarely sang anything but the melody, and essentially tried to get out of people’s way in worship. That was perfectly acceptable and one of the things people loved about the way I led at my previous church. Fast forward a little bit and, of course, God now has me leading in a racially diverse congregation where the median expectation is definitely more on the “active” side of the spectrum. I’m sure there are plenty of people at my church who would appreciate that low-key style, but honestly, I know I wouldn’t be serving the whole congregation if I always stayed in that comfort zone. It’s been a huge challenge to step outside that default mode, but it’s also been so, so sweet to see the fruit of setting my own preferences on the shelf.
Thanks for sharing.
I think once in a while if someone talks while they lead music is ok. It should be something directly related to whats going on or being sung about I think. Otherwise no.