After attending a worship conference this past week, I decided to write two letters, one to worship leaders and one to preaching pastors to help each better understand the other and how we can work together for the glory of God. My experience as both a worship leader and a preaching pastor gives me a bit of a unique perspective on the worship service. It was hard to sit in workshops and hear worship leaders or musicians make comments about how they always have to cut their time short so that the preacher gets his full time. It was hard to hear them encourage worship leaders and musicians to really work on their craft and be the best they could be but then make fun of preachers who get up with their multiple point sermons and powerpoint.
First (in no particular order) my letter to address specific needs and sensitivities of the worship leader:
You are not as important as you might think you are. You are an important part of the worship service, but your area is just that – part of the worship service. You should work with the other aspects of the worship service rather than against them.
Your part in the service is not the only part where God is at work and is not the only time when His truth is being proclaimed. God may really work in some people’s hearts during your part of the worship service, but He may want to work in other people’s hearts during the other parts of the worship service. You have put a lot of effort into your part of the worship service – which is good – but understand that others have also put a lot of time and effort into their areas so this cannot be an excuse for saying your part of the service should get more time or attention or can never be shortened for the sake of the overall requirements of the worship service.
You are like a string on a guitar. Sometimes that string is part of the chord or is played all by itself and rings with great impact. Other times that string may only sound quietly, be muted, or not touched at all. The question should not be whether that string is being heard. The real question should be whether the overall sound of the guitar is good. Be the best “string” you can be and know that whether you get 50 minutes or 15, God can and will work through you but He is also working through others. The worship service as a whole will probably be better if you can accept the truth that you are not as important as you might think you are.
Second (again in no particular order) my letter to address specific needs and sensitivities of the preaching pastor:
You are not as important as you might think you are. You are an important part of the worship service, but your area is just that – part of the worship service. You should work with the other aspects of the worship service rather than against them.
Your part in the service is not the only part where God is at work and is not the only time when His truth is being proclaimed. God may really work in some people’s hearts during your part of the worship service, but He may want to work in other people’s hearts during the other parts of the worship service. You have put a lot of effort into your part of the worship service – which is good – but understand that others have also put a lot of time and effort into their areas so this cannot be an excuse for saying your part of the service should get more time or attention or can never be shortened for the sake of the overall requirements of the worship service.
You are like a string on a guitar. Sometimes that string is part of the chord or is played all by itself and rings with great impact. Other times that string may only sound quietly, be muted, or not touched at all. The question should not be whether that string is being heard. The real question should be whether the overall sound of the guitar is good. Be the best “string” you can be and know that whether you get 50 minutes or 15, God can and will work through you but He is also working through others. The worship service as a whole will probably be better if you can accept the truth that you are not as important as you might think you are.
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As you can see, I really want to relate to both and be sensitive to their specific needs and particular issues.
It’s 6am and the sun has not come up yet. My wife and kids are still sleeping. It is very still, except for the sound of the furnace waking up. I wonder what the day will hold?