Brad's Twitter
RSS FeedBy Any Other Name
Jun 10
Links, Music Music, vicky beeching, worship leader 1 Comment
I think sometimes we take the word “worship” for granted. We know deep down that it’s more than singing, and yet we typically mean “singing songs to God” when we talk about worship. It’s even in our titles: the “worship leader” is really “the song guy”, right?
In a recent blog post, Vicky Beeching takes on this topic:
Other church traditions – mine included- use “worship leader” to refer to the person who leads the musical and sung portion of the gathering. This also seems unhelpful, as it implies again that singing is the main or only form of “worship” in our spirituality, and also that we need someone at the front to enable this “worship” to take place…
Any ideas? What do you think good alternatives to “worship” and “worship leader” might be? Perhaps “sung worship” and “song leader”? Other suggestions?
Jump over to Vicky’s blog for more discussion – there’s some good stuff in the comments.
So what say you all? What do we call it? And what do we call ourselves? What do you think?
Loading...
Jun 16, 2010 @ 10:09:53
I think the term “worship leader” is entirely appropriate… and sobering at the same time. When describing all of life as worship, we don’t want to undermine the special worship that God calls us to in singing and hearing the Word of God preached in the gathered church. The Bible uses words translated “worship” to refer to specific acts of worship at times, so I think calling the service “worship,” and our role “the worship leader,” is perfectly legitimate. To reduce our role or function to “the song guy” or the “music time” I think minimizes what God has called us to do in those times.
At the same time I think the term “worship leader” is also sobering. The fact that worship is also a lifestyle means that as a “worship leader,” I also need to be concerned about leading off the stage. The term “worship leader” actually helps us broaden our scope so that we humbly consider if our life is in accordance with our song. I want to lead by modeling worship on and off the stage… not minimizing either one. If I seek to be a “song leader,” then I am just that (but any guy with a decent voice can do that)… but if I seek to be a worship leader, my priorities change and I seek to disciple people at a different level.
PS- I also don’t really like “lead worshipper.” I understand and appreciate the heart behind the phrase being that we need to be leading by example, but I personally think it makes us sound like we’re the guy (or gal) that God wants to hear first. In reality, I’m a leader among equals.