Quote from Forum Archives on April 9, 2018, 12:00 pm

Posted by: dstone <dstone@...>

Some interesting responses. Like some of the others, I’ve been involved in playing for - and leading - worship for about 30 years. During that time I’ve alternated from playing every week to playing only every couple of months, so I’ve spend a fair bit of time both on the platform and in the congregation. Here’s my take on the whole thing:

If I’m up front as part of the worship team, I am not performing - I am leading. I’m there simply and solely to facilitate the congregation entering in to worship. I’ve heard complaints from both sides about the music: congregation won’t participate, songs are too hard/loud/complicated, tunes are boring, lyrics are trite, too many/not enough hymns - basically, pretty much every argument you can think of. At the end of the day? If the congregation can’t join in “singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” then I’m not serving the congregation.

Does that mean I should only play sappy four-chord songs? Far from it. But - as a worship leader - I need to make sure that whatever I play, I can bring the congregation along with me. And that can sometimes mean that I play safe, either for the congregation’s sake or for my own. What do I mean by that last bit? If I’m leading, I need to be in a place where I don’t have to think about the song, and can pay attention to the congregation and God’s prompting. I can’t do that if I’m trying to pull off some fancy polyrhythmic atonal composition at the same time. There’s a time and place for everything.

As far as choosing songs, and a pervasive “style” - well, that’s a challenge for the worship leader. It’s very easy to stick with what I like and what ministers to me, but that’s not why I’m there. Some are more musically open than others, some are more willing and able to explore new things than others. Worship leaders *should* step out of their comfort zone from time to time. But maybe the individual who’s leading kicked this whole discussion off isn’t able to do that yet. So, prayer, encouragement, support.

The broader issues with contemporary worship music are things others have addressed, and I don’t really have anything to add except this: I wish we would all stop simply copying what others are doing, and find out what God wants for our local congregation. It might look similar to the church next door, or it might look very different.

And as a musician: if I’m not comfortable with what’s being offered up for Sunday services, maybe I should be part of something else? How about an alternative worship concert on a Friday or Saturday night that *doesn’t* involve the usual musicians? Mix things up a bit, explore, look for other outlets/venues, make connections, make music.

Anyway, enough ramblings from me.

David Stone