The Heart of Worship? Or worshipping the heart?

“God can use anyone to lead worship, as long as this person has the right amount of money.”

That person is a great worship leader, she really has the money for worship.”

If anyone ever said that to you, how would you react?

I can get imagine all the believers with even an iota of Scripture knowledge drawing their Bibles out to set the misguided soul right. They’ll quote Matt 13:22, when Jesus spoke of the deceitfulness of wealth, Psalm 62:10 when it says “though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” (NIV) and some people maybe even 1 Timothy 6:17 in which the rich are commanded not to put their hope in wealth, because it is so uncertain.

What about those who say “God can use anyone to lead worship, as long as this person has the right heart”? Or those who say “That person is a great worship leader, she really has the heart for worship”? Does not the Scripture say “The heart is deceitful above all things (even wealth) and beyond cure”? (Jeremiah 17:9, NIV) Why do we allow people to hold on to one unscriptural idea but not another?

But that is what happens when people are told to depend on the heart. It has become such a part of accepted worship leading ‘theology’ that people will hold fast to it even when the Scripture teaches otherwise…

Someone may say “But the Scripture says “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7, NIV) and “We are not trying to please men, but God, who tests our hearts.” (1 Thess 2:4, NIV)”

Yes, the LORD looks at the heart. He tests the heart. But what does he render onto us? “I, the LORD, test the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:10, NIV) Why? Could it be that if he was to reward us according to the heart, which Scripture says is deceitful above all things, we’ll ALL be doomed?

“Who can say “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”?” (Proverbs 20:9, NIV)

Yes, this is the conclusion that we are heading towards since my last post. The teaching that says having a heart of worship as the key to success in leading worship is asking us to put our trust in what Scripture has taught us is deceitful and cannot be depended upon.

Someone once disparagingly said “JJ thinks God shows his hand when he leads worship because of his techniques and his theology.” Well, let’s evaluate the theology of those who look at the heart and see if it is something we want to accept.

If you place heart over technique, you’ll have to explain why many people who have good hearts are ineffective, or effective only some of the time. And you can do that only by finding other hearts to blame (the pastor, the congregation, the ministry team, the rest of the people in that denomination). Or by presenting God to his people as being inconsistent and capricious, blessing his people with his manifested presence one time and not another.

Imagine a father who will provide for his children financially, oversee their education and development, and even communicate with them, but only from a distance. If his children want to meet up face to face or receive his embrace, their eldest sibling will have to struggle and sweat to in order to lead the rest of the children into the meeting, with little assurance that he will do it right and the children can earn the privilege of his presence. We’ll see such a father as being mentally sick, emotionally abusing his children, with the eldest sibling being the most abused.

But when you present the heart (deceitful above all things) of the worship leader or musicians as being the determining factor in leading people into God’s presence, this is exactly how you are presenting God to his people.

Contrast that with presenting the correct technicalities as being the key to leading God’s people into his presence. Yes, it’s so easy! It’s almost mechanical in its ease and simplicity, such that people with little exposure to performance music will naturally use the correct technicalities. I present God to his people and the worship leaders as being so approachable, that there are simple things we can do to encounter God’s embrace.

And I have full confidence in presenting God to his people in this way. Because the Scripture tells me “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.” (Hebrews 10:19-22, NIV) Jesus died to make it so easy for us to enter into God’s presence. Should we present it to his people as being difficult?

Then how about motivation? Should we see the motives of the heart as a valid concern? In order words, what if people do the right things but for the wrong reasons? How does the Apostle Paul view this issue of motives?

“It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.” (Philippians 1:15-18, NIV)

It’s clear that to him, as long as the right things are done, even with the wrong motives, it’s worth rejoicing. He doesn’t seem as bothered by it as some are these days. Why?

“I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. (1 Corinthians 4:3-6, NIV)

The Apostle Paul teaches us this. First, now is NOT the time to judge the heart, that’s only when the Lord comes back. Second, and more importantly, he teaches that when the motives of our hearts are exposed, it is a certainty that we will receive praise from God. Even when we doubt our own motives or the motivations of others, the Apostle Paul is certain that God will judge our motives as right.

How could he be so confident? Maybe he believes that “…He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

When it comes to the heart, there are two theological positions you could hold. First, that Jeremiah 17:9 applies even to those in Christ, and the promise of Ezekiel 36:26-27, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” (NIV), does not apply yet but sometime in the future. If you do you’ll have to conclude that the heart is not something that the Scripture teaches us is a crucial component of being successful in leading worship (or any other ministry).

Or you can subscribe to the view that Ezekiel 36:26-27 is for us believers right now and Philippians 1:6 means that our hearts are pure in the sight of God already. If so, the hearts of ineffective worship leaders are just as holy in the sight of God as the hearts of the effective ones. Whichever theological position you hold, you will still have to conclude that the heart cannot be the core component to success and effectiveness in worship ministry. You will have to then look at the correct technicalities, those that serve the congregation.

I believe by now I have made it quite clear why I see successfully leading worship as more about the correct technicalities rather than the heart. I've also explained why you wouldn't want to believe otherwise. Pray for me that I'll continue to be able to express my thoughts clearly. There are still even more issues from Praise and Worship Inc. that I need to address in the future. Ok, thanks everyone!

Why Get Technical?

"For God selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame, and what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame. (1 Corin 1:27, Ampl)

When I tell people that I train people in praise and worship, the most common admonition I get is "Remember, tell them it's more about the heart than about technicalities."

Now I used to believe that too, because that was what I was taught from the very beginning of my worship ministry life. Then I started actively serving and leading worship, as well as studying people who were effective in leading worship and those who were not. I also developed what people still find an irritating habit, that of checking out clichés and conventional 'wisdom' in the light of Scripture to see if they were biblical or not.

And the more I tested that teaching against the reality of life experience and the truth of God's word, the more I found that to be an erroneous idea, one that hinders rather than helps God's people in encountering God. I found that effective worship leaders all had a few things in common, regardless of denomination, music background, singing skill, personal devotional life and even ministry experience. They would observe certain technicalities, either by accident or on purpose. Through my personal experiences and observing these people, I have come to the conviction that successfully leading God's people in worship is far more about getting the technicalities right rather than the heart.

Now before people start stoning me for going against what they've taken as holy writ, let me specify what I mean by technicalities for leading worship. I'm talking about pitching songs in a key comfortable for the congregation to sing in, how congregations differ in singing range and how to provide musical support that unifies the worship and points the people to God rather than the musician. And of course other ideas and issues as well, all based on supporting the worship leader and serving the congregation.

Some of you have been my students from the very start of your musical journey. You wanted to learn praise and worship music, and from the very beginning I have taught you with all these factors in mind. So all these ideas aren't new to you. But those who have previous music training, or have me come in to work with you halfway in your ministry journey, are almost always surprised to find that it is so much easier to play what works for worship than to play what doesn't work. It's so much easier, such that beginner worship musicians usually stumble across a few powerful core principles by accident, use them and see God's people being blessed in worship.

In fact, this is usually what happens at the very beginning. We have a small church or fellowship group with only one person willing to step forth and serve in worship. He/she usually plays a beat-up guitar, knows only a few songs (even fewer chords) but offers it onto God in worship. Because he/she only knows a few songs, they keep doing the same song over and over again, and as the people sing louder he/she plays louder, bringing the congregation to a powerful encounter with God. (Core techniques, very naturally used by people with little exposure to performance music)

But once the church grows and the worship ministry expands, this same worship leader is pressurized into doing what other more established worship ministries do, which is to play performance music. The pressure is subtle, the big churches, the overseas churches, the "worship" CDs are doing it. You head over to the praise and worship section of a Christian book shop and that is what you'll find too. Let me restate my position. I classify something as either worship music or performance music not based on the hearts of the people producing it (I'm not God, who am I to judge the heart?) but on the effect on the congregation, whether it draws the people into singing God's praises.

Of course, performance music is attractive both to the musicians and the congregation. It sounds better, fuller and far more interesting. But it encourages people to sit back and listen rather than stand up and worship. It does not invite participation And when the congregation doesn't participate in worship because the music hinders rather than helps, people usually blame the heart, either that of the congregation, the worship leader or the musicians. (for more on this, re-read my post "Get Outta Their Way!")

Because what works for worship is actually very natural for people to do, I find that worship training is very often stating and explaining the obvious, what is natural for people to do. And I also teach the reasons behind the techniques, so that in future you can test all ideas against the criteria of whether any idea or technique you are taught will serve the people or distract them.

I am teaching you, in terms of praise and worship, how to "…test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil." (1 Thess 5:21-22, NIV) And you test by the criteria of serving the congregation.

What never ceases to sadden me is how hard some people resist this. They want to see worship and worship leading as the same thing. And they want to use their sincerity and heart as the justification for doing things their way at the expense of the congregation. Are they justified in holding that attitude?

"I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed." (Romans 15:30-32, NIV)

The Apostle Paul, whom we most associate with going fearlessly into dangerous situations to preach difficult messages, wrote the above passage. He would teach, admonish and rebuke with all authority. He was certainly not a man-pleaser. And yet in the midst of his boldness and confidence he urged the believers in Rome to pray, not that God will be pleased with what he did, but that his service would be acceptable to the saints. He saw himself as a servant of God's people. He valued serving God's people effectively. Shouldn't we?

At the core of it all, the people who teach that worship leading is more about the heart than about technicalities have confused worshiping God with leading worship for his people. They teach what applies to worshiping God and apply it to leading worship at congregational level. That's a massive mistake. Worshipping God is about giving attention to God, leading worship requires you to also give attention to God's people, to serve them. Scripture teaches that they both come under different rules. (Will teach on that soon).

May I just share my heart openly? The reason why I am so serious about technique over heart being more important is this: I am an effective worship leader. I unify the praises of God's people easily and effectively. And I do it better than many other worship leaders I know.

If effectiveness in leading worship is more about heart than technique, then we have to conclude that my heart is better, purer and holier than those other worship leaders. And some of these are people who have shown their hearts by faithfully serving for years. People who have held on to God in the midst of trials that I would probably have collapsed under. People who have so edified me by how humble and teachable they are, willing to give me a hearing even if they've been serving God even longer than I've been a believer.

If you believe and teach that the heart is more important a factor than technique in leading worship, you will be insulting the sincerity of such people and causing them to doubt their own hearts. Speaking plainly, is that the right thing to do?

Now, the Sacrifice Merchants of Praise and Worship Inc. have perpetuated the belief that worship leaders should depend on the heart rather than the correct technicalities. That idea has caused more trouble for sincere and well-meaning worship leaders than any other erroneous belief popular in the praise and worship circles. Pray for me that I will be able to explain from the Scriptures clearly why this belief is building a house on sand rather than rock. In the meantime, be blessed, everyone!