Where the road leads next

I am a "worship leader".

It seems once that title is bestowed on a person, everything that was and is to come is all about being a "worship leader".

When people ask me what I do I rarely if ever respond that I am a "worship leader". It could be that I just started leading recently and just volunteer. I think if the title actually defined an office in the church I may use it, but I am not sure I should. To be honest, I have always been afraid of the title. One of the first recorded acts of worship was when Abraham took Isaac up to the mountain to worship God. He took Isaac up there with the full knowledge he was going to kill him! Nope, my response to the "do" question is that I work at a print shop and run a small marketing company. If they press me further I can narrow it down to specifics, but my first response is hardly ever telling someone I am a leader, let alone a "worship leader".

I don't think we get to tell people we are leaders. A self imposed title of leader is tyrannical thinking in my book. If I have to tell you I am a leader - I probably ain't one. To tell someone I am a "worship leader" smacks of pride. It is like telling someone I am the best husband in the world without ever letting you interview my wife. I may be the best, but without a bit of proof the title is meaningless.

I have noticed that the "worship leader" title has an uncanny ability to make those called just about unbearable to be around. Almost without fail, the more you hear a "worship leader" telling you about their gift, the more you can count on them doing nothing that lives outside their idea of that gift. For some, it is the ultimate calling and everything in life must lineup to it.

I have known many "worship leaders" in my lifetime, and I can pick them out the minute I meet a new one. If I don't pick it out right away, I will be sure to be told all the ways they are great. I get to hear how long they have been leading, who they know, how God shows up when they, what God did after they, how difficult it is to be, when the next time they get to, how they have this great new, and so on. It is actually quite comical, and I have come to the conclusion that they are all somehow cut from the same cloth.

It is a big velvety flowing swirling melodic cloth with big voices and big hair and affected facial expressions and zeal. It really is an amazing thing to behold, and I too can get caught up in the experience of it all if I am not careful.

See, my fear is that "worship leading" can so easily turn into nothing but entertainment. Worship in the modern church is tied to music, and music is big business outside the church. Everyone that comes into church has a point of reference of what music should look and sound like. Since worship is music, it had better be big, have a good beat, some pretty people on stage and electric guitars and drums. Ask a "worship leader" if they mind having the lights off when they lead, or if they can lead without instruments. Impossible.

I think I am going to stay as far away as I can from the title of "worship leader". As I recall the goal is to be called a servant.

Now that is a title worth striving for.