One of the most common problems I hear about from worship team leaders and members is a lack of ability for members to get along and to come together as one unit to lead worship. Someone is feeling upset because she always used to be the lead vocalist and now she has to share the spotlight with others. Another member is upset because he's a great drummer and wants to do a solo, but the leader feels it takes focus away from the worship. A third member is struggling with feeling the leader is not organized enough or picking the right songs and would like to take control.
This is a common scenario for worship teams because they are comprised of humans, and humans, especially those in the performing arts, have healthy egos and desires for personal edification. The problems is that, while these divisive situations are taking place, they often aren't acknowledged. After all, these are the folks who are supposed to be leading the congregation in worship. It isn't easy to admit that we sometimes want to put ourselves in front of God. Instead, frustrations simmer and gossip is given life.
The good news is that God understands all of this. He knows all of our faults and sins and loves us any way. What he wants is for us to confess our sin and put these types of struggles behind. Then we can put each person's needs ahead of our own and turn our focus on Him and be an example of Christ-like behavior to the congregation.
"For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: 'The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. ‘For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" Rom. 15:3-6
That says it pretty clearly. Now look at the same verses as translated in The Message:
"That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't make it easy for himself by avoiding people's troubles, but waded right in and helped out. 'I took on the troubles of the troubled,' is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it's written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we'll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus."
May you reflect on coming together as one team led by one spirit to lead your congregation into fellowship and knowledge of the Lord.
I believe that the arts are a powerful worship tool, whether music or performance. The enemy of our soul knows that God inhabits the praises of His people, and if those praises can be kicked in the knees through dissension and wounded feelings, he wins. We are called to guard our hearts and minds, and identify where these feelings of dissatisfaction may be coming from.
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