When Worship Leaders Visit Other Churches: Two Dangers to Avoid

Unless you were born in the pew and have not left it since then, you have probably visited another church. Maybe you are on vacation out of town and want to worship with the body of believers where you are. Maybe you're friend invited you to a church and you would like to go out of curiosity.

Either way, as a worship leader/church musician...it can be a unique experience. 

photo by http://thegospelblog.com/

These thoughts have most likely gone through your head:

• "'Shout to the Lord?' what year are we in?"
• "If our band had Avioms we'd be so much more on tempo. I'll write an email on Tuesday."
• "Are the drums even coming through the house?"
• "Backup vocalist is a bit flat."

 I say this because I've probably thought all of these things. Working on it.

As worship leaders, we are constantly seeking to hone our craft and do things excellently for Jesus. With that, it can be all too easy to get caught up in supplemental amenities and forget the reason we are attending. (This applies for when we are home as well. Mentally note that.) 

As a worship leader you are constantly considering:

• musicianship
• vocals
• the house mix
• transitions and flow
• lighting
• worshipful attitude

These are all good things to look at. The danger comes when we turn them into measuring sticks and not a means to meet with God. When we draw too much attention to them (especially at home), it is easy to get distracted when visiting other churches. 

This distraction can lead to two very real and very dangerous responses:

1. Inadequacy: a feeling that you are not up to par- that you and your team are not remotely as good as these guys, and therefore not good enough to lead regularly.
2. Arrogance: the feeling that your team is better, your sound guy is more savvy, your voice is smoother, and therefore the other guys are not good enough to lead regularly.

Both of these are rooted in self-centeredness not Christ-centeredness, and are therefore sinful. There is no room for a feeling of inadequacy when it comes to feeling not good enough, and here's why: 

You're not good enough. 

None of us are. This fact should free us up and if anything, places us all on the same plane. Christ loved us in spite of our rebellion, and for no other sake than His own glory. For the one in shame this should pick up our heads. 

This also applies for the arrogant. We cannot earn God's favor, and therefore have nothing to boast in but what Christ did for us. For the one in pride, this should humble us. 

When you attend the worship service, prepare your heart before hand. Take the worship leader/techie/musician hat off so that you can enjoy the presence of God. Then you can slowly wiggle it back on to appreciate the musicianship and take mental notes of things you appreciated. 

And besides, 'Shout to the Lord' is a classic.

-Adrian

Stuff to check out:

Ephesians 4:1-7

 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience,bearing with one another in love, ³ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. ⁷ But ^(Q)grace was given ^(R)to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.