Part 3 in the “Why We Do What We Do” series.
There is no one “perfect” way to approach congregational worship music. Throughout the church’s history the Sunday morning meeting time has varied from era to era, from culture to culture, from church to church. Those of God’s people who love Him have always worshiped wholeheartedly. In the Temple with thousands of musicians leading. From home to home when a fledgling church began singing spiritual songs about the risen Christ. In elaborate cathedrals, in austere Puritan meeting places. Led by a single director, led by a choir, led by a piano and organ, led by an orchestra, led by no one. Worship music is not necessarily done “better” in this generation than in previous ones, nor is it “better” than what will happen in generations to come.
But God does seem to work in specific ways, in specific cultural contexts. And right now, in the church at large, one of those ways is through worship teams. A group of us just returned from a Christian Musician Summit in Redmond, Washington, where hundreds of churches in the Northwest were represented. Workshop after workshop focused on worship teams. Topics like having a servant’s heart toward the congregation, working together as a team, worshiping while leading, etc. Though each church’s team was different in terms of size, style, and instruments, it seemed that just about every church was using worship teams.
So then, why might this be a pattern in the church today? How can God bless the church through worship teams? Well, here are a few ways:
- Worship teams can provide an opportunity for many people to use their talents and spiritual gifts “for the building up of the body of Christ.”
- Using our gifts in this manner can be a very tangible way of reflecting the creativity of our Creator.
- Worship teams can be a mirror of the congregation as a whole, a way of saying “we’re all in this together, worshiping as one body.”
- Musically speaking, instruments and voices making music together can enhance the meaning and spirit of what is being sung through the use of dynamic changes, harmonies, rhythms, instrumental variety, etc.
Why, then, do we also include instrumental or vocal “specials”?
- Again, to maximize the use of our congregation’s talents and spiritual gifts, thus building up the body of Christ and celebrating the gifts our Creator has given us. Sometimes different talents and gifts are needed to sing or play a “special” than to lead in congregational singing.
- A musical “special” can draw our attention to a specific song in a new way. We can let the person who is singing or playing minister to us as we simply listen and ask the Lord to speak to us.
- Many songs are not “congregationally accessible” yet are worthy to be used in worship. Some songs lend themselves more to solos or choirs or instrumentals.
I am so very thankful for the ways Ustick Baptist encourages people to bring together their gifts and talents to honor the Lord. Music is just a very small part of the big picture here. But, as someone who is blessed to participate in this aspect of our church’s ministry, I am so thankful for those who serve with me. I’d like to conclude by saying a big THANK YOU to the worship team vocalists, instrumentalists, audio and visual technicians who give up hours of their time each week to glorify the Lord and build up the body of Christ! And another big THANK YOU to you, the whole church body, who make serving in this way such a joy as you wholeheartedly enter into worshiping our Lord together each Sunday morning!
Worshiping with you,
Jeanelle
