Re: [Worship] Worship leaders serving?

["Mike, Connie and Angela Straw" <thestraws@usa.net>]

First of all, I'd like to thank the people that are contributing to this thread.
I've been encouraged by all the references to start digging into Chronicles,
which I've never read very closely.  It has been a tremendous blessing!

This e-mail, in combination with some of the others, has merged beautifully with
the passage I read this morning (God's good at "coincidences" like that!)  I
Chronicles 9:17-33 list some of the responsibilities of the Levites in the
Temple.  One verse that jumped out to me is verse 31: "A Levite named
Mattithiah, the firstbornson of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with the
responsibility for baking the offering bread."(NIV)  This man is mentioned, by
name, in the Bible because he baked bread!  It just goes to show you, being a
worship leader or being a bread maker doesn't determine how important your
service is.  What's important is the HEART you have towards the Lord!

Ok, this rambles a little, but you get my point.

God Bless,

Mike
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul LePine <plepine@snet.net>
To: 'Worship List' <worship@praise.net>
Date: Wednesday, March 31, 1999 11:33 PM
Subject: [Worship] Worship leaders serving?


On the subject of scriptural support for worship leaders, and 2 Chron
5:12-14...

Bruce opined:
<<But I notice that many people blithely jump from the role of these Levites
to that of church "worship leaders" without even asking the important
question   -- with the coming of Christ, and the passing away of the OT
priesthood and temple worship WHAT has changed and what remains the same?>>

Amen!  (ahem)

And Dave interjected:
<<My justification for doing so is that (a) a small fraction of of the
Levitical priests had a function relating to music and leading; others were
"ushers" etc (b) we now have the "priesthood of all believers", but we
already know from NT examples that there are many different tasks and
responsibilities to be shared out... (c) in the final analysis, _someone_
has to start and stop the songs, readings, service, whatever, even in a
Brethren church with no ordained ministerial staff!>>

When I read 2 Chron 5:12-14, I noticed that there was little emphasis on a
singular "leader" at all.  Rather, it seems like a review of the various
functions that each group performed, and how it all worked together into
"one voice."  The emphasis seems to be not on identifying (and certainly not
on instituting) a leadership position, but on the unity in worship that
resulted when each group had done their part.  As Dave points out, SOMEBODY
had to shout out the "hymn number" and give the cues, but that person's
identity isn't revealed in this passage.  If anyone had the role of "worship
leader", it might have been Solomon himself, who takes charge at the
beginning of the next chapter.

So while some might read into this passage a model for worship *leadership*,
I read into it a model of worship *servanthood*, whereby each person offers
his/her gifts and talents in humble service to God and His people.  And that
seems to me to put a very New Testament perspective on the matter!  (Since
we're looking for NT models here.)  That 2 Chron worship service certainly
wouldn't have happened without the priests, musicians, and singers; but it
also wouldn't have happened without the service of the various craftsmen who
built and furnished the temple, either.

What does this mean to me, personally?  I'm not any more or less valuable to
my church's worship than the diakonos - ushers, janitor, altar guild who
sets the Table, even the congregation.  I may have a more specialized skill
than many of them, but woe to me if I think that makes me special.

Grace & Peace...

Paul LePine
Christ Church
Watertown, CT
mailto:plepine@snet.net

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