Worship Leaders: Play Songs Your Congregation Doesn’t Like
August 3, 2009
I mean it…literally. I know playing songs your congregation doesn’t want to hear sounds like a horrible idea and flies in the face of many years of your contemporary worship training, but I don’t know when our job became more about pleasing man instead of Jesus. Now before you get all huffy, let me explain.
First, I don’t mean purposefully playing songs that your congregation doesn’t like stylistically. Although if people only worship Jesus when they hear a Chris Tomlin song then I’d say you have really big worship and idolatry issues to tackle and then maybe purposefully *not* playing Chris Tomlin is a good idea.
Secondly, I don’t think being a contrarian is a sign of leadership maturity. I’m not advocating simply doing the opposite of what other churches are doing, or constantly trying to throw off your congregation in worship simply because seeing them squirm makes you feel like you’re really doing God’s will.
Here’s what I am saying. As worshipers we are constantly battling idols taking the place of Jesus. Idols we’ve torn down will take new shape and present themselves as something new and more worthy and acceptable of worship. If anything takes our worship but Jesus it is idolatry, sin. Colossians 1:18 “And he[Jesus] is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn of the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” Our congregations worship a lot of things over Christ and we have to expose idols in our worship, tear them down and place Jesus above them as our focus of worship.
Probably not too many of you have any problems with the above paragraph, but here’s where it gets messy…
For the families that worship their own comfort, rest and individualism by showing up 30 minutes late do you think they want to sing about how there is no rest outside of Christ, that even in our sleep we toil, or that they’ve forsaken the gathering because they worship their individuality and comfort? Show them by singing that we only enjoy peace and rest in Christ because of the bloody, violent, death of Christ on the cross and that now they’ve been saved to community, the body of Christ, to sacrifice, serve and worship together.
For the college kids that show up right on time because they love the music, but spent last night partying hard, indulging in their sinful passions, do you think they want to sing about how they are slaves to sin, deserving of death and that unless they get a new heart in Christ their posturing in worship, the jumping, the singing, the Hillsong “woa-oh” chants are worthless clatter. That they worship themselves and can’t atone for their sins by singing loudly. Show them by singing that Jesus is their propitiation, that they are dead in their sins, but that there is life in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. That if they truly encountered Christ they’ve be given a new heart, and that they’d no longer desire to live a life of sin.
For the religious church couple that just walked in dignified, that has no reason to get uncomfortable because they were “saved” at a youth camp at age 10 and baptized in the pool so their salvation is secure. Show them by singing the psalms that our hearts cry out, our soul thirsts for Jesus, that we fall at the feet of Jesus and cry “Hosanna”, and that if they don’t, don’t they know even the rocks, even the pews they comfortably sit in, would cry out for Jesus. That their dispassionate hearts show they worship their dignity, which all through scripture is shown to be folly.
Worship leaders, don’t make yourself a petty entertainer. Don’t seek to satisfy your congregation’s idols. Lead your congregation to worship the real Jesus, show them who Jesus is, what he has done and if they get that, they’ll see themselves for who they are, repent and become new creations in Christ. Sing the songs their flesh doesn’t want to hear, sing the songs that wreak havoc in their hearts. Our worship should be a dance of repentance, praise and honor. Worship leaders, seek to have Jesus preeminent in all things, all things.
What songs are you playing now that challenge the congregation and confront their idols? Do you even think about that when choosing songs?
Copyright 2009 Our Rising Sound
Related posts:
- Crafting Sunday Announcements That Won’t Put Your Congregation To Sleep
- 10 Tips for Worship Leaders: How to Enhance On-Stage Presence
- Worship Leaders of The Bible, Part 1: John the Baptist
- Letters to Leaders, Vol. 2
- Tips For Introducing Original Songs
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Good article - but I think the title could be misleading, for it talks about confronting people with pointed, uncomfortable lyrics, like a minister preaching about Hell or Holiness (two currently unpopular topics) in a sermon.
True - sometimes we need to 'afflict the comfortable' flesh. But IMO most worship wars start over musical tastes and styles. Where's the article regarding that?
It is a provocative title and hopefully it does draw people to read, but I don't think it's misleading. As far as worship wars go...I make a point of saying this doesn't refer to worship styles in the second paragraph. The so called worship wars have been discussed to death. But to be clear my position is musical styles are amoral, neither inherently good or bad, but have the potential for either depending on application. I think music styles is a contextualization issue for the local congregation. What's good for my church in Phoenix, isn't necessarily right for a church in Seattle or Atlanta.
Great article!!!!! I think I'll be sharing this one with my band. Stop idolizing styles, copyright dates, entertainment, etc. Its a great message.
I wish popularity as an idol had been addressed.
No offense to other posters, but...
I am so weary of church people claiming that 'such-and-such' is an idol in the leadership, congregation or in the Worship Team. Yes, sometimes their concerns have some validity, but more often than not it seems an excuse for partisanship, accusations and sloppy, inadequate worship and theology. Care about the quality and effectiveness of your church's teaching, outreach, video, music or singing? You're 'idolizing' perfection, trashing tradition for the siren song of the new, or, worst of all, 'entertaining'.
Add to this the fact that many cultic teachers use this kind of reasoning to keep their victims subservient and fearful. I (and many others) have been thoroughly wounded by such false accusations...
A-stinking-men. Sometimes people chase the "buzz of worship" more than the "God they worship" as evidenced by the fact that as soon as any song becomes a bit complex lyrically people are out (ex. How Deep the Father's Love for Us) as it isn't easy, head back worship. We do those songs but I equally challenge our folk with reformational lyrics (even if modernized melodies). I have not been daring enough to do a week where we corporately read several corporate worship songs instead of singing them to pull focus to the lyrics. Maybe I'll stop being a chicken and someday do an all "read" worship set.
I do not know if any of you ever have played the hymn "Lord of the Dance". It is a standard in the UM Hymnal. My pastor loves this song, the congregation groans when they see it in the bulletin, or they did until the last time.
If you know the hymn, it is a bit of a mouthful to get out and if it is played straight, it can be pretty dull. The message of the song is excellent and if you have any music in you at all, you cannot help but hearing the Irish dirge undertone.
I decided that I was not going to play this song the traditional way. I arranged it as a real Irish dirge. I sang it with an accent and made the congregation come in and sing with me only on the choruses... There were accordions and pipers and well, you get the picture. The point is that when all was said and done, They HEARD the lyrics, which was the important part and enjoyed the song that they once disliked...
It is not always an easy talk to be a worship leader. We get caught up in the rut of picking a song, running the rehearsal, leading the songs and so on.
There is more to the task... There is the creative part of this spiritual calling. It is the reason that God called you to be a worship leader in the first place. You have to gather, lead and inspire the congregation into worship... Worship will begin through you and will flow out to the congregation. Maybe you have to work the old tongued lyrics a bit so they flow smoother. (change old English to regular English). Maybe you have to use substitute chords to liven up the music. (let's face it the three and four chord hymns need modernizing at times) No matter what we do, we have to allow God to work through us. If people are seeing the joy of the spirit flowing through you, they will receive that gift as well...
D