February 24 2009
Top 5 things I dislike about being a worship leader
Tagged Under : church, leadership, Top 5, worship
I’d like to start by pointing you to my post on Top 5 things I love about being a worship leader. It truly is an incredible honor, responsibility and blessing to be a worship leader and something I am forever grateful for. It’s really difficult for me to come up with 5 things I dislike without immediately feeling like they pale in comparison to the incredible blessing it is. Even in the trials I hold firmly to James 1:2
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds
That being said I don’t pretend that there aren’t trials and that there aren’t difficult moments. Here are what I see as the top 5 negatives about being a worship leader:
1. You become #1 or #2 reason why people leave the church
You and the preaching pastor will be the alpha dogs as far as reasons people leave the church, in most cases. As much as I joke about this, it does bother me. I understand that there are plenty of churches, better churches than ours for some and that I have to be true to what God’s called and gifted me to do. But when I hear of people leaving because they can’t stand the music, as much as I try to roll with it, it does sting. Not from an artistic standpoint, that rolls of me quite easily. I know lots of people will dislike my music, that’s not what’s important. But I do have to pray a lot about have I failed as a leader to reach out, teach, relate with, minister to these people that are leaving.
On another level I’m glad I’m not immune to some disappointment and hurt when I hear of people leaving because of me. I don’t want to be some ministry zombie. It doesn’t change the truth, vision and mission I’m charged with, but I don’t want to ignore or neglect what I can do to become a better minister and worship leader.
2. Managing creative types can really stink
Artists, and I use that in the broad sense, are the most sensitive, emotional basket cases on the planet. Heaven forbid you tell them they need to practice more, or that they aren’t in tune, or their song isn’t very good. Who am I to judge them and their God given talent? How dare I quench the spirit! *sigh* I am sooooo blessed to have a team of mature Christian men and women who are all leaders in our church in many more ways than music. For me those days are behind me, although once we start building some more teams, there may be more of those days ahead. I’ve been in some pretty awful situations and lemme tell you, they are all too often the norm in the modern church.
There’s a lot to be said about how you organize and run a worship team and develop artistic talent and spiritual maturity. We’ve done polls on this blog about letting non-christians in on worship bands and such and I’ve learned a lot from my past failures on this topic. I could write a valuable e-book on all the ways not to put together a worship team.
3. As you excel in music, you get accused more of not “getting” the heart of worship
If I were to go up on stage with a junky acoustic, with an average band in support, sing in and out of key but do it with passion, nobody is going to accuse me of focusing on music and idolizing it. But if I practice, prepare, write and do all the things necessary to have a tight great band, get up on stage, sound great and do it with passion. There will be a lot of people that say I don’t really understand the heart of worship and that I emphasize musical excellence to a point of idolatry.
I just find it so ill-conceived that the measuring stick for some looks like, poor music quality = band has a heart after God, great music quality = worship leader wants to be Christian celebrity and doesn’t truly get worship. Let me be clear that I just want to be a good stuard and faithful to what God has placed in my hands. The conviction I feel from God on being lazy, inattentive and wreckless with the gifting and gift of this church body placed in my hands far outweighs your weak accusation, so you’ll have to excuse me while I ignore it.
4. Inability to have a single focus in worship
As a worship leader there’s a lot of responsibilities and trains of thought you have to manage in your head while you are leading a song. From song arrangements, to time management, to engagement of congregation, following where the Spirit is leading, taking cues from the sound booth, signaling your band, the list goes on. When you are the primary worship leader for a congregation and leading 99% of the time you can quickly miss being able to be in the congregation worshiping instead of in front leading worship.
Taking breaks is important and we’re working towards multiple bands at LCC.
5. Walking away feeling completely satisfied
This has less to do with being a worship leader and more about my personality. But I wish I could go through a Sunday, drive home and just feel like,
“Man what a great worship time, sounded great, God moved, the body was united and everything went well.”
Instead, no matter how good it goes I go home feeling like,
“I can’t believe how bad I butchered that one song. The mix sounded like crap today I know it. Lots of strange stares on that new song.”
I wrote a post about the mind of a worship leader the day after that explains a lot of my thought process.
It’s something I’m trying to get balance in, but I am super critical of myself and it’s not often I leave with a satisfied feeling and I’m never completely satisfied. But I do rest in that God will accomplish what he wants to accomplish through these weak hands, I have confidence that His faithfulness, not my talent, is my shield.
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Great post, Kyle!
I’m looking forward to that eBook, btw…
What an amazing article! Love this… You should really write a book along these lines.
Somehow heard of this blog and love reading it. Been leading again at Goleta Vineyard and you have articulated a lot of what I feel but can’t quite communicate. Thanks Kyle.
Jeannine great to hear from you. Glad you found me over here. Look forward to discussing more with ya. Let me know how things are going at Goleta Vineyard and tell Dan and Marty I said hi.
I was a worship leader for a while, and, admitedly, I was a pretty cruddy one. I wasn’t very emotional, and, when I prayed or did that “passion moment” when everyone was in the spirit, and wasn’t good at those melodramatic soliloquys like all the mega-church worship leaders do.
Also, when a member got their nose bent out of shape or some piddly little criticism, I’d tell ‘em to “put on your big-boy (or big-girl) britches and deal with it!” If someone insisted they are to do a special because “God told them to,” I’d first ask if they were dyslexic (who knows, maybe their “dog” told them to do it!)
Anyway, I was replaced, and probably for good reason.
Like the blog.
Point 3 ends with: “so you’ll have to excuse me while I ignore it…” – as worship leader, you will always be looked upon to be the role model, so you should lead by example – if you live by these words above, believe me they (the rest of the team and the congregation) can’t wait for you to be replaced – maybe they just don’t know how to say it to you out of respect. Read Matt 16v24 again until you understand it clearly – it’s not about you, but your example(testimony) “must” proclaim Christ!!!
Thanks for the posts, Kyle. I just recently discovered your blog (thru twitter) and have really enjoyed your posts. We’re on the edge of using click tracks and loops but it’s hard to find time to work with them. So I appreciate what you’re saying. The worship leading posts were really encourging, tho; keep up the good work. Ps you can follow me if you like on twitter at @blovern. Blessings!
Ricky, in a perfect world the congregation responds biblically to each and every situation. One thing I learned is the Christian Army is the only Army in the World that shoots it’s wounded (figuratively), and believe me they do. The typical way most church members handle disatisfaction with a leader is to
1. Hold in the animosity for a time (approximately 5 to 10 minutes.)
2. Tell someone else, asking them to “keep it to themselves” on the hope that they won’t.
3. Build up a contingent of other members that agree with you.
4. If evidence is lacking, make up some.
5. Confront the leader only after you and most of the church have reached a guilty verdict whose only recourse is dismissal.
Again, I realize that the Bible teaches a different doctrine, but since when does doctrine ever come into play in today’s church? If you disagree with the process I’ve outlined, don’t worry. If you stick around for a while, perhaps you will get a chance to see it in action!
Ricky: I can’t believe you actually read my post, because if you did you’d know that “it” in the phrase you reference is defined as “weak accusation from those in the congregation judging by the quality of an art form, not worship.” I don’t really have the time or desire to re-type what I said in the post, so I’d just encourage you to go ahead and read it. My “example” is my leadership, instruction, commitment to a life of worship and my dedication to excellence in music. That’s *precisely* what I wrote in the blog.
So again, I *will* ignore weak accusation not rooted in scripture and truth. My leadership keep me accountable and place those in authority. I remain submitted and accountable to their authority. Thanks for stopping by.
I am a member of my church and am struggling with the idea of leaving my church because of worship. I love this church, but it has been changing and affecting my walk with Christ. Should I just grin and bear it, and understand that they have their own “style”and way to connect to Christ and accept it?
The worship team has
* started to sing new songs at every service, approximately 3/5 songs are new
* sung for longer, chewing into time for communion and sermon
* included prayer, testimonies and mini-sermons into their worship (which I think, disregards the role that others play in a service)
* begun singing a song prior to the bible reading to “wake” people up
* put more musical equipment on the stage (such that in one case, the pastor gave a sermon on the floor)
* and are now asking the church to install plasma screen to “improve” worship
I don’t know what to do…
…Should I just grin and bear it, and understand that they have their own “style”and way to connect to Christ and accept it?…
Yes. It’s called musical evolution (no, I’m not talking about “Jesus Pony” dinosaurs like Sarah Palin) I find it hard to believe someone’s differences in musical styles is “affecting your walk with Christ.” If non-sinful things affect you adversely, how do sinful things affect you?
My advice is: Quit getting your nose bent out of joint, request a few songs you like, if they don’t play them, they’re being rude. Otherwise, just realize that you can’t always have things your way, put on your big-boy britches, a GET OVER IT!!
My church rarely plays stuff I like, but that’s life! I somehow find the courage to go on. Go for a walk in the park or in the woods. Nature seems to keep the same tune, and it’s still just as sweet! Or, find a church that plays stuff you like. By all means, DON’T RAISE A STINK OVER IT LIKE PEOPLE USUALLY DO!!!!
Nick: Here’s what I’d encourage you with brother. If the expression of worship is stylistically changing and that is impacting your walk with Christ, then you’ve elevated the expression and it’s mediating your relationship with Christ, which is idolatry. I know that doesn’t seem encouraging at all for me to say, but I really think you need a revelation of what Godly worship is and is not. Tear down the idol my friend and worship Jesus in spirit and in truth, and whatever artistic form that takes doesn’t matter. Now I understand how you may not relate artistically but that can’t mediate your relationship with God.
Thank you for continually opening up your life & letting us see your heart in things. I am one of those that would always use the music for my mediator and not Jesus. I was involved in a worship team once and it was my idol. Hearing your thoughts and the desires God has given you towards this ministry helps me to put music in its place and I am grateful for the wisdom God has given you. I wasnt even aware of how great my sin was until I came to LCC. I love that war is waged on every heart issue and not just the surface crap.