Front Row
A couple weeks ago I was in LA for a conference at Angelus Temple (http://www.angelustemple.org) and I had a great experience. The band from their church led the music. It was great. Then the whole band came and sat in the front row to listen to the speaker (which was also great.) I noticed that seeing the band all come down from the stage and give their attention to the speaker motivated myself to engage moreso than I was at first inclined. I thought, "This band is really leading worship, not just playing music. Look how eager they are to hear God's word. I want to hear God's word too!" At least something like that was going through my head.Isn't that how it would be in an ideal world? The people leading us in what is often called worship are just as passionate about other forms of worship. Worship is not just a set list but a humble attitude turned towards the Creator.
Here's the catch. It's the rule there. The band is paid and part of that includes sitting in the front row during the sermon. You don't want to sit in the front row? Ok, don't play. I've heard a couple side effects of this rule. Some say that it turns hearing God's word into something religious then. Or that it gives a subtle message that sitting in the front somehow is more Holy, or makes you Holy. Or that the inspiration I experienced was manufactured (and therefore bad or wrong or something) because the impression that the band was eager to hear from the pastor was in itself contrived. Maybe they weren't eager for what God has for them to hear. On the other hand, they are getting paid to lead the congregation in worship and I was motivated to worship by seeing them sit in the front row.
Anyways, what do you think? Good rule? Bad rule?
posted by Tim Oas @ 4:37 PM
3 Comments:
s o o o o o , maybe something you can think about is asking them to sit in the front.
just make a suggestion to the team. that way the get to choose what to do, and where to sit.
youll also be able to see which of the team is really interested and eager to listen to the message. and which members arent.
Personally I think that it is a bad rule to pay your worship team at all for any situation let alone include in their job descriptions that they are required to sit in the front row at every service. On the other hand without knowing the paid portion and requirements what is modeled from the outside looking in can be very inspiring. Maybe this worship team is very excited to hear their pastor or maybe they are only fulfilling a portion of their job description. We'll never know for sure since we can't see their hearts. Only God sees their motivation.
I think this holds true for anyone involved musically at their church. Paid or not. Whether they are seen by the body attending a service or not. A relationship with Jesus is just that a relationship. Just like any other relationship there are seasons. I would much rather have a worship team that is open and honest with where their relationships are with Jesus than just pretending and sitting in the front row so everyone thinks that they are OK. I'll be praying for this worship team because I think they are being paid to fake it.
Does it really mean that someone is hungry for Gods word because they make sure everyone sees them attending a service? Especially the pastor.
I personally think that if you are on a worship team you should not only attend a service but make yourself available to other aspects of the service besides music. Being on a worship team is a privilege. Because of your involvement you end up becoming a more public figure within the body. Modeling servant hood and humility must be your motivation. Attending a service is only a small portion. I think a better rule for a worship team member would be for them to get before Jesus and ask Him what His requirements are of them. It really is about their relationship with Jesus isn't it?
So they are paid to play; big deal. The worship leader at our church is paid to play. Does that make his leadership any less genuine? Our pastors are paid to preach. Does that make their encouragement any less valid?
Paul tells Timothy in I Timothy 5 that those who work for the good of the body deserve to be paid for it (paraphrase mine). If that is the case, shouldn't all workers be eligible to be paid? What makes admins or facilities workers or pastors or musicians any different? They are all serving the Body of Christ.
I am not responsible for anyone's relationship with Christ besides my own. A great quote that I saw recently sums this argument up. "Judge others by their intentions. Judge yourself by your results."
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