WHAT
WOULD JESUS SING?
When I was a teenager in the 70’s, I was a song
leader. We had times of worship, but it was never while the music was being
played or sung. Rather, it was a separate time during the service. After the
Maranatha revolution, we started entertaining the concept of “worship” during
our music…and then in the late 80's, we found ourselves immersed and enamored by the Integrity
paradigm. Personally, this was exhilarating new worship that I began
introducing to our congregation. Although I was apprehensive, the congregation
embraced it and there was a subsequent explosion of new worship material!
And worship is still evolving. New worship CDs seem
to come out every day and it’s impossible to keep up with them. There is undue
pressure placed on worship leaders to sing the hottest, latest, greatest
worship songs and to present them to the congregation as fast as the team can
learn them.
I try to keep up with the new songs just like the next
guy. I know how to do a “segue” and create a polished fl ow. I network with
other worship leaders for the hottest new tunes, and I encourage and use young
people for worship leading. Since I have been a Music Pastor, I have surrounded
myself with those younger than me to be a part of the worship team. I recognize
that the best way to avoid being stagnant in the church is to have fresh water
coming in, and the youth are good at “bringing it on!”
The “image” of the Minister of Music I used to
portray was one of “The Guy in Charge of Music for the Church.” As the worship
paradigm shifted from hymns to choruses to praise and worship songs, so did my
role…I then became the Worship Pastor, a title I now hold in esteem. So…how do
we stay fresh in music ministry? Psalm 45:7 and Hebrews 1:9 both declare how we
can receive the anointing of God on our music, our ministry and our lives. “You
have loved righteousness and hated wickedness, therefore God, your God, has set
you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” When we pursue
righteousness, God anoints us. And when He anoints us there is a spiritual
change that takes place, even on our music and worship.
As a worship pastor, I try to “tailor” the worship
experience to incorporate a mélange or “potpourri” of styles that all might be
drawn into fantastic, contagious, and authentic worship, allowing people to
encounter God. 1 Peter 4:11 says, “If anyone ministers, let him do it with the
ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through
Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever.
Amen.”
What kind of music does Jesus want us to play,
sing, or listen to? Any music that
causes a change in our behavior to make us more like Christ!
Despite our challenges with the ever changing “styles” of worship, the
Lord said, “Whosever will may come!” May He help us be vessels of His Spirit to
change the hearts of those who “won’t” to be those who “will!” We need that
same power of God to take our dry songs, whether old or new, and breathe in new
life. A.W. Tozer wrote, “Anything God has ever done, he can do now. Anything
God has ever done anywhere, He can do here. Anything God has ever done for
anyone, he can do for you.” AMEN!
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