Leaders, Ministry Leadership, Podcasts / Devotionals, Worship Leading

True Leaders of Worship Are Leaders of Love

July 10, 2016

4 min read

#LeadWithLove

What’s Our Response?

From the current events over the past few weeks from Orlando, to Minnesota, to Baton Rouge and now to Dallas, what is our response as leaders and volunteers in the local church? Our social pages are filled with what we see in the media, but what are we really doing to focus into the reality of our world? Our society: it’s not an us / glad we are not ‘them’ world.

This is a tragedy for us all, as we all live in a hurting world. Last night my wife and I watched the 20/20 special on the recent shootings. This is very close to home for us as we live a few hours south of Dallas. What struck us in horror, like everyone else, was witnessing the hysteria of hate, tyranny of tears and the let-down of love.

On top of the high pillar:

some would say that this is the consequence of the outside world. They are unattached from Christ and it doesn’t affect us. This could not be further from the uncompromisable truth. We all live in a fallen world, due to the consequence of sin, but there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom 8.1).

We connect great socially across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, but how are we humanly connecting with each other, going past image filters and 140 characters?  Importantly, as leaders in the church, how are we enabling our people on a daily basis to get out of their pew and into their purpose?

The fact is, this is our world.

We are attached to society and it does affect us. This present reality has found its way to the doorsteps of the Church. Now the world is looking to us for a response. Maybe not for a reason, but for a resolve to help. This is the same kind of hurt Jesus walked through in his time. It is also the same kind of hurt we walk through today. If He loves, so are we to love (1 John 4:20-21). Of course there is the obvious: why would such a loving God allow these terrible things to happen? We know number one that God hates sin and desires no one to die (Ezk 18.32, John 3.16). God is not responsible for man’s sin (Rom. 5.12).

However, God’s compassion and pursuit for man has never ceased. He desires all to turn from evil and receive Life (Rom 5.16 and Rom 8.1). There is trouble in this world, but we are not without His peace, becuase He has already overcome the world (John 16.33).

As worship leaders and team members, what is our response on and off stage?

What does this have to do with leading worship?

How do we turn our insecurities of learning our music and set lists, into learning how to help people sing their prayers? The world outside the church is bigger than we can imagine. The time is overdue to step out from behind our social profiles, stages and devices.

Leaders of worship are not just leaders of songs, they are leaders of love and leaders of relationships. Love through empathy: “weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly.

Do not be conceited” (Rom. 12.15b-16). Tragedies do not have to happen to you directly in order for you to learn how to love. This is the same kind of love and compassion Jesus experienced when he saw the large crowds of people in Matt 14.14. Scripture says: “He was moved with compassion.”

The world is already past the doors of the Church and is now waiting in the seats and watching the stage.

The question is not: what moves you? Rather, a better question is: how will you respond? Our response is to love. It can be expressed through song and art, but there is nothing better than the melody of friendship (Eph 5.19). But is this only experienced through a worship service?

If we are relying on the one day / one hour event of the week to sing the message of love, then we are missing out on what it means to live and lead worship daily. The world is waiting to see how much we love them, based on our love for God and one another (John 13.35).

Maybe we have not done a good job teaching this as the church; maybe our problem is that we are not doing and showing what we have learned. You are more than just a musician, singer, audio-tech and volunteer. You are a leader of love. In both small and big ways, your actions are seen and your encouragement does not go unnoticed. This is why we are to stop worrying about our social status in the team, and start caring more for the people in our society. People will not hear our music, if they do not see our love for them. People will not hear our music, if they do not see our love for them.

Like God in Amos 5.23, he did not want to hear the songs of the people because their hearts were not right. I wonder just how often our songs may be just as noisy. If we follow the purpose of making sincere melodies, then the light of our love shines. They glorify God as they also lift up people.

Love cannot be confined to a single song. True acceptance, empathy, grace, forgiveness, prayer, service and humility is an unending set of songs set to the tempo and key of God and people. How are you ordering your worship-sets and walking in them Monday through Saturday? The way you love another is reflective of your love in your ministry. Pray and walk with one another.

Be the change, be the difference in your society. @branondempsey   Branon Dempsey is our Head Worship Team Training Mentor, along with his team of professionals in our Ministry Mentoring Program.

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