Death to Self
Luke 9:23
Then [Jesus] said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
The role of “Worship Leader” in churches is both ancient and modern. It’s both a calling, and a “staff role” that has existed for millennia (see 1 Chronicles 6:31-48; 1 Chronicles 9:32-33; 1 Chronicles 15:16; 1 Chron 23:25-31; 2 Chronicles 7:6; 2 Chronicles 34:12 & others), yet has become a ‘glamour’ role within the last few decades.
It’s telling that in our modern church culture, Stephen Miller wrote the helpful book “Worship Leaders, We Are Not Rock Stars“
As a quick aside, which other church staff or volunteer role needs a ‘green room’ so they can prepare for their 15-25 minutes of service on any given Sunday? Is kids or student ministry that much less stressful?
Before the advent of easy accessibility to recorded ‘worship albums’ and to record and distribute original worship songs to the world, the music leader role could be one of unhealthy local and congregational admiration. Honestly this was a source of detrimental pride for some in what was meant to be an area of service. (Sadly, I know from personal experience).
Yet now, church music leaders and ‘worship bands’ vie to have their song(s) get national or international notice – some for the notoriety and some for the financial gain.
In a cultural age of shameless self-promotion, we are wise to heed Jesus’ words in Luke 9 above and in Matthew 20:
“25 Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’”
Death to self is hard in any area of life and service, including leading music for the people of God.
Brothers and Sisters – in our role, we must continually come before the Lord with vulnerable hearts – seeking, above all, to serve.
How do we do this dying to self practically?
Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (emphasis mine)
1 Cor 12-14 – a beautiful and challenging set of chapters that remind us that all gifts given to the church are given to be used in humility, love, and order – not for personal edification or to be noticed – but to build up the church while bringing glory to Jesus.
Songs.
As music leaders in church, we should know what will serve our congregation best, not simply default to the CCLI Top 100 or Top 10 list.
If we have the incredible privilege of full-time work in church music, part of our time should be spent prayerfully and diligently seeking great songs – songs that connect with our context and culture, and that are theologically rich – not just ‘Biblical.’
We need to recover (or discover) that Biblical call to the reality of Spiritual Formation that happens in sung worship (Col. 3:16). That we are teaching and reminding one another of our theology as we sing – not just expressing our emotion to God.
An R&B or gospel-funk worship song may not be the best fit for a church in rural central Wisconsin – even if it’s #4 on CCLI. Or even if you love to jam to it.
A Sousa-esque rending of an old hymn may not be the best fit for a church on a Battersea estate block. Even if that’s how it was originally written.
Yes, we can stretch our congregation’s appreciation and use of different styles and genres – but this should be done with great care and prayer, and not simply because the song is on a list of popular songs. Or because we personally dig it.
A dear friend’s church has a weekly rule: A least one song by a dead guy.
And it is lead and played with passion.
It continues to connect the church with the heritage of the Church who have existed for centuries.
It could be that the most helpful song you can introduce to your congregation this year was written 400 years ago.
“But that song has odd chords.”
“But that song doesn’t have a Multitrack arrangement.”
Learn. How. To. Play. The. Songs.
You are serving in a role that calls you to be skilled. (Ps 33:3) – especially if you are paid.
Then once you know how to play them, you can help your teammates who need help with them.
Or, you may find that on a given week, the Spirit leads you to repeat a section of a song you hadn’t planned. Don’t stifle or ignore His voice and work because you want to sound ‘just like the recording.’
We are servants. Not performers.
Service Order.
As musicians, we love to play and sing. But do we also recognize the need for space
or
silence
in our worship gatherings?
Do we value it? Can we die to self and say, “It’s more helpful in this moment.” or “In the life of our congregation, it’s more helpful to declare the Lord’s Prayer or an historic Creed this week than to fill this section with singing?”
This is an area the Lord has currently been reshaping for me, and I’ve been in services where I’ve longed to not have 45 minutes of song, a 30 minute message, and then 20 minutes of singing to close.
A time of heartfelt silence and confession followed by a Biblical reminder of forgiveness can be more helpful than me singing repeated phrases of victory.
There may be a week where you need to drop a song, even a song you and the music team spent a half hour rehearsing. Are we willing to let that simply be a sacrifice no one sees?
Let’s seek the good of our congregation – dying to ourselves when needed, which may be more often than we’d like.
Allords.London 