In this column of In It to Win It, I answer the following, very difficult question:
Dear Brad,
My worship leader is out of control. I want him to rock things out on Sundays and he keeps telling me that he doesn’t have the ability to do it. What should I do? Help!
Sincerely,
Down and Desperate
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Dear Down,
It’s in critical moments like these that you need to seize the bear by the paws and light him on fire. History has shown that leadership is tested in moment of extreme crisis. Robert E. Lee at the battle of Gettysburg. Abraham Lincoln and the march on Memphis. Martin Luther and the lion’s den. A leader either rises over adversity or is crushed beneath it.
You need to rise my friend. Rise like a kite, carried on the winds of adversity.
Now, what exactly should you do? I would advise you to step in and show your worship leader who’s boss. Here’s just a few suggestions.
- Lead worship yourself for several Sundays. Sometimes you just have to lead by example. Now, I realize that you can’t play an instrument or sing, but that doesn’t really matter. Just last month I led worship at our church using nothing but a karaoke machine and a whole lot of passion. I just got the karaoke tracks from the most recent Kanye West album and rewrote the lyrics.
- Hire a band to come and play at your church. If the band at your church can’t cut it, bring in some guys that can. I’ve got a buddy named Tito who plays 13 different instruments. Sometimes when I want to shake things up, I have Tito come and lead worship. Next month he’ll be leading worship on the trumpet.
- Try some alternative forms of worship. There are some bleeding edge churches who are exploring all sorts of different worship forms. Tap dance worship, non-singing silent worship, prayer maze worship, worship in mime – it’s all out there. Maybe it’s time to break the mold.
I understand your struggle my friend. But remember, as they say in the Navy, no pain, no progress. Until next time, stay in it to win it.
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Particularly bleeding edge also, according to what I’ve heard, are those churches and individuals worshiping in Spirit and truth. So there’s that.
Theres nothing like that kind of worship. Worship that CAN’T be limited to a Sunday morning service. Serving God has to be what all our life is for.
Brad wants bleeding edge? Try out the word of God preached truthfully and sincerly.
Or he can just settle for entertainment. Interesting, but ultimately just entertainment. You’ll get it one day, Brad.*
*Love your blog, btw Brad. I do think, though, that maybe you should spend more time with your congregation than writing on the interwebs about your church!
Church can be such a difficult place! Being a leader is twice the challenge. People are people and learning to inspire and remain motivated yourself is not easy in the presence of joy killers. These opinionated, pushy and self-righteous folks are definately passion killers. The advice given here sounds good to me, I hope that it works for you!
Here’s a thought…it might work. Try reading the Bible to see who God is and who we are and what He had to do in order to save us. Read about those who do not belong to Him and find out where they are headed. Wow. We might just begin to worship instead of sitting back and knit-picking everything other people do. Discern? Yes. Belly ache because our entertainment needs are not being met? No.
Who knows… this just may wake some people up? eh?