From Indifference to Joy
The lights are dimmed. The stage is set. The top Christian hits are playing through the PA. People are flooding through the doors as the ProPresenter countdown clock ticks closer to zero. The band gets on stage as the choir fills the loft. As the first song begins, the worship leader looks to the congregation and sees:
Indifference.
Scowled faces.
Boredom.
How can this be? Hours of preparation and rehearsal on the part of the leader have preceded this corporate gathering. The songs are great, the band sounds good, what else do these people need?
Although this is never an ideal situation, the aforementioned scenario can resemble a typical Sunday morning for many worship pastors. Often, instead of identifying ways to remedy this issue, the worship pastor will just get through the morning and try again next week.
Infectious Leadership
It is far too easy to fall into such a rut and never examine the root causes of such a response. While every situation is different, there are certainly common factors at play. To begin, worship pastors must recognize that though the Holy Spirit is the ultimate guide and facilitator of our worship gatherings, we are called to be walking alongside Him daily. Our passion for worship and adoration should overflow — not just on the platform but in daily interactions with others.
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” — Micah 6:8
How can we expect our congregants to worship with joy if we ourselves lack? Our worship on Sunday mornings is an overflow of our personal worship throughout the week. While making copies can be a chore, the reading of the Word should never feel that way. We must be careful to guard our personal walks.
Songs as Tools
The songs and musical selections we choose to lead should directly reflect the truths of God’s Word. We must recognize that lyrical content always supersedes melodic prowess. A worship pastor is called to teach and exalt the Word just as any other pastor is called — we just have the powerful tool and privilege of music to assist us.
Psalm 98 reveals to us ways in which songs can be used in this capacity. We sing songs about salvation, God’s righteousness and His faithfulness. Songs that uplift and remind the body of all the glorious things Jesus Christ has done. Sure, there is nothing wrong with a song proclaiming our love of the Lord, but we must be careful to sing the gamut of God’s attributes. In doing so, our congregations will be reminded of why we sing, why we worship and what the source of our joy truly is.
Ministry Identity
Music ministry provides a unique opportunity to provide a means of assimilation and connection within a church body. Musical worship has the power to transcend divisions such as age, race and backgrounds. As worship pastors, we must create a ministry environment in which people feel connected and involved.
This environment will look differently depending on the context of each local body. Some will have praise bands while others might have just a piano and guitar. Some will have a large choral emphasis whereas others might not have one at all. These preferences are neither correct nor incorrect. Yet, we must recognize that isolation is never an option. For many worship pastors, it is always easier to do things themselves rather than delegate them. We must always be seeking to equip and empower our body. We should be pouring into students and adults. We should be discipling and shaping future leaders. As this occurs, the church body as a whole will begin to identify with the positive attributes of the music ministry.
These steps will certainly take practice and patience to apply. Yet with prayerful implantation, these truths have to the potential to further enhance a music ministry’s overall effectiveness. We are not called to sit idle. We are called to lead and point others to the cross.
