The Worship Leader and Theology
Worship leadership is often viewed as a role where musicianship is a chief qualification. While having musical skills is necessary, this qualification sometimes overshadows a much higher calling that worship leaders must take on. I am referring to the calling to be a pursuer of theology. This brief post will examine several reasons why worship leaders must be maturing theologians.
It is generally understood that to lead people well, one must have mastery over their subject matter. For worship leaders, their subject matter is the object of their worship- God. Dr. Pitts defines theology as “A discipline of study that seeks to understand the God revealed in the Bible and to provide a Christian understanding of reality.”[1] As worship leaders stand before their congregations each week and lead songs of worship, they showcase who they know God to be. Therefore, without a proper understanding of God, worship leaders fail their responsibility to their church. Scripture teaches us how to worship. Scripture is where we derive the doxology of our church. Understanding Scripture, especially regarding worship practices, allows us to teach our congregants how to worship in a manner acceptable before God.
Another reason why worship leaders must be tasked with the responsibility to study theology is directly derived from Titus 1:9 (pastors) “must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” (ESV) While this verse speaks specifically to the qualifications of a pastor, the responsibility to teach belongs to a worship leader as well. Worship leaders act as curators of the worship service and, as such, hold the responsibility to allow biblically sound songs into the diet of their church. Worship leaders also act as gatekeepers keeping false doctrine out of the language of the church. In order to accomplish the task of teaching and correcting false doctrine, a worship leader must be learned in sound biblical doctrine.
“Every worship service consistently shapes the faith of God’s people by training them on what relating to God looks like.” [2]Worship services are spiritually formative for congregants, and a worship leader who pursues a greater understanding of theology can craft services in a manner that helps facilitate the spiritual maturity of their congregants over time.
A question one often encounters as they begin their journey of understanding theology is where to begin? There are several branches of theology such as biblical, historical, and systematic theology and perhaps a million ways in which one can study the Scripture, and it can all seem a bit daunting. The first recommendation I have for the study of Scripture is to approach it with a heart intent not just on learning the material, merely as an academic exercise, but as a student intent on applying it to our own lives.
While each type of theology has a lot to offer its student, the branch of theology I would recommend for worship leaders is systematic theology. This particular type of theology seeks to examine the whole of Scripture and understand the meaning and intent of what was written. It is valuable to understand what the entire Bible teaches about a particular doctrine by drawing on every instance of its occurrence before arriving at a conclusion.
Since Systematic theology allows its students to compile information from the entire Bible and outside sources, I believe worship leaders greatly benefit in their personal growth and leadership through its pursuit. Accurately understanding the themes of Scripture and the doctrines related in the Bible allows worship leaders to curate the songs that their church sings and helps them grow themselves.
In this brief discussion, we have shared the reasons why worship leaders need to be students of the Word of God and pursue an understanding of God. Worship leaders who grow in their relationship with the Lord can lead others toward God. A worship leader’s understanding of theology will also influence the choice of the song they allow in service and thus requires significant effort and intent.
[1] Matthew G. Pitts, “What is Theology?” (Lecture, Theological Foundations in Worship, California Baptist University, January 11, 2022
[2] Zac Hicks, The Worship Pastor: A Call to Ministry for Worship Leaders and Teams (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan (Logos Bible Software), 2016), https://public.ebookcentral.proquest.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=5607743.
