FEATURE
[ THEY’RE COMING TO SEE JESUS | Paul Herman ]
WHY THEY’RE IMMEDIATELY DISAPPOINTED.
we.” On and on. Psalm 33:3 even tells us to Ouch. But it’s true. As excellent as we try to
“play skillfully.” But let’s not be afraid of the be, most of us run a very poor second to the
I remember hearing a Pastor talk about the deeper “why.” Are we really doing it to glorify touring band and the concert at the arena
expectations of people coming to church God? Or are we doing it to compete with the last weekend. Or the thousands of incredible
for the very first time. He said, “They really church down the street? Or worse, to feed our musicians and concerts available on YouTube
are expecting to see Jesus. Imagine their own vanity? within a few clicks. In the end, all we really have
disappointment when all they see is us.”
of lasting value is Jesus. Himself.
I think it all boils down to one thing: People
Well said. But it seems like our knee-jerk are coming to see Jesus. Our most important A few years ago at Christian Musician Summit,
response is “excellence.” Raise the bar. Take job as worship leaders is to get out of the way. I heard Brian Doerksen talk about one of his
your worship team to the next level. Yes, poorly-executed, poorly-planned, badly- special needs children. In worship settings,
played, and badly-sung songs are a distraction. Brian relayed that his son would often turn to
It seems like worship team training is everywhere So are overblown, over-hyped, and over- him and say, “Daddy, do you see Jesus? I do.
these days. There are worship musician scripted “look-at-me” worship sets and teams. He’s right over there.”
and vocalist tutorials, courses, conferences,
seminars,
DVDs, A quote from A.W. Tozer from over 50 years In Matthew 11, Jesus prayed, “I praise you,
etc. at every turn—and in page after page of
workshops,
workbooks,
ago still rings true today. In the book “Whatever Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you
this fine magazine. Don’t get me wrong. That Happened To Worship” (compiled from his have hidden these things from the wise and
can be a very good thing. But it can also turn sermon series in the 1960s, shortly before his learned, and revealed them to little children.
sideways quickly. It all depends on the motive. death) Tozer said, “God calls us to worship, but Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased
in many instances we are in entertainment, just to do.”
Has anyone really asked the “why” question? running a poor second to the theaters…I don’t Why excellence? Why raise the bar? Why take mind telling you that most of the people we If only we could see through the eyes of a
your team to the next level? Yes, I know the pat say we are trying to reach will never come to a special needs child. And really see Him.
answers. “Because God deserves our best.” church to see a lot of amateur[s]...putting on a “God creates with excellence and so should home talent show.”
WORSHIP TEAM COACH
continued from 45
Can you imagine what your team would look
longer be the hero. He’s about to become the
guide.
like if it was full of Engagement level worship
musicians? We could stop right here. Almost.
generation team member.
Don’t hear me wrong: it’s not his age that’s sad.
At some point, every leader and team member It’s that he’s protecting and burying his “bag of
needs to begin to take steps out of the spotlight silver” that the Master gave him, rather than
But there’s one more level that a healthy and take on the mantle of the guide and mentor. risking and investing it. (Matthew 25)
worship musician needs to eventually rise to. 1 Chronicles 25 is clear: their temple musicians And that’s. .. were “young and old” and “teacher and There’s so much reward and fulfillment in
student.” Some were young Luke Skywalker, becoming a “guide” on the worship team. And
and some were Yoda. when leaders and team members move to this
GUIDANCE
If you’re a nerd like me, you’re eager to see
level and begin to make an intentional
what’s become of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars It’s sad to watching an aging worship musician investment in others, the Kingdom will advance
Episode VIII, The Last Jedi. If good storytelling refuse to move to this level. He often becomes and more glory will be given to the One
is adhered to, one thing is clear: Luke will no territorial because he’s threatened by a next- we worship.
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October 2017
WorshipMusician.com