Sometimes I hate to lead worship. Why? Because nobody cares.
Nobody. cares. And that’s actually a very good thing.
- Nobody cares about the songs you wrote.
- Nobody cares about your flawless musical arrangements.
- Nobody cares about how you look.
- Nobody cares how much you know.
- Nobody cares how many mistakes you make.
What do people care about?
- They care about connecting with Jesus.
- They care about finding their purpose.
- They care about the peace of God.
- They care about knowing and believing the truth.
- They care about their lives being a part of something bigger.
That’s the difference between an artist building a fanbase and a worship leader serving a community. It’s a different skill set. It’s a different goal.
An artist grows a fanbase. A worship leader grows worshipers.
An artist obsesses over their art. A worship leaders obsesses over the Kingdom.
An artist sings songs. A worship leader groans with desperation for Jesus.
An artist performs. A worship leader invites.
Art & Worship
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with being an artist. It’s actually a wonderful pursuit which I encourage every person to pursue. I want to be a better artist. If you’re reading this (which you are), discover the art you love – the art you’re best at and make it. The problem is stopping there rather than going deep with God.
The problem is when we use the local church to promote ourselves rather than promote a corporate expression of worship. Worship leader, you are not the hero. You are not the artist in residence. You are a servant, helping others see Jesus.
But art and worship can compliment each other. The deeper we go with God, the better art we make. And serving in the local church gives our art a place to serve others.
That’s actually why I love to lead worship. Because I can help to foster an atmosphere where I’m not the center. I can labor to show the glories of one so much greater than myself. Spotlight His perfections, His beauty, His goodness, His love.
My flesh can hate it because I’m not the center, but that’s a blessing in disguise because I’m taught to live for more than me. To expand His Kingdom. To be known not for my own greatness but for making His greatness known.
You’ll never become the worship leader you were meant to be until you lose yourself in the pursuit of Jesus.
How do you balance the tension of being an artist and leading worship in your local church? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
[ois skin=”Beyond Sunday 2″]
Anyone pretending to be a worship leader is likely caught up in the machine. The machine is an ugly, hungry beast who loves deception. The machine is a big money maker and a movement that refuses to die because both deception and money keep it alive.
The machine is a reflection of pop culture and mimics to the detail all the necessary tools of administration. The machine is personality-talent-art driven at the cult level.
Anyone so called and prepared led to lead others in worship, with or without music, will refuse to be called a “Worship Leader”. This title in itself is demonstrative of how the machine works. It wants us to confuse who we are with what we do.
The machine will have us copy the world as we become mere cover bands for Jesus, hoping for that elusive mega hit that proves once and for all our true worth as an “artist”.
We feel a constant urge to try and justify our shallow Praise Me Band existence in the face of truth. We are constantly trying to get each the other to have motives that run deeper than self-gratification. But the beast and movement will have none of that.
Stop trying to lead worship. Find contentment in a servant hood that will lead others IN worship as called. If we are thus called, we will put away all the concert gear and “look-at-me” trappings of this world. Those over-invested as such have a tough decision to make.
“Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and leaders, so that his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong.”
(Ephesians 4:11-12)
There is no calling to be a “Worship Leader” to be found in scripture. We have to manufacture this one.
His choosing is simply that we lead others to service and growth.
If you are called to do rock for Jesus concerts and “make it big”, then go do it on your own, and not on the dime of the local church. Nothing wrong with concerts and music careers with or without Jesus words in the lyrics, but everything wrong with doing it under the guise of being a “Worship Me Leader”.
Great post, David. Thanks!
I love everything you write about worship leaders and how to help them grow, have been able to write a lot of worship songs for Jesus but I don’t have anyone to support my gift for Jesus. but do u think am a true worship leader or am an artists. and am from Nigeria.
Thank you for this comment -liberating. I ‘ve been struggling with a a performance drive all these years. Asa result, I never stepped into my call . Maybe it’s not true, cause I worship at home… How is it possible to go deeper with others? I still wonder. Please pray for me. I believe now is the time.