Being a worship leader can be a very tough position. You’re in the spotlight and open to a lot of critique from a lot of different perspectives. I want to start on a positive note though a list the top 5 things I love about the position before I dive into the negatives.

1. I’m doing what God called and anointed me to do

I could really stop the list at this point because I don’t need any more reasons to keep doing this. My parents were worship leaders and then later pastors, my entire family was gifted musically and I grew up in an environment where music existed to give Jesus praise. I started writing songs and leading worship in 8th grade and knew it was what God had called me to do for His kingdom. There is no question in my mind I’m where I’m supposed to be.

2. Creatively serve and praise a creative God

It’s my desire to use every part of who I am to magnify and praise Jesus. Some people use their creativity as justification for their shallowness of worship. A painter will paint, a singer will sing, a writer will write, but often times the rest of their lives are excluded from their worship of Jesus and directed either at themselves or some other god.

Creativity to me is much more of a challenge of praise than crutch. I strain myself creatively to find how I can turn a strange synth sound into praise, incorporate a video into corporate worship, write words that express a timeless truth in a new way. This is hard work and it forces me to abide in Christ and let him work in me continuously. I love using creativity to worship Jesus because it exposes areas that were not yet praising Him.

3. Uniting worshippers

What an honor it is to lead the body of Christ in worship. It truly is the most humbling act of service I’ve ever been part of. There must be an attitude of reverence and humility when leading, because who am I to approach the almighty God with my wimpy voice, pathetic guitar and silly loops. In that weakness He is strong, he’s taken this shell of a man and made me whole, He’s stood me up and given me the words to sing and notes to play. What other response have I but to offer myself as a living sacrifice which is my spiritual worship. Being able to lead the body of Christ in this is an amazing gift.

4. Teach on an often misunderstood and abused art and life

Art in all it’s forms has been abused, misused, debated over, split over and fought over ever since Satan saught to steal God’s craftsmanship(us). The church has done little to bring any relief to this strife and has  confused and distorted worship more than anyone. Everyone has such strong opinions on what worship should look and sound like in all these different contexts, people leave and join churches based on guitar tones and stage lighting.

So much in the church when it comes to art in our worship that makes my stomach turn. I’m blessed to be in a position when I can not just critique, but teach on worship as an outpouring(as Harold Best says).

5. Be in a position to truly lead by example

You are on stage singing in front of hundreds of people about your love and adoration of Christ. How great He is and all that He has done for you. Then you walk off the stage….now what? This is where you start leading worship. If you don’t do it off stage then your time on stage is an empty gig, a waste.

I’m thankful for that accountability and thankful to be a worship leader.

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