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Worship Idol - Are Worship Leaders Becoming Like Contestants of American Idol?
Someone posted this link to a good article from a Christian magazine here in the UK over on He Must Increase:
http://www.christianitymagazine.co.uk/features/worshipidol.aspx?ext...
It's quite long, but well worth a read.
I'd be particularly interested to read comments from our American friends on Worship The Rock, especially as there are quite a few remarks about worship and worship leaders in the States.
For example:
“I’ve just come back from the States and over there you can see the natural progression of where we are heading, and believe me, we don’t want to go there,” he says. “The first question I was asked in American churches was not ‘What is God doing?’ but ‘Whose stuff do you do?’ Churches compete to be the most professional in the town, attracting people to the ‘best’ experience. The amount of money spent on PA systems and instruments when there are people living in poverty just up the road was painful.”
I think it's a good article and it has given me lot's to think about. I do think there is a danger of becoming very celebrity minded about worship leaders. Just driving home today I was listening to a worship CD by a well known church and when certain famous worship leaders come on stage there is loads of cheering and whistling. It got me wondering if people were more focussed on the worship leader who had stepped on stage or on God Himself. It's so easy to get distracted but we must do everything we can to be like John and say (and truly mean it):
"He must increase, I must decrease". (John 3:30)
http://www.christianitymagazine.co.uk/features/worshipidol.aspx?ext...
It's quite long, but well worth a read.
I'd be particularly interested to read comments from our American friends on Worship The Rock, especially as there are quite a few remarks about worship and worship leaders in the States.
For example:
“I’ve just come back from the States and over there you can see the natural progression of where we are heading, and believe me, we don’t want to go there,” he says. “The first question I was asked in American churches was not ‘What is God doing?’ but ‘Whose stuff do you do?’ Churches compete to be the most professional in the town, attracting people to the ‘best’ experience. The amount of money spent on PA systems and instruments when there are people living in poverty just up the road was painful.”
I think it's a good article and it has given me lot's to think about. I do think there is a danger of becoming very celebrity minded about worship leaders. Just driving home today I was listening to a worship CD by a well known church and when certain famous worship leaders come on stage there is loads of cheering and whistling. It got me wondering if people were more focussed on the worship leader who had stepped on stage or on God Himself. It's so easy to get distracted but we must do everything we can to be like John and say (and truly mean it):
"He must increase, I must decrease". (John 3:30)
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mark Griffin on
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Thats something i've been questioning for a while. Im in a really small church with very good but few musicians, so putting a band together can be difficult. when we do people say " wow worship was really good today!" but then i think, whats the difference when i had only voice and two guitars last sunday. Do people get distracted by the show? Or is that ok because in the end we're all here to worship the same thing, God and not the Music?
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Permalink Reply by David Smith on -
Hey Mark:
Try a little experiment with me.Take note of your churches attendance the next time your worship music is REALLY good, and then take note of it the very next week. You should see a spike in attendance. Why? because people told their friends the music was good! You may or may not buy into the fact that worship music is important, but that doesn't change the fact that it is. Like it or not, the best worship leaders both entertain, AND lead worship. The two are not mutually exclusive, and should not be.
Smitty
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Permalink Reply by Mark Levigne on -
It's a fine line to walk when you honestly desire to give God your best and restrain from the drive to 'be the best' and attract the largest crowd (congregation). The desire to be genuine starts with ourselves, I'd say, and is something we must check daily/regularly. To stand and point a finger, blanketly (sp?) stating that all churches (big and small) have lost focus is totally unfair. I'd be curious to have a follow up discussion, share of ideas, on how to do just that. Remain genuine; without imposing a 'check list' and one more 'accountability group'.
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Permalink Reply by Gary Schmidt on -
Hey everyone, brand new to WTR and I can't tell you how awesome its already been. Great eye opening article, the kind that stabs you in the heart and makes you check your own motives.... I've always been a Lay worship leader at my church on and off for the past 19 years and now for the past three years have felt the call to be in full time ministry. the problem is now that everything I've done the last 19 years for the love of Jesus, and my church, and Pastor I now have to put on a resume to try and "influence" some other Pastor that what I'm gifted in would be "useful" at his church... The worst for me is the DVD that every Pastor wants up front before they will even consider talking to you.
What I thought was going to be an incredible transition into the life that I should have stepped into years ago has now become a very disheartening trial of patience and faith...
But God is faithful,
Agian great article God Bless
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Permalink Reply by Hein Willem van Wyk on -
Very True,
Worship should always be God centered. That means that any praise or adoration that happens (music, songs) should be directed to God, and not be about our relationship and motivation towards God. There is a big difference singing about God and singing to God. I find that a lot of worship music nowadays are singing about God and about man's behavior towards God. Many churches are moving towards a commercialized worship agenda where the aim of the worship team is not to minister but to evoke emotion. Catchy melodies, professional stage lighting, thousands of dollars worth of camera equipment and a worship team dressed to kill. Get that focus straight and you will not have to hype up the crowed with emotion. True worship will flow effortlessly.
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Permalink Reply by Dan on
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The other thing to talk about is not just the worship leader, but the "judges". Are some of us at church kind of like Simon or Paula? Super honest and critical to the point where they want to tell the worship leader they are not going to Hollywood (the case of Simon) or maybe more like Paula, fake and avoiding the truth. Then there's Randy, honest, but not rude or mean. Not fake.
While it seems like Randy is the best, the church is not American (or any other) Idol TV show. While we may need to be honest at times in love to tell someone they don't "got it", the attention given to the worship leaders and the teams should not be about them. It's not about them, it's about God and worshiping HIM, not them nor us. We are not there to be the judges of them neither.
Dan
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Permalink Reply by Peter Willson on -
This may appear to be changing the subject but I think it is relevant here.
We need to hold our musicianship 'lightly'. Let me expand that a bit.
I like to think that my attitude is, 'Today, I am God's trumpeter; tomorrow I may not be. God may ask me to stop playing music and do something else that He has planned for me to do.' I need to be prepared to respond to that open-heartedly and servant-heartedly!
If I (metaphorically) hold my trumpet too tightly it puts me in danger of becoming primarily a performer instead of primarily a worshipper.
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Permalink Reply by John Pratchett on -
You're absolutely right Peter. I have a friend called Dave Richards who some 30 years ago was worship leader/pastor of a small church in Oxfordshire..God gave him a prophetic song called 'I'm Building a People of Power' which was published and really 'took off'. He could have gone far with his music and song writing skills, but God told him he had other plans for his life. A life of serving Gods people all over the world. David now serves the Lord in Africa and other nations.
Twenty years after writing that song a well known charismatic teacher/leader asked David in front of a large congregation "when are you going to write another song". No answer was given....just a knowing smile. We all need to listen to the Lords voice to see what and where he is calling us to, but untill then, just get on with blessing Him and His people as best we can.
I found the Amos 5: 18-24 scripture very salutary.
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Permalink Reply by Pamela Oller on -
As a long time worship leader in a church of 100 or so....I am thrilled to see how worship has increased in our churches. I began leading worship in the early 80's as a college student. With all of the changes that have taken place, I have learned that one thing has not changed through the years. People want to worship something that they can see. Our aim, goal, mission....must be to give a clear picture of God so that they can worship Him and not the people that they see on the platform week after week. That means that sometimes worship isn't what they expect. I believe it is best if worship is not always done the same way and not always with the same worship team or leader. A good worship leader will not always be the one in front and will be elated that someone else can be used of God. We have always been a small church but our focus is to train up leaders. As we do that, we have sent them out to start other churches or to help in other small churches that do not have the leadership. The mega churches are missing this aspect. They are raising up people who think they need to be paid to do every little aspect of ministry. Why aren't they sending people out to start new works around the cities? They have plenty of people. The Gospel would spread so much faster. Worship is to give glory to the One True God and Him alone. When we start receiving glory ourselves it is no longer 'true' worship.
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Chalakani on -
Well, all the replies have been worth reading and I appreciate all the imput because I always want to get better at creating that atmosphere for people to worship and rest in the presence of the Lord. Thank you.
I have been leading worship for many years and early on found myself performing, I guess because of the many years of secular performance that I did. I was lucky to have some very supportive men of God around me to walk me through that issue before it got out of hand.
My family and I started going to a small start up church and after about 6 months was asked to join the team. I was never more uncomfortable on a team in all my life. So, just like those men did for me, I shared my feeling with the worship leader from a church member and team member perspective. He became angry to the point of quiting and he is moving out of state. Unfortunately I didnt get support from the senior pastor (my friend) so I think my wife and I might move on ... not sure. But what came out of all this is, all the members and visitors bacame relaxed and able to worship. (The worship leader was very intence, loud and into himself)
If anyone can lend me any tips or support feel free
Thanks again for the artical and for this site .... In Christ Name!!! God Bless
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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Wade on
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I lead Praise & Worship at a small church (in regards to the churches that are represented here). I do think there is a fine line between worshiping and entertaining. That line is defined by PRIDE. I also do have some groups that I pull a lot of our music from (Hillsong being my favorite) not because of thinking they are an idol, but because of the anointing you can feel on and in their music. A lot of times leaders get "tagged" by popularity, but I like to think in the Christian world it is because of what they represent and Who they sing to and it stirs others (listeners) hearts. No one can know your heart but God, just make sure He's seeing what He desires in you!!
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Permalink Reply by PC on -
Here is what I think - I think that we obsees too much about what one person has - or how people lead worship. I think that is a form of judging. Who really knows a persons heart? I believe a person singing acappella, a solo saxaphone, a full orchestra, whatever it might be can be excellent in leading people in worship. I believe that too much pressure is put on Worship Leaders to "perform." I know the last two seniors I had always wanted high high energy worship and criticized when worship was stripped down and what they termed "mellow." They wanted the show.....and we wonder why WL are accused of performance. The other thing I have come to believe is that although it is our responsibility to create atmosphere where entering into worship is easy - our entertainment society WANTS to be entertained - even at church. It truly is sick that so many churches and members don't understand that worship is something that doesn't occur just in a service - and that whether they enter into a worship setting with God has everything to do with their hearts and attitudes as they come to service and absolutely nothing to do with musicians, style of music etc.
Take worship wars for example - and everyone has them if they have a church with diversity. it's all about preferences - not WORSHIP. "Why don't we have more hymns?" "Why don't we do more drama?" "Why don't we do more upbeat songs?" "Why don't we let others take solo's and do special music." And on and on and on......here is my question to those that question "Why don't we trust that God put in place His chosen person to lead you as a member in Worship and submit to His authority and support and encourage that person instead of constantly criticizing?"
LOL. I realize this is a blistering reply - but I truly get so sick of hearing about how Worship Leaders are judged - and this is just another forum to discuss what's wrong with churches and leaders instead of talking about what is right :-)
Blessings to all and may you ahve a fantabulous Lord's Day where your congregation falls on its knees together in unity of spirit and surrender.
PC
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