Am I A Worship Leader?
Much has been discussed recently surrounding the term, “Worship Leader.” And while I’m not here to contribute to the particular debate, this moment also helps remind me of why, years ago, I chose a different title in the first place.
From my first ministry job, even though I was the “song leader on the stage,” as soon as I was able to contend for it, I sought to change my title from “Worship Pastor” to “Associate Pastor.”
To get right to the point, there’s no title like “Worship Leader” to be found in the Bible and, of equal significance, the idea of “worship” in the Bible is a concept that is much wider and deeper in scope than music alone could possibly carry.
“Worship” is really the holistic faithful expression of a disciple of Jesus in response to the goodness and grace of God. It’s a whole-life thing. Not a Sunday activity, not a melody, not a song. Worship includes saying no to my flesh, giving sacrificially, serving, loving the poor and my enemy, taking up my cross, walking in the way of Jesus, etc.
When I first took the job that I have now, I led our team through a book called Pure Praise by Dwayne Moore. It was an enlightening journey through the theology and practice of “praise”—a much more accurate word to describe the particular activity we song-leaders do each Sunday. It was at that time I aimed to make a clear distinction in the language we used at our church.
I believe language matters. So in order to help our church see the differences between praise and worship, we got rid of “Worship” from most places. The “Worship Center” got changed to “Auditorium,” our “Worship Services” got changed to “Celebration Services,” the headings in Planning Center before we sing songs says “Praise” instead of “Worship,” our band at church chose the name “Encounter Praise” instead of “Encounter Worship,” and, yes, I’m officially the “Associate Pastor.”
This was not for the purpose of de-spiritualizing anything, but rather to 1) uphold and honor the larger scope and meaning of the word and idea of “worship” and 2) to make a clear distinction that my role is first and foremost pastoral, not musical.
It’s important for the Church to wrestle with the modern idea of the “Praise Leader” in the first place. Ross Fishburn over at Equipped Worship has some insights on this as well and he wisely pointed out that the modern office of Worship Leader, though not wholly unbiblical or sinful, is most certainly “extra” and, therefore, must be practiced as an overflow or expression of the Biblical offices of prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher (Eph. 4:11-13).
This is spot on.
If you consider yourself a Worship Leader, your primary role (no matter what tool you use to convey the message) is to be that of a prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher for the purpose of equipping the Church for works of service.
Our team’s core verse, Colossians 3:16, reaffirms this idea as well. Essentially, we are to use the tool of music, in its various forms, to teach and admonish our people for the purpose of Christ’s message to take up residence in our hearts.
Whatever title we use for our role of song-leader, we must have this mission centrally planted in our hearts and honor the much larger scope of the term “worship”.
At the end of the day, my goal as a disciple of Jesus really is to be a leader of worship (in its fullest sense). The natural fruit of the Spirit that pours out of me should draw others to hunger for holiness as well. But 99% of the methods I use to lead people in worship will come off the stage, without an instrument or microphone in my hands.
So to all of us caught up in this moment of consideration, at least let it spur you on to a deeper understanding of your role and let it draw you into greater intentionality with the language you choose to define it.