An Open Rebuke to “Wor$hip” Leaders
January 23rd, 2008 by Carl Thomas.I received my call to ministry pretty quickly after conversion. I distinctly remember years of begging God to allow me to preach and pleading with Him to use me in His service. When no public door opened I witnessed to anyone I could get to listen to me. I lead small groups, did the offering, prayed after worship, and preached to anything that would stay still long enough but still, my only ongoing preaching engagement was the shower.
I honestly wanted to fulfill the Call of God on my life. I don’t think I wanted the spotlight, I just wanted to be used for the purpose I was created. I used my vocal gift to earn a living as an account rep but I wanted to preach.
I hear this same line of reasoning for the drive behind most Christian musicians. Most of the good ones I talk to say that they feel created by God to lead worship and they want to do it as not only a ministry but want to be in vocational worship ministry.
But what boggles my mind is that many of these journeymen worship leaders use the first opportunity to lead worship as a way to make a buck off of smaller congregations. Church planters often have to spend hundreds of dollars to pay someone to “lead” a congregation in worship. A guy recently told me that a worship team said they would lead his brand spankin new church in worship for $1,000 a week. Are they crazy?
I am not ashamed to call that sin! REPENT!
We know that music is a huge part of a small church getting established and growing. But your ability to charge a fee does not come from the leverage you have on someone. Trust me worship leaders. You would be doing your ministry career far greater help by volunteering to lead worship. The little money you put off now in favor of being a blessing will be a far greater investment into your ministry in the long run.
If you decide to continue being a minister for hire, know that the pastor’s main goal for your ministry is to have you replaced as quickly as possible.
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Carl,
I hear your pain. When we started our church in the North Nashville area almost nine years ago now — we had a time trying to find a musician for our measely five. I led accapella. My hope was that the anointing would rest on my preaching to cause the few we had to forget how bad of a worship leader I was. (Not only that — I am what we call “handiclapped” – couldn’t clap on beat to save my life.)
I heard Brian Zahnd (my Overseer/Pastor) tell of how he prayed 2 Kings 3:15 — “Bring me a musician” and how the hand of the Lord came upon Elisha the prophet to speak the oracle of God. We needed that bad!
Years ago, I youth pastored not far from where I am now. The minister of music of that church had had all sorts of troubles finding musicians willing to play w/o pay. (There were some mind you that would play for nothing — but most of them went to larger churches).
Anyway, she came to a service of ours (and we are very blessed with some wonderful musicians who love the Lord). I told her, “I figured out how to get musicians in your church.”
She was baffled. “How?” she asked.
“You get ‘em saved!”
That’s somewhat tongue-n-cheek — I will say our worship leader resigned his fultime position in St. Louis and moved here for $100 a month. I would never ask a man/woman to do that — only God could do that. That same man is with us today — some eight and half years later!
Be encouraged brother — God will provide.
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welcome to the joys of church planting…
and the problem I call “mammonism”
that’s my king james comin’ out of me!!!
and I don’t understand hwy churches will have entertainers and pay them 3,000-6,000 for one service and complain about giving an evangelist 500 for a whole week of services….
uuuurrrrrrrrr!
sorry to vent…you can delete this if you need to!
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It doesn’t matter what the profession – in the church (I know pastors like this!) or in secular positions (teachers come to mind)… some people are in it for money, and others are in it for love.
There’s a big difference between paying someone to show up, and paying someone so they can focus exclusively on something, and it will show in whatever they put their hand to. (hmmmm… “can focus” or “will focus”… therein lies the difference, methinks)
Colossians 3:23 “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men…”
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@David – Preach on Preacherman!
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@Shane – I hear ya! I am blessed that the first people God joined to me are musicians and evangelists. Thats better than silver and gold!
@Kathi – “Thereâ’ a big difference between paying someone to show up, and paying someone so they can focus exclusively on something, and it will show in whatever they put their hand to.”
Amen to that!
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You mean people get PAID to minister? Boy, have I ever been missing out…;)
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