My first ministry job out of high school was to lead music at a small church in our community. I remember going in there and knowing nothing but how to play guitar and sing. While the church needed a worship leader they got a song leader. There is a difference.
A song leader is someone who is musically capable of leading songs and does just that. Nothing wrong with that, a lot of churches have song leaders. A worship leader takes things a bit deeper. A worship leader is a worshipper first. Their main priority to to lead others to worship God. When they sing they have a unique ability to create an atmosphere where people feel comfortable and safe to focus on the Lord and His glory.
Both the song leader and the worship leader can look and sound the same but there are subtle differences.
- Song leaders focus on the music first. Worship leaders focus on spiritual things first.
- Song leaders allow the focus to be their performance. Worship leaders focus on God and his purposes.
- Song leaders evaluation is on perfection. Worship leaders evaluation is on transformation.
As I look back I realized that in my life there was a transformation from song leader to worship leader. At that first church they had to suffer through my performance and pride. I was young and didn’t know any better until I started cleaning toilets.
My job was part time and I needed more hours so when a janitor position at the church opened up I said I would do it. So I was song leader on Sunday and janitor on Monday and Thursday. There were many times I said to my self “this stinks” and it did literally, I was cleaning toilets! And thats how I looked at it until a church member said. Alright Brandon you are really a Levite! That what the temple priests did. They led the congregation in worship and cleaned the temple. Serving is worship.
This thought came to my mind...
“If cleaning toilets is beneath you then leading on stage is above you.”
After finding some scripture to back up his claim, my tune changed. I began to see my serving as worship. Making sure that there were no distraction on campus to people being able to enjoy church and worship.
They gathered their brothers and consecrated themselves and went in as the king had commanded, by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. 16The priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and they brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the Lord into the court of the house of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 29: 15-16
26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, Matthew 20:26
It is easy for pride to take front seat and think there are certain things that are below us. When this happens we can find ourselves getting frustrated that we are no farther along. But here is the thing, if it helps people come closer to Jesus it is not beneath you.
God in his great wisdom has this great plan to make us into usable vessels, its called sanctification. We are reminded…
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6
He is not done with us. He will continue to transform us into who he wants us to be until that final day we see Him face to face. I am so thankful he is still working.
So where of you find yourself today?
- Serving is worship.
- Do things even though you think they are beneath you. Your dedication to the Lord should be greater than your pride.
