Letters to Leaders, Vol. 1

I am so excited about this series!

I tend to think there is huge validity to what this "sheep" wrote in ... I hear this often. Yet, I am also quick to say that if all we focus on is "theology" songs, we can miss out on some of the simple, pure worship of just telling God that we love Him (agape) and declaring His worth.

Clearly, though - we're def. more extreme to that side than good, rich theology songs.

I agree with everything Fred said, especially this:

I get tired of hearing that one of the main differences between traditional and contemporary music is that traditional tends to be singing about God and contemporary tends to be singing to God, but there is sometimes a grain of truth in it.

The rich theology songs are often about God, and mixed in with Bible study, small group time and sermons about God, I welcome the time to sing to God. A person needs time to reflect on what he or she has learned about God, and sometimes the repetitive phrases provide the perfect opportunity for that.

That said, some of my favorite songs are Hallelujah! What a Savior! and The Wonderful Cross, both rich theological songs with a more repetitive chorus that provides some of both in the same song.

As a long-time (8 years) member, and rotating worship leader, of a church which did predominantly hymns - songs with great theological depth - I can say that, though there were moments, I eventually had to leave: I really struggled with intimacy with God in that setting. Don't get me wrong: I LOVE depth, but not every song needs be - nor SHOULD BE - drenched with deep theology. It merely needs to be true. Granted, I think it best to balance a set: depth, and heart - fresh and new, with historic, but do focus only on weighty songs isn't necessary, is it?

I think what's neat about this series...if I'm not mistaken there's going to be more "LETTERS TO LEADERS" coming... is that there are indeed going to be more coming. We're going to get several perspectives. And that's a GREAT THING!

This is from but one seat in our congregations and helps us to put together a bigger picture. If all we read was this one letter we'd be totally out of balance. But add to it the letters that are coming and we can glean lots of nuggets to help us approach our leading exactly the way we need to.

As always, engage your congregation, not only from behind the mic, but from behind the lunch table, or fomr behind a board game, or from behind a movie ticket, or from behind a basketball game...Ok those are worded weird, but you get the point. Use other "things" besides the microphone to engage your people. Ask them where they are. Ask them what they need. And ultimately, HEAR them.

I'm not saying coddle people and cater to their every whim, but if YOU ask the right questions you'll get the right information to make you a better leader.

This letter is rich with nuggets that we can glean to ingest meditate on and hopefully become stronger leaders!

Great idea, Mandy!

I think this is a topic that every WL needs to work through for their own congregation; there is a range of what could be 'right' for a given church family.

I don't know why it is, but some individuals and congregations like more repetitive songs that speak from the heart. Other individuals and congregations like more theological songs that speak from the head. (A gross oversimplification, I know!)

We are to love God with *both* heart and mind, right? It's not an either/or. But based on our congregation's personality and bent, I think it is good service to determine what will edify them the best and give the best expression of their voice to God in worship.

We are contemporary in flavor.

We occassionally get a comment ( probably once every 6 months or so) about doing more traditional/theologically deep songs.

If, out of 2,000 + people in our congregation, we only get a couple requests like this each year - can we assume we are hitting our mark most of the time with our song selection? Do you all think that is an accurate assumption?

We are seeing a lot of growth spiritually in our congregation - and in the participation in worship. What do you all think?

Personally, I welcome this series. I think that we, as leaders, need to be plugged into the thoughts, and hearts of those we lead and serve. I look at it like this...If they aren't following...then I'm not leading.

I have always approached worship leading, and worship music in general, with the "family picnic" approach - a little something for everyone. Some easy repetition, and some meat to chew on. You can do both, and you probably should. As Lori points out, and as Russ and Nate have illustrated many times, we need to be conscious of the local culture that we live and play in, and help to provide the fuel for continuing growth and maturity.

As I said...looking forward to this!

Smitty

What a great thread! I'm not a worship leader (though I have led), but I am heavily involved in worship ministry, and have thought often about these very issues. I have to agree with the general tenor of this thread. It's not an either/or thing, but a both/and thing.

I think what needs to be acknowledged is that it is actually theology that drives our response. They are not separate, but inextricably connected! If we knew nothing about God, nothing of His goodness, nothing of His unspeakable love for us, we would not be moved to worship Him at all. But because we know Him, and because we have seen the light of His glory in the face of Jesus Christ, and because we know about His greatness through His word, we respond with worship.

If you played a whole set of theologically-driven songs, but there was no time for personal response, your people might be smarter, but they may have failed to truly enter into worship. If you play only response-driven songs, you may find the people having a difficult time "grabbing on" to the worship, because you're 'responding,' but you don't know what you're responding to. The idea that worship should just be automatic when the music starts is na�ve. I think a good worship set will do both. We need songs that express some great truth about God, even if the message is simple: "God is good." As we sing about the goodness of God, as we focus on the truth that God is good, all those "why God?" questions begin to fade and we begin to see Him as He truly is, and that naturally leads to worship. Follow that theology-driven song with a time of free worship, or a simple chorus like "Hallelujah," or whatever, and you've got a room full of people worshiping God! The "response" time to God is driven by an acknowledgment of some truth about God.

Well said, New!

Smitty