Is the tail wagging the dog when it comes to worship in your church?
I’m trying to find the correct balance for a philosophy of worship ministry. We’re not performing, but I’m not so sure it’s all about whether everyone in the congregation sings or not either.
To quote someone else on a worship forum: “the worship team leads the congregation, but we shouldn’t have to lead them very far.” If everything revolves around whether the congregation is singing, likes the songs you chose, is in a good mood, like music at all, is in a worshipful frame of mind, etc etc I’m thinking the tail is wagging the dog.
Now this can get off into the whole discussion of top-down versus congregational church forms, and in the latter quite often the congregation expects to have a say so about almost everything. In my current church ( where local churches are independent but there is a loose “association” with others ) it took me quite a while to understand the wisdom of not having the congregation vote on everything or even “take the pulse” very often.
It’s not my place to preach here about your church’s leadership form, so I want to get at the role of the worship team with respect to the congregation — specifically for the musical portion of the service because I know the term “worship” can refer to many things, not all musical.
For a long time I’ve agonized over song selection, key choice, new song/old songs, why aren’t they singing, why are they talking in the foyer, etc. Now I’m beginning to think the worship team needs to worship as a team, enjoy the ministry and trust those who share this will join in. Many people are not into music at all. Some who are aren’t crazy about worship/praise music. So if everything revolves around whether the congregation is ecstatically singing every song that the worship team loves, first you have to decide what makes the majority of them ecstatic. If you find that and adopt it, it may or may not make for joyful worship team.
Controversial stuff I know, but I must say I’ve discussed this with our other worship leaders ( Senior and Youth pastors) and they basically concur. Our Senior Pastor is involved in an outreach ministry which takes him out of town once or twice per month, usually over Thursday/Friday. I know he is not going to be deterred from the vision he has for that even if some in the congregation don’t share that vision.
One final example. If the Pastor/Minister preaches on a particular biblical topic, the congregation then has the choice of whether to pursue that and possibly make changes in their life if convicted. If a congregation sees it’s worship team singing and worshiping with obvious joy, they have a choice. Perhaps look the song up when they get home and buy a CD or ask for it to be repeated the next week. Perhaps they are the type who worships without singing, nothing wrong with that. Or they might decide it’s not their favorite and fold their arms.
Monday June 1st: I read this on a forum and thought it was a great analogy: “My take on this is that the worship team and worship leader are there to first and foremost–worship. You’re not there to please people, you’re there to please GOD! Israel Houghton said in his book “Deeper Level”….”My place in God’s Kingdom is the jester….the jester is there solely for the King, to please the King! If the King isn’t pleased with the jester, then the jester (in traditional kingdoms) is killed. It doesn’t matter what the court thinks, it matters what the King thinks.” I love this philosophy because it’s what we should be as Christians, but especially as worship leaders. We can feel like we’re up there to perform, and that we’re looking for a response. But really, we’re there to worship God. If we set the stage, the church either will, or won’t respond. And it’s not your fault if they don’t–seeking the will of GOd before you choose songs or worship sets makes a difference too, however each church and ministry has their own way of planning.”
