Biblical Worship

I am always amused by ads churches will place in music journals looking for church musicians.  Very often these ads take great care to describe the music skills and experience these worship leaders must have, but there is a glaring requirement missing in these ads: the worship leader’s relationship to the Lord and walk with the Lord.  Surely this is important to the churches that write these ads??

If I were writing these worship leader want ads, I would start with the need for the candidate to know Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, followed by evidence of the person’s daily walk with the Lord.  Strong interpersonal skills would be my next point of interest for a worship leader seeking to apply for a position.  I would then look at the person’s music skills and leadership experience. 

I think some of these ads are upside down – they seek a person with great music skills before knowing about his relationship to Jesus Christ.  The worship leader position is not just a music director of sorts.  He has the all-important task of leading people to Christ and helping them to grow in their faith each week in the worship service.  Most worship leaders I know would describe their call to worship leading as a pastoral calling.  Even though they are trained musicians their more important task is all about the Gospel – leading people to the Cross of Jesus Christ. 

Churches who advertise and hire ”music directors” instead of worship pastors are setting themselves up for a spiritually shallow program with possibly good music but little spiritual fruit.  What is good music without the passion of the Gospel?  It is a concert.  It is entertainment.  I love beautiful music but in the Kingdom’s work, we are to be about the business of impacting lives with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Can we have both?  Yes – excellence in all things and all things to the Glory of God, but we must start with a worship leader who is called to be a minister of the Gospel.  Pastoral worship leadership should never be sacrificed on the altar of “beautiful music.” 

Wanted a worship leader who knows Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, has a daily walk with the Lord and has a passion to minister to the Body of Christ in worship leadership.  It would also be good if this person is a trained musician. 

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Boyce College Presents

The Heart of Worship Conference 2009

January 30-31, Friday evening – Saturday

On the campus of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY

A Conference for High School and Middle School Students who sing in choirs, play instruments in the worship band or help with sound and media.

Complete information available at:

www.boycecollege.com/heartofworship

Years ago I served with a dear pastor who enjoyed the Christmas season, but was quite ready for it to be over after a couple of weeks.  He thought that people are so distracted by the trappings of the holiday season that they are not spiritually focused and not moving forward in their Christian walk.  In our worship planning we would agree to only use Christmas music on certain Sundays which usually ended up being the first 3 Sundays of December – not before or after.  He believed that much of the Christmas music used in worship only led to sentimental reflections of Christmas seasons gone by with little real focus on Christ.

We must admit much of what happens at Christmas often has little to do with the real reason for the celebration – Jesus.  How can a worship leader select music for worship during this season that helps to keep the proper perspective on Christmas?  Here are some suggestions:

1. Avoid songs that over sentimentalize the season such as songs that focus on the “most wonderful time of the year.”  Are we in love with the season or with Christ?

2. Avoid songs that are strictly secular in their association.  Some churches choose to do several of these type songs at the beginning of their musicals at Christmas to either “entertain” or “attract non-believers.”  I believe these type songs have no place in a worship service especially when it is intended to be evangelistic.  What's evangelistic about singing secular songs?  I think sometimes we can be so entertainment focused that we can be in danger of entertaining them to hell.  Point your people to Christ.

3.  Choose songs that correctly describe the Christmas story according to Scripture.  Many of our songs really do not portray the story very well.  Look for songs that are clear in communicating the story.

4.  Choose songs that tell the whole Gospel Story- Jesus birth, his ministry, his death on a cross and his resurrection.  The problem with many Christmas songs is that they leave Jesus in the manger.  Christians and non-Christians need to hear the whole Gospel at Christmas.  Look for songs that go beyond the manger.  He came to be our Savior. 

5.  Choose Christmas songs that your congregation can sing.  Many songs of this season (old and new) are difficult to sing in a congregational setting.  Consider the key of the song and the rhythmic structure.

Do all Christmas songs have to fit every criteria listed above? No, but a good group of your songs should.  Let's help our people keep Christ in their Christmas season by using great songs that lead us to the Messiah – Our Savior and Lord. 

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir to God.

Galatians 4:4-7 (ESV)

 ________________________________

Boyce College Presents

The Heart of Worship Conference 2009

January 30-31, Friday evening – Saturday

On the campus of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY

A Conference for High School and Middle School Students who sing in choirs, play instruments in the worship band or help with sound and media.

Complete information available at:

www.boycecollege.com/heartofworship