Re: [Worship] LEADING worship - Eyes

[Dean Thomas <deanthom@mindspring.com>]

River of Life wrote:

> At 09:08 AM 01/28/2000 -0800, Andrew wrote:
> >
> >Hi all....
> >
> >I think that I've read somewhere that when we lead
> >worship, we should not close our eyes.
> >
>
> There are two schools of thought here. The first is that we should be aware
> of what's going on around us. What is the congregation doing, are they
> "entering in", twiddling their fingers, checking their watches or whatever.
> There are times when we should check to see what is going on around us (to
> see if the congregation is still there). The other school of thought is
> that is if we are modelling worship, then that's what we should be doing.
> Worshipping in the way we can do it best. If that is with eyes closed, so
> be it.

Well, maybe there are three schools. I agree with the first school, absolutely.
If we are indeed leading worship, it is good to check and see if those we are
leading are indeed following! If we get so far out in front of the crowd, we
become scouts, not leaders!

I don't totally agree with your second school thought, Vince, at least not as a
steady diet. There are verses in the Gospels that use a phrase that I think has
much wider application: "Watch and Pray". Because we are to be praying
unceasingly, we should be praying while praising and worshipping, too. For what?
That what we are doing will be affective and effective in and for the Kingdom.
When we watch, making eye contact with all kinds of people, those involved and
those not involved, we are letting them know that they matter. Further, we are
not watching with our natural eyes only. We are watching, IMHO, to see what it
is that the Spirit of God is doing among those people. That is part of what
determines flow. Do we move on quickly? Do we skip this song? Do we linger here
for a while? If people are moved and find themselves on their faces, do we want
to move out of that musical space and into some happy, clappy thing? I hope not.
Give space for Him to do what it is that He intends to see done is so very
vital.

That would be the third school of thought, perhaps, moving from the natural to
the supernatural aspects of this thing we call worship and praise. While we are
lead worshippers, we are also the steersman for the service, needing to pay
attention to the winds of the Spirit, the currents of the River, whatever
analogy that you chose. We have to watch so as to make subtle or dramatic
changes in course as necessary to stay in the winds and to avoid reefs!
--
Blessings!

Dean Thomas
ZionFire
deanthom@mindspring.com


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