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Re: [Worship] WL/pastor relationship

On Wed, 1 Oct 1997 JRDRJR@aol.com wrote:

> Just a though, I sometimes think that we as worship leaders can get carried
> away with the artistry of what it mean to be a worship leader.  It is such a
> creative medium that it sometimes clashes with pastors who seem to be more in
> tune with head knowledge.  It is much more acceptable to cut a sermon short
>  it seems than to interupt the flow of a worship song especially to the
> people who I'm sure never complained when the pastor left his pulpit a few
> minutes early.  It is very difficult for me sometimes to yield to authority
> when I feel my "creative process" is being played with but then I realized
> that God did not put me in a worship leaders role to simply give me an outlet
> for my creative energy but to worship him.  What an awsome responsibility!

Indeed.  I support you all the way through your post, although I must pick
up on one apparently tiny, but fundamental point:
>  ... God did not put me in a worship leaders role to simply give me an outlet
> for my creative energy ...

Fully agreed!  I constantly need to remind myself of this.

>                    ... but to worship him. ...

Ah!  Careful.

The role of the worship leader (a term I intensely dislike, but that's
another story!) is not, per se, "to worship him", but to enable the
congregation to worship him.  That is, within the human side of the
church's worship, the bias is towards "them" (the congregation) not "me"
the worship leader.  At that time and in that place, it is my duty and
responsibility to facilitate (help, perhaps technically "lead") the
congregation's worship.  Whether I "feel" particularly "worshipful" at
that time and in that place is of minor importance by comparison.  On such
"rough" occasions my duty is facilitate their worship *despite* my
subjective feelings.  (Indeed, on the "good" occasions, too, it is worth
remembering this, lest we succumb to the artistry/creative/feel-good
lure, as you mention.)

It is, of course, vital the the WL be fully engaged in the church's
overall corporate, and her/his own private, worship, which is why it is
important for many of us to have "time out" in the congregation
periodically and regularly. 

The gathered church is to worship "in spirit and truth":  your point
admirably strikes the balance between the preacher operating towards the
"spoken truth" end of this spectrum, and the musician/WL operating towards
the "personal and corporate response of the spirit" end of the spectrum.
(Note for those about to jump on me:  "towards" not "exclusively"!) 

Perhaps we, as musicians/WLs, need to recognise that "their" sermon is just
as much worship for the church as "our" singing/whatever.  (When was the
last time we referred to the sermon as "a time of worship"?  But isn't it?)


>  The Lord is a genious.  He knows what elements are important in worshiping
> him and He places His children in the areas where he knows that He will be
> served the best. ...

Which might actually be in a wilderness for several years.  Although it
doesn't seem like it at the time, this "desert experience" can often be
the place of growth (in hindsight!), if we are prepared to learn from it.
Am I more concerned about leading worship from the front on Sunday than
the daily joys and trials (not only Monday-Saturday, but also Sunday in
the apparently wrong place) of pilgrimage and discipleship?  But with
which is God more concerned?  Suppose God calls/drags/forces me out of
"my" music/WL ministry role into a passive one?  Where is my heart?  In
his wisdom, he may be served the best long-term by my *not* (apparently)
serving him short-term as musician/WL.  Am I prepared for that? 

Just some questions I try to ask myself from time to time... and with such
questions, the answers, if any, are probably insignificant compared to my
being prepared to work and live through them. 

                          David Lee, Director of Music,
                          St. John's, Nevilles Cross, Durham, UK
                               http://www.dur.ac.uk/~dcl0tdl/tdlmus.html

--

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