“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.
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!
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