5. Evaluations are essential.
The problem with letting others evaluate us is that it can lead to comparison, insecurity, fear and shame. This is why most churches have difficulty implementing an evaluation process for their worship ministry such as an audition. But worship is a high and holy calling and so prayerful consideration should be given to deciding who does and does not lead worship. Evaluating people’s gifts and hearts is not easy, but when we commit to it, we find that it causes people to place a higher value on their participation in the ministry; it encourages them to make a higher quality commitment; and it forces them to face their fears and overcome their tendency toward comparison and shame. I always say, “There is no shame in being at a different level of skill than someone else, it’s just part of life. Find your significance in Christ and realize that there will always be someone better than you.” Your evaluations don’t have to be fancy. It might just be taking a person out for coffee and finding out a little about their life and calling, but whatever form it takes, evaluations are essential for bringing order and clarity to the worship ministry.
6. Music is just the tool.
Music is not the purpose of the praise and worship ministry. Christmas celebrations don’t drive us and Easter services are only an opportunity for more worship. All the songs and special presentations are simply tools for worship. It’s easy to get so bogged down in all the work of rehearsals and preparation and planning that we lose sight of the higher purpose. Our rehearsals are important because when we are rehearsed, we become better facilitators of worship. We work hard to learn the music so we can internalize the message and be free to embrace the bigger picture of what we do. Good music by itself can’t do anything eternal for us, but music under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit has the power to change us every time.
7. We are musical servants.
Musicians can become easily sidetracked when they concentrate too much on performance, talent or personal recognition. Our attitudes need to be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who laid down his rights to become a servant for all humankind (Phil. 2:5-11 and Mt. 20:28). As musical servants to the Body of believers, we must give up our rights, our agendas and our preferences so we can concentrate on the Lord’s purposes. We serve the people in our congregations and we stay aware of their needs and desires. We don’t serve our egos by singing and playing our instruments and being seen by others. Instead we give our lives to serve them.
8. We are all worship leaders.
The choir is not the background for the leader. The band does not just accompany the person in front. There are no “backup singers.” We are all worship leaders, and as leaders we have the responsibility to live worship daily, and be prepared both musically and spiritually. When we stand before the congregation, we are the instruments of the Holy Spirit to motivate and facilitate the expression of worship. This means that none of us can be passive in leading worship. We can’t simply sing and play and hope that the church will join in. We have to actively engage God and connect with the congregation, leading people into grateful, humble and desperate worship. A lot of teams just play and sing along with the leader, but we want our musicians and singers to know that they are responsible for leading that service. This empowers them to “own” their ministry rather than function as mere participants with the worship leader.
9. We don’t confuse who we are with what we do.
Musicians are strange! We are sensitive, emotional and creative personalities, who wear our feelings on our sleeves. Music is such a deep expression of who we are that we often begin to draw our significance from it. But of course, this leads to pride and insecurity. It is essential then, to understand who we are as children of God created in His image, as the righteousness of God in Christ, and as citizens of heaven. However, what we do is just as important as who we are — that’s why the Bible is so thick. Our gifts and talents belong to God and are simply what we do in the church. We should never rely on them to give us worth or use them for prestige or applause. If we are able to separate our person from our performance, we can allow others to speak into our lives, and give them permission to disciple us and receive training to increase our skill as musicians. Without this principle, we become controlling, resistant and proud, or we move in the other direction and become too timid or threatened to try. If we submit our gifts and talents to the Lord, and find our significance in Him, then we’ll stay humble and be more effective for the kingdom of God.
10. Enjoying God is our purpose.
Church should be more fun! I think we should be full of smiles and laughter as we gather. I’m convinced that many people have difficulty enjoying church simply because they take themselves too seriously. “Doing church” should not be our goal when we come together. Instead, we should simply enjoy being with God and with other believers. Psalm 16:11 says, “In His presence is fullness of joy, at His right hand are pleasures evermore.” Enjoying God is the key to enjoying church. We don’t always have to be happy, but we should always enjoy the power and pleasure of worshipping God within the community of believers.
These are 10 pillars that will make life easier as we build a house of worship that God will be pleased to dwell in.
