We all know we’re supposed to be humble. But are you really?
The Kingdom works in an upside down fashion. It’s not about making it to the top. It’s never been about fame and recognition.
It’s serving a higher vision. It’s shining a spotlight on the glory of Jesus. It’s reaching people with the message of the Gospel.
So worship leaders, it’s time to humble ourselves. It’s time to stop looking in the mirror and look upon God’s people with compassion. It’s time to stop trying to be impressive and instead seek to serve hearts in worship.
But what does it really mean to be a humble leader?
A humble worship leader:
- Gives others a chance
- Is an equipper not just a doer
- Values the presence of God
- Loves the voice of the church over their own
- Listens more than talks
- Draws attention to the team
- Leads others who are better than themselves
- Is more impressed with God than their own talent
- Prioritizes the kingdom over personal influence
- Has a heart for leading people
- Leads with compassion and understanding
- Is open to feedback
- Handles criticism with grace
- Loves the church
- Cares for the heart of the team they lead
Are you one of them?
[ois skin=”Beyond Sunday 2″]
I can’t help but think of Moses who told God to choose someone else because he supposed himself to be slow of speech. He wasn’t humble, he was fearful.
Any leader who stands willingly before people to speak or sing has enough ego to overcome the natural fear that comes with the task.
Then and now, the set up happens to all of us who lead others in the corporate worship of God.
The set ups is
1- A platform. This elevated surface gives the impression that those on it are somehow superior in calling and gifts. The early church has it right. Put the Word and the Communion table front and center, not the musicians. Put the musicians off to the side where they belong. Not to do so is to set them up and to exacerbate the pride/ego issue we all have.
2- Musical talent is just that. It is not a spiritual gift. Any more, we ask people to lead, based solely upon a talent, and neglect to feature the spiritual gifts of service, teaching and leadership. The result is someone who feels that their job is to perform to the masses and entertain them sufficiently. If the congregation is carnally-minded, they will not only tolerate this, they will prefer it an pay extra money for the performances. Worship then weakens and morphs into a common man-centered, man-glorifying experience of feel good. Hedonism is knocking on our doors as we speak, and as we serve ourselves over Christ.
3- A Sound. Pietists, reformers and moralists tend to sound the alarm when the church becomes too friendly with the world into which we are called. Such individuals speak up when the world is ushered into the front door or sneaked in the back of the church. Indications are that fewer of these Christians exist today. Much of the church sounds like the national news media and even thinks like them. The music in the church has no distinction as to other-worldliness, it mimics the world in sound and attitude. All of this because the Word of God is no longer front and center of a worship platform. All of this because fewer Christians read the bible in our culture, and it shows. A band of performers has converted the worship platform into a stage, complete with performance lights and professional gear–all front and center stage.
It is a set up. How can we do all of this and then insist that the musicians “act” humble?
I am not sure many, if any, are asking this question, but I am certain that no musician can survive the set-up. It is akin to having a weight loss seminar at the local bakery shop.
Glenn, thank you for sounding the alarm.
I attend and serve a church whose mission is to welcome the unchurched. It is our mission
to engage those who have no church experience, little church experience and/or unsatisfying church experience. While God’s word is Truth, and Truth is compelling, many people who come through our doors are just taking Truth out for a test drive.
We want them to come back. We want them to seek a relationship with the Author of Truth. We want them to learn of their Creator and of their Savior (when, hopefully, they’re prepared to accept His offer and the terms of salvation).
But they come in from the world. They are products of the world. The world has conditioned them to respond to certain stimuli. This isn’t to say that they’re lemmings…or fools. Temptation is compelling. Overwhelmingly compelling.
God meets us where we are. And when most of us meet Him, we’re used to being drawn in to “the game” with well produced media. Professionally staged worship is part of that. It need not be distasteful.
Yes, it places great “pressure” on the musicians who lead worship to come from a humble place…despite the temptation to view themselves as stars of the stage. And yes, there are those in the assembly who (due to the world’s conditioning) view worship musicians as “stars”.
Every Sunday, as our worship team walks onstage, they are greeted with a sign that reminds them that (I’ll paraphrase) they are privileged to lead worship; that the One we worship is the One we serve; that it is not about us; that all glory belongs to God.
It’s not perfect. We, as humans, are not perfect. The One we worship IS perfect.
In summary, the presence or lack of humility is not dependent on the location of the leaders of worship. Center stage, on the left, on the right, or in the rear of the assembly hall…well…pride can be rampant wherever. Humility can be as well.
Thank you, Glenn, for airing your concerns. These are questions we, as worship leaders, need to ask ourselves unendingly.
Glenn and Sandy,
You both make valid points and the answer I believe lies in awareness and self-examination. Just like in the gospels before communion we are to self-examine ourselves lest partaking in communion unworthily can cause sickness or worse sleep as the Word puts it.
To comment on whether lights, equipment, and technology is wrong or even evil – one only has to equate it with other areas. Are doctors to forgo, new medical procedures proven to save lives, new medical devices or medications? Are surgeons to operate in the dark because technologically LED’s are and advancement of the light bulb as is a light bulb to a candle? Where did this knowledge come from, who provides it – is it man or is it God? Who gives some the ability to sing while others cannot? Who divides or gives some to play an instrument while some cannot? Who gives some to teaching, to preaching, to comfort, to heal, to prophesy, and others not? Doesn’t all of this come from the Lord? Aren’t they all gifts? I think they are?
While true, some use their gifts for the wrong reasons and self-gratification but this is not the fault of the gift, and certainly not the giver. “Every good gift and perfect gift comes from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights” James 1:17. All Knowledge comes from God as well look up Romans 11: 33,36.
Glenn as far as this being a setup is concerned. God gives us the wisdom to discern the setup. It is up to us through self-examination, prayer, obedience, complete surrender to His will and His purposes for our lives, to put away our lusts and evil desires including our carnal nature. As we know, this cannot be done in our own power – nothing can. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5. We are also to strive for excellence before the Lord. Why, because He is worthy! Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. Proverbs 22:29. And to keep a good perspective as to why we do what we do? Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.
Appreciate the blog David and the privilege to converse with one another.
David