This blog used to be centered primarily around leading worship. I’d say for three or four years that was the majority of what I wrote about.
Then I didn’t.
Not because I don’t still do it. Worship leading is still about 50 percent of my “day job.”
But I stopped writing about it because, honestly, “worship style” basically became as controversial as politics and breastfeeding are on Facebook.
So instead, I now write about breastfeeding Republicans who listen to Hillsong.
Kidding.
But I ran across this blog last week, which led me to another, and another, that worried me a bit.
They are blogs that I’m sure WANT to do good, WANT to help worship leaders, but in the end confuse and create more division than they probably want to.
Why?
Because they deal in absolutes when it comes to “HOW.”
And as a 40-year-old worship leader who has been doing it EVERY SUNDAY for over 17 years, I know there is one absolute …
There are no absolutes.
Before you drop “Jesus Is The Absolute” all over me, let’s push aside the churches where Jesus ISN’T the absolute and call them Tony Robbins Conventions.
OK. Now that those churches are out of the way, let me get a few things off my chest.
1. You Can Stop Worrying About the State of Modern Worship.
In the ’70s, they worried about the same thing when Keith Green came along.
In the ’50s, they worried about the same thing when the organ replaced accepella singing.
In the 1800s, they worried about the same thing when MOST HYMNS WERE WRITTEN TO THE MELODIES OF BAR SONGS.
In the 1700s, they worried about the STAINED GLASS TAKING PEOPLE’S EYES OFF THE PULPIT.
So worry away … but worship is gonna be just fine.
2. Big Screens and Faces on Them Are Not the Problem.
Putting a worship leader’s mug on the screen does not cause them to become prima donnas. If you think this is the case with your worship leader, then you missed a step. A big step. The step called GETTING TO KNOW YOUR WORSHIP LEADER.
They were a prima donna before they even got on stage.
Ninety-nine percent of worship leaders I know who sing in big churches with their domes plastered on the screens love Jesus WAY more than they love themselves.
So stop writing about the 1 percent.
If it bothers you that the church put our faces on the screen during worship … walk to the parking lot … get in your car … and drive down the street to the church that doesn’t.
Different strokes for different folks.
