Blog review: 'Worship Leaders, We Are Not Rock Stars' by Stephen Miller

My best-friend sent me a link to this post. I think it is really valuable for not only worship leaders but also worship team members and the church body.  I agree that there is a warped sense of 'stardom' with music in the church. We ARE called to excellence [1 Chronicles 25] we ARE NOT called to selfish gain and pride [2 Samuel 6:21-22, Matthew 23:12, Romans 12:16, Psalm 10:3].

The part of this blog that really encourages me is the final section 'Okay Without Affirmation' and the acknowledgement that people are people and church people are still people! As artists, we desire affirmation but we may not get it from the church. As Stephen Miller says in this post, it shouldn't be that way but we find our value and worth in Jesus and His cherishing/sacrificing love for us.

I've been reading a book recently called "The Search for Significance" by Robert McGee. It focuses on debunking the myths/lies that we are bound by and displays where we find true significance; Jesus.

Read this blog (and the book!), think about your own intentions and emotions, and be encouraged by Stephen's words.

Worship Leaders, We Are Not Rock Stars

Enjoy,

Luke

Worship and Mission

Wow. Sometimes I realize the 'meat' and truth in a song. Today is one of those days.

My wife and I have been taking this course once a week called "Perspectives." It is about learning to see 'the world Christian movement' through God's perspective. Or at least through a perspective that is focused on God and the revelation He brings of Himself to the nations.  It has been sweet to engage in this class and embark on a journey that will only lead to being impassioned and empowered to be Global Christians.

Anyway, on my bike ride to work this morning (yeah I know...) I had this song floating around in my head. I've always loved the song because of it's thickness and passion for being sent out. But, I was struck once again with the realization of the reason we go.

The song is "Mission's Flame" by Matt Redman.

It's very premise holds to the answer for the age old question "Why are we here? or Why do we exist?" The answer is found in Genesis 12:1-3 in the call to Abram:

The Call of Abram

 1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, 

    your people and your father’s household 

    to the land I will show you.

 2 “I will make you into a great nation,

   and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,

   and you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,

   and whoever curses you I will curse;

   and all peoples on earth

   will be blessed through you.” (emphasis mine)

Answer: Abram was called to be a blessing to 'all peoples.' His blessing came only that the nations would be blessed through him. God chose to bless Abram so that His name, not Abram's, would be spread through the nations.  Short answer --> We are here to bless the nations through bringing them into a knowledge of God and, with the New Testament in mind, a relationship with God so that they will bring God more glory.

John Piper says, "Worship is ultimate, not Missions" and that the heart of missions is found in one thing. Worship.  In his book, Let the Nations Be Glad, he summarizes, "Mission begins and ends in Worship." He argues that the reason we go is because we have been changed and therefore are moved to take action and GO! And, the end result of going on mission (telling every nation, tribe, and tongue) about God and His Son Jesus is, you guessed it, MORE WORSHIP! 

So, Matt Redman writes,

Mission's Flame

Let worship be the fuel for mission's flame

We're going with a passion for Your name

We're going for we care about Your praise

Send us out

Let worship be the heart of mission's aim

To see the nations recognize Your fame

'Til every tribe and tongue voices Your praise

Send us out

Chorus

You should be the praise of every tongue, Jesus

You should be the joy of every heart

But until the fullness of Your kingdom comes

Until the final revelation dawns

Send us out

Bridge

Every tribe, every tongue

Every creature in the heavens and the earth

Every heart, every soul

Will sing Your praise, will sing Your praise

Every note, every strain

Every melody will be for You alone

Every harmony that flows from every tongue

We'll sing Your praise, we'll sing Your praise

Check out the song now and worship with all the world as we sing it. Don't let your heart be unmoved. Don't let yourself forget our purpose. Let this song be a continual reminder of this story and move you once again to action.

"Lord, help us to realize Your desire to bring worship to the nations."
-Luke

'Wonderful God' by Hillsong

'Wonderful God' is a great song by Hillsong that focuses a few of the many attributes of our God. It proclaims Him as Creator, Omnipresent, Faithful, Trustworthy, Honorable, Praiseworthy, Eternal, Worthy, Glorious, Loving, Life Giver and ...Wonderful. The best part, IMO(in my opinion), of the song is this anthemic recognition of these attributes. I know that this writer writes out of personal experience and conviction and with the understanding that we have little to no actual understanding of God except what He has revealed to us by His word. So, with that, these words that we sing, although simple to utter, are far more difficult to come to grips with. Sometimes I think that our participation in worship comes close to hypocrisy if not hits it dead on. Often times I'm left speechless when I hear songs like this that speak of the true beauty and incredible wonder of our God. Then, when I can get the fortitude to sing, I sing it loud from a humbled and awestruck mind.

Wonderful God

Beautiful is Your creation

You're glorious in every way

You surround us with

Your faithful love

And we can trust in all You say

Wonderful God

Wonderful O God

You are worthy of all glory

All honour and praise

All to You our God

Forever and always

You are worthy of our worship

And worthy of our love

We stand in awe of

All You are

You are love

You are life

You are all glorious

My one regret about this song is that it doesn't clearly define who it is directed toward. Without to much background to my statement, I'll just say this; if you want to get challenged about using basic doctrinal truths in songwriting (like the Trinity), read "Worshipping Trinity" - by Robin Perry. It looks at songs and set of songs through the doctrine of the trinity and classifies songs through that. This song, Wonderful God, would be labeled as an ambiguous 'You Lord' song rather than pointing to the person of the trinity F / S / HS who is being glorified through the specific lyric and wording of the song. (Without slipping into modalism). Wow. It is a tough calling and responsibility we have as worship leaders to understand what we are singing and how that shapes the theology of our congregation and society.