[This post is part of a series on Leading Your Team & Congregation Through Worship Tensions. Check out the rest here.]
What do you do when you are faced with a room of passionate Christians AND clueless unbelievers?
Worship Leader, how do you manage this tension?
I believe the answer to this question is one of the most important facets of a worship leader’s ministry.
I’ve had conversations with other worship leaders about this. Some regularly lead a room full of mature believers who go after God in worship. Beautiful.
Others have a mix of Christians and unbelievers. Beautiful as well.
Some have a room full of staunch, resistant Christians who refuse to engage. I’d rather not address that group in this post.
I think it’s a beautiful thing to have passionate Christians and unbelievers in the same room. It’s healthy. It shows that we’re reaching new people. It shows that Christians are maturing into passionate worshipers of the living God.
But what you say to a Christian is a lot different than what you’d say to an unbeliever. They don’t know your songs. They don’t want to clap. They don’t want to get all emotional.
We can’t expect unbelievers to worship. If their hearts have not been made alive in Jesus, how can they?
Do you ignore them and serve your “fans” or reach them somehow?
Rather than offering some tips, let’s figure this out together.
Question: How do YOU engage the Christian AND the unbeliever in worship? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
I always try to talk about the meaning of the songs. That always seems to minister to the Christians, and it gives the non-believers a clue of what is going on.
Great idea, Brandon. I also do this a lot.
Hi Brandon.. What song would you recommend for a non-believer to listen to?
Great question … I focus on authentic worship, believing that in doing so, this will attract someone who is genuinely seeking. They will sense the truth … I’d rather not water down the corporate worship experiece … it’s our ONLY chance for the Belivers to gather and worship God.
On the other hand — there is wisdom in how you lead, how you communicate, etc. Truthfully, the unbeliever and the believer are both facing the same issues, the same struggles … and as we worship, we relate to all of them.
One thought on this comment:
“They don’t want to clap. They don’t want to get all emotional.”
I’ve sometimes found the opposite to be true. Believers, especially “churched” ones steeped in tradition, can be the least involved. As for unbelievers … well, in their world, when you hear music, you clap, sing along, dance, party … they haven’t necessarily been submersed in all the “what you do and what you don’t do” church culture.
I remember bringing lost college buddies to our church that featured more contemporary/rock worship … they were all in it, clapping, into the “music” – I can’t say they were worshipping … but they were into the music … and probably wondered “what’s wrong w/ these folks, this is great music”, haha!
Great insights, Fred. I haven’t had much experience with unbelievers getting into the music, but I totally see where you’re coming from. Interesting! My experience has been with people steeped in Catholic tradition who are shocked by the modern worship experience 🙂 I guess that’s one of the benefits of having a great band with well executed music!
Yeah – I hear ya … in my experience, most of our “visitors” who are freaked out by the music come from a traditional, churched background. The “lost” folks who visitor … over and over, in our “newcomer orientations” comment on how much they loved the music. Go figure!
It’s ironic how the more “churched” we are, the less engaged we can become. We have something to learn from the “lost” folks for sure.
I agree Fred…as I was a “lost” folk, I can honestly say that it’s much easier to enter in as a fresh attender than one that carries the traditional churched “don’t do that” background. I love newcomers and still remember what it was like to not understand anything!
I agree with Brandon. I also feel that good leaders can respond to a congregation in realtime. If you see new faces, don’t be afraid to expand a bit more. Discerning leaders can help get the Word into the ears of new believers – with the support of strong melodies that engage the heart, well before the pastor preaches.
That’s why I feel a solid communication with worship leaders and pastoral leadership are key to delivering the message.
Dan, I love your point about responding in realtime. Worship leading isn’t about rehearsing and going on autopilot. You need to be ready to minister to who you see in the moment. Thanks for that.
Great subject David!! We deal with this every week being at a church for college students. We have around 800 students who come to our Sunday services and probably around 10 to 20 percent are not christians or are seeking. Our worship is very passionate and organic, so it really brings the unbeliever along for the ride. One of our goals in worship is that the unbeliever would experience the spirit of Christ. That they would experience at stirring in their soul so to speak.
Here is a story that happened at the beginning of our school year. We had a girl come into our Sunday service with an assignment from a professor to do something uncomfortable. She thought she would come to church (she doesn’t believe in God). She came and really liked our service and felt “comfortable.” When the service was done, one of our staff members was talking to her and she said that at the end of the service and she said that at the end, she really wanted to sing and clap!! She’s not a Christian, but she is still being drawn in by the Holy Spirit!
I don’t know if there is a right or wrong answer to this. Just having unbelievers in your worship service is a GREAT thing!! It plants a seed in their hearts of who God is and how he can change them. I think the important thing to remember is to let the Holy Spirit do the work in the service. We shouldn’t be so concerned with an awesome show (not that those things are bad and are music should be excellent!), but more concerned with how the Spirit is moving on hearts.
What a cool story Jon…and a great reminder to be lead by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit knows a little more than we do, that’s for sure 🙂
Simple… “sloppy-wet-unforseen kiss” 🙂 Great post Dave
#1 – Cut the cheese – There’s nothing that drives me crazier then when people aren’t being authentic up on the stage. People can see through that a mile away. People that are coming in need to believe that you believe what you’re singing and playing. I think it’s really damaging when you can tell that people are only pretending to believe what they’re singing or have a forced smile or are trying to pump people up because that’s what they think they should do.
#2 – Be Real – At the same time, if you and your team are dead on stage because you don’t want to pretend to be something that you’re not, something is also wrong. The songs need to get inside of you and should be flowing out of you. We all have times where we are playing songs that aren’t our favorite, but there is a message and hope in songs that you don’t like (if there isn’t, that’s another problem). It takes maturity to worship when you don’t feel like worshipping. Also, it’s easy to lose sight that God is worth everything. That’s what this is about and that should connect with whoever has shown up to your service. If you or people on your team can’t show that, then it’s heart-check time.
#3 Bring the Heat – We should be carriers of God’s presence. If we are carrying his presence, then people will be impacted no matter what the music or songs. I want to be on a team with people who are constantly seeking Jesus and it shows in their lives. This impacts people on a level that isn’t seen.
#4 Be Excellent – If your music is awesome, people will connect with it. If it isn’t awesome, it’s distracting. We need to remove as many distractions as we can from people engaging in worship. Even if I don’t like certain lyrics or a certain style of music, I can always appreciate excellence. There’s nothing that shows you believe in something more than investing your time and abilities into it. People get that. If you come unprepared, what does that show? If you come prepared and ready, what does that show? It shows how much you care and value what you’re doing. Worship is a huge honor.
Great points, Justin (and welcome to the comments). This may deserve its own post!
Thanks! It’s just more and more tension :).
Great comment, dude. I agree with David in that it could’ve been it’s own post! I especially like your comment about being “carriers” of God’s presence. That passion and zeal is what is so contagious (pun intended) about the Holy Spirit. It definitely has an impact far beyond what we may ever get to see during a service.
I think for me, it’s about hearing heaven’s sounds and bringing them to the people.
Whoever you are, if you find yourself in the presence of Almighty God, you begin to change, or at least feel a bit weird. Music, sound and songs are commonplace in heaven (ie. I love the idea God and the angels are partying and dancing right now, or maybe it’s a ballad 😉 and if we’re really listening, we’ll hear it.
I’d say the absolute key is each of us learning to live listening lives, day in, day out. The sound is going on.. let’s hear it, and bring it 🙂
Good thoughts, John. How would you suggest we become better at hearing Heaven’s sound?
Hey David, I’d say learning to live ‘in heaven’ on a more regular and ongoing basis ie. more contemplatively and aware of God in each moment (or ‘listening’ as I would call it). Kind of Brother Lawrence / Ignatian Spiritual excercises style. The whole praying unceasingly idea.
That way we naturally rest in who God is, who we are and carry the ‘Holy Leisure’ that Eugene Peterson and others talk about. There is nothing to be ‘done’, nothing to achieve.
We are hearing the sound and then utilising our musical craftsmanship and people-leading skills (that we are constantly honing) to bring whoever is open to a deeper awareness of what already IS.
We are joining in. So we can relax and enjoy the party.
Good stuff, John. Thanks.
This is another reason why I love using “secular” songs periodically. It helps me build a bridge for the unbeliever from a song they recognize to the biblical principle we are focusing on that day. As for connecting them with “worship” songs, we do different things depending on the week. Sometimes I speak to what the song is trying to say. Sometimes we use media (video, drama, poetic reading, etc.) before a song. Sometimes my pastor will refer back to one or more songs during his sermon. Of course, this means you must meet, pray, dream, plan, and be on the same page with your pastor! If you aren’t, you may want to reassess your role and purpose at your church!
I love these tips, Chris. So helpful. I like how you are very strategic as a team in connecting unbelievers into your worship service.
I’ve been in worship teams and have been worship leader for contemporary worship for 7 years now. I am a musician at heart and love to play. I have a lot of favorite artists including Third Day, Mercy Me, etc…
I say all this so that I’m not misunderstood on the next statement:
I now attend a church that sings only hymns and psalms. And I must say that the worship is deep and wonderful! there is absolutely NO entertainment value like the beat, rhythm, tempo et…
It is just so “non-secular” for lack of a better term! And I love the fact that the words are ALWAYS so God honoring and glorifying (and isn’t that who the worship is for? Him and not us?)
It’s not all “feeling’s based” where the song arrangements, subject matter, instruments and everything work to do exactly what they do in secular music: To manipulate the emotions and to elicit a desired mood or atmosphere of “worship”.
Not to sound negative, but I now understand that the measure of “good worship” has nothing to do with how “moved” I am. It simply has to do with singing praises to God that are doctrinally sound, befitting His awesome majesty and glory as the Creator and Sustainer of all creation!
Lastly, I don’t think anything is necessary to engage the unbeliever. If our churches are equipping the believers to go out into the world and proclaim the gospel so people get saved, then church can be what it is intended to be: Believers gathering on the Lord’s day to worship Him. Church is primarily FOR believers. If someone happens to come in truly seeking, that’s wonderful and God is drawing them to Himself. So we just worship as believers and the pastor should preach the Word of God and let the Holy Spirit do the work on the sinner’s heart. God is sovereign and in control and He saves those whom He draws. Not through our man-made efforts to engage them.
Blessings to everyone! Please accept in the spirit it is offered: In Love between brothers and sisters in Christ!
Thanks for commenting, Stephon! While your worship approach is definitely different than most, it’s no less meaningful. So, in ordering your services you don’t consider the unbeliever at all? Just let God do His work?
Great thoughts Justin. I liked your #4 especially!
the only thing I’d add/underline from the fabulous comments left so far: let the community teach newcomers how to worship.
lead the believers in passionate, genuine visible worship and they’ll naturally lead the skeptics. don’t underestimate the power of learning by immersion (think line-dancing – a bunch of people are doing it, learning it and teaching it at the same time, on the same dance floor).
isn’t that the way this whole discipleship thing is supposed to work anyway? 🙂
First, I agree with others that church is for believers, not unbelievers….but that doesn’t mean we don’t welcome them with open arms! However, I don’t think unbelievers or newer Christians expect to hear “familiar” songs or styles when they come to church. If they’re coming to church, they are most likely open to hear the full Gospel.
Secondly though, I think we always need to be sensitive to newer people in our worship services. One of the things I’m focusing on a lot lately is the number of songs we have in our “active” music folder – the songs we choose from every week. In most churches, that list of song we draw from can be 40, 50, 100 or even more songs! How often do we repeat them? Even if they are “familiar classics”, are we sure nwer people know them?
So we’re currently going with a set list of a MAXIMUM of 25 songs. That includes any older songs too. If we add one, we tyake one out of circulation. It may seem drastic, but it allows us to play songs more than once a month, whereas before we may do every 2 months, or even longer. Newer people just can’t learn the songs when we do that.
And if you bring in a new song every month, you still have something “fresh” to offer the congregation.
Lots more i could say, but i think others have hit those points perfectly before me!
Brian, this is a great idea. Thanks for sharing!