So for those of you who don't know, I am a student at Evangel University. I'm lead worship at church, school chapel and on a church impact team at school. So I have dealt with worship on many different levels and in different venues.
The other day I was having a conversation with another worship leader, discussing worship and the limits that have been placed upon it. I've experienced time restrictions, style restrictions and almost any other restriction you can place upon worship.This student and I agreed that we sometimes feel that worship can be stiffled. That when we try and fit it into a time frame or style box, we harm ourselves and those we are leading in worship. My question is: Are we wrong to place limitations (i.e. time, style, instruments involved, songs done) on the musical aspect of worship? I state the question this way on purpose because I know someone will tell me that worship isn't just songs that we sing. I agree, but I am specifically talking about the song portion of worship. Discuss... enjoy!
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I don't think we should place limitations on worship...even though some churches have strict schedules of when to start and when to recess. I believe that if a worship team is led by the Holy Spirit, they should do whatever song God puts in their hearts to play. Also, I know that some pastors ask their worship teams to do certain songs that go with their message for that week..and that's fine...but I believe that the worship team should pray about the songs to sing and play, and then tell the pastor what songs they feel that God wants them to play that week...
I don't believe worship should have any limitations. The worship leaders should take their cue from the Holy Spirit. Who are we to say no to God if he wants it done a certain way. He knows best what will help people enter true worship.
I'm not really a worship leader, I've only lead a couple of times at a girl's group home, but I have learned that it's when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead that great things happen.
It's ok to have a plan,in fact, it's wise; but I believe that we must always be subject to God and His Holy Spirit and what He wants to do...If He decides to move in a special way (or whatever you like to refer to it as), then our plans need to be abandoned. Matt Redman writes in his book "The Unquenchable Worshipper" that we need to be "in step with the Spirit". If we do not follow what God is wanting to do, then we have a problem to say the least...
the argument of style i think goes deeper than mere aesthetical taste. music is generational and no generation likes to feel left behind, because after left behind, it's left out. So, sometimes I wonder if the fights over style is merely a generation afraid of being forgotten. And, we really don't know what that's like yet. I think it is up to the leader to handle the style change in a godly manner and with respect for the body as a whole.
limitations are necessary, they stop the worship leader that just wants to play for his own gain dead at 15 minutes, and it stops groups that just get 'carried away.' I think they help a lot more than they hurt. However, they do hurt. it takes a sensative leadership team/pastoral staff to know where God desires to change directions, if he does (it is possible that God is pleased with the plan).
the argument of song selection. I don't think they should be limited, i do think they should be approved, just like i think the pastors message needs to be reviewed by the pastoral staff/elders. the pastoral team/elders need to go into the service in likemind and in an attitude of unity and prayer knowing already where God wants to take them (as much as they can).
it's impossible to completely do away with order because once you do, you have done away with God. however, God couldn't be contained in a tabernacle or an arc, so it's insane to think that a service plan can contain him either. God has called us to be good stewards of everything, even worship. if the christian life is a process of growth, how much more the process of sacred leadership? Good questions Geoff...thanks for asking them.
It is interesting to have these comments coming in! I am really enjoying reading them and I want to respond in some way.
I agree with the last poster (the has been that has never been said)! I really like the fact that we keep in check a worship leader/team. Accountability is important because people are failable. We tend to let things get in our way, whether that be personal reasons, distractions, or just plain pressure to perform. So an accountability is important and I think essential to a worship leader/team. I enjoy it when my leaders give me insight, comments, and input..I welcome it.
My only issue is when we stiffle worship by time restraints or style preferrences. I know that there is a target audience when you lead worship. If you are at a college, then you need to aim towards college students. If you are at church with middle aged saints, then target that audience with the music. Time restraints are important, but they need to be reasonable! When you limit worship to 10 minutes, you are dampening the atmosphere and I believe that atmosphere is important. You always want an atmosphere that is condusive to worship.
Keep commenting! Keep expressing yourself respectfully!
Geoff, if you will allow me to step out on a limb, I think that what you are expressing is a frustation with what I will call "the mcdonaldization of the church." we have packaged church ... not planned it. there is a big difference. Now, getting everything squeezed into an hour is the focus of a service, not meeting with God.
restraints and styles. I can see the time restraint (10 minutes is ridiculous, you can't even get a heart rate up in ten minutes). But when you say styles, what do you mean?
when I think of worship styles I think hymns versus Vinyard jeremy camp/david crowder type stuff. I don't see why the two have to be mutually exclusive. How awesome would it be if both could be played and appreciated in a service? going from "the ol' rugged cross" to "hungry" to "obsession." I guess what I am hoping for is a unification of the body (past, and present). That the Body of Christ alive right now (from age A to age Z) is THE generation that God wants to work with. He has not benched the middle-aged because he has a terrific 20 something group coming up! (sorry, now i'm straying from the topic).
but the problem runs deeper than styles and song selection. I think you recognize this as well. Church, I feel, is run more like a business than like a sanctuary. Again, I don't think we did this on purpose, it just happened. We started to focus on other things instead of Jesus. They were not sinful things; they just wern't redeeming things.
Yeah I agree... I feel we have packaged the church into something that it sometimes doesn't fit. I mean that in time restraints. I am all about schedules and planning and keeping time. I just think we can't limit it too much. I love what we do at Evangel Temple. We plan about four songs (more if needed) and then we pray and go into preaching and I think it fits. Unfortunately, I go to school where worship is only given a small time frame (about 13 minutes) and therefore we can barely get two or three songs in. Now maybe I am bias because I lead worship, and I know we only have an hour for chapel, but it's just hard and almost impossible.
I agree with you on style. What I mean by style is mainly concerned with school. Electric guitars are almost frowed upon.... which is weird because we have a target audience of students who are used to a more "rockin" service. I do agree that we need to mesh hymns with contemporary. Hymns are theological master pieces and they are wonderful songs! I think meshing the two styles is very very very important. I never want to lose touch with the great songs of the past.
Business? I understand, but I don't necessarily think that is a bad thing. I guess I see church as a sanctuary and a business. I mean this, businesses should be functional, seamless, well organized and overall neat in their appearances and objectives. They have structure and balance. We should strive for that aspect, but not neglect who and what God is. Give Him imminence to move and work, but I think we would delight in our striving to keep church business-like. Maybe I misunderstand what you mean. Care to elaborate?
hey geoff,
sorr for the confusion. sometimes I don't articulate very well. I guess I feel that church is becoming simply earthly focused. Maybe it's just me ... and maybe i'm old fashioned but my church doesn't have prayer meetings before service anymore (if they do it's like ten minutes). There is never altar time like their use to be. i mean, the most i've ever heard are "these altars are open if you want to stay and pray" but then he dissmisses so it's hard to focus with everyone being loud as they exit. There just seems to be something missing, and I'm not sure exactally what it is. Maybe you don't feel the same way. I hope not...i really hope it's just me.
i was thinking last night as well...what about the content of worship songs? you know, songs that really don't say anything theological? what role does song content play for you as a worship leader who must select songs to sing? I'm just curious...my best thoughts always hit me after the fact...oh well. hope your doin well.
so, what are your chapels like?
the has been that never was said:
Well, song content is important. Theological significance is a key to worship. We are ascribing worthship to God. So I think saying "yay God, yay God, yay God" and that's it, then we have a problem. On the other hand, I don't think every song has to be ridiculously complicated in theology. I think we can have songs like "How Great is Our God" that are just as theologically significant. I tend to select songs with singable keys and similiar themes. I don't select songs that based on how "deep" they are. I mean I pick songs that make sense and are valid, but I don't feel the need to always have super deep songs.
Chapels at school.... well they are short! The worship leader is alotted 13 minutes for worship and if we go over we are "scolded" or frowned down upon. The focus seems to be more on the speaker. We want to allow them plenty of time, which I agree with. Unfortunately, I do not think we allow the worship team enough time to lead people into worship. They administration uses the excuse that worship is a lifestyle and that we can worship in class by being a good student just as well as we can worship in song. I agree with the statement wholeheartedly, but I find it as a cop-out. I find it being an excuse and I don't like it.
The speaking in chapel is quite dry sometimes, as well. We have a great campus pastor! He is very insightful and good at communicating, but he doesn's speak all the time. We are located near the AG "Mecca".... known as Assemblies of God headquarters and therefore we have alot of men from there speaking. I think they do good, but sometimes we need some younger speakers or some more popular speakers like Rob Bell, Donald Miller or anyone else. We have an oldschool thought which is good, but needs to balanced with some emergent thinkers and theologians. This is a long explaination, but there is more. These are just a few things.
What about yourself? You in school? Where do you lead?
Wow! That's a lot of talking going on.
I think that we all agree that there should be a "planned" amount of time set aside in a service for corperate(sorry if I spelled that wrong) worship. I think the question we are all trying to answer is much time should be set aside? And what style of music should be played?
I personally like 5 or 6 songs. Typically like 3 faster ones, and then 2 slower ones. (Just my preference). Maybe an extra slower one depending on time and how the Spirit moves. Lately at my youth group we have been doing 4 songs, two faster, two slower, which works fine. I just like longer sets, but that could be because I play Eletric guitar and sing, and just enjoy playing music, espcially for God :-).
As for the styles. That is a very loaded question, that has no simple answer from what I can see. I do like hymms, but I don't think you can sing those everywhere in every situation if you really want to connect. Like wise, I also really like Hillsong United, but in the same way, you can't use that everywhere.
interesting discussion...as i am not a worship leader i think i'm coming from a different perspective all together....
the chapel vs. church argument is important. you have to get to purpose of whatever gathering you are in....
the original question is on "limitations" in our gatherings we have some pretty set parameters on what we do - we don't view them as "limitations" but as guides to an overall expereince. The goal/purpose of our gatherings is not to sing together. That's part of it, albeit a big part of it, the goal/purpose is for particpants to have a life changing experience with God. Everything in the gathering points to that - music, corporate worship, indivdiual worship, prayer, teaching, preaching...all those interpaly together.
As one of the people who help guide and create those expereinces for our gatherings it is interesting for me to see that:
drama people feel that drama is the best way
musicians feel that music is the best way
teacher types feel that spoken word is the best way
small groups people feel that small group discussion is the best way
and you know what....they are all right. They are passionate about what they are passioante about. part of my role is balancing all those passions - because there are people in our gathering who are just like all of them and they are all in the same room - at the same time.
Freedom to enagage the Holy Spirit - absoultely.
Dependence upon the Holy Spirit in the planning process before hand - absoultely.
no limits....just a purpose.
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