It seems to me that the contemporary Praise & Worship “movement” features two different kinds of leaders: Worship Leaders and what I call Lead Worshipers. Both typically bring a good mix of musical skill and spiritual passion to their work. Both typically understand the importance of appropriate song selection and musical “flow” in designing a meaningful worship service. But there are a few subtle differences between Worship Leaders and Lead Worshipers, and I think the differences are important…I also think one is preferable to the other.
In my mind, the main difference between a Worship Leader and a Lead Worshiper is one of perspective. In worship, a Lead Worshiper’s focus tends to be entirely vertical…the focus is on his or her own personal and individual expression of worship offered to Almighty God. On the other hand, a Worship Leader’s focus is both vertical and horizontal…the focus is on his or her own personal and individual expression of worship AND on the participation of the congregation. The Lead Worshiper may assume that the congregation comes to worship as ready and willing participants, and that they will naturally follow his or her lead. The Worship Leader makes no such assumption, recognizing that congregation members come to a worship service in many different states of mind. Some are indeed ready and willing to participate in worship. Others come with the burdens and struggles of life that may deter their ability to worship. Still others may simply be quiet, shy, or consider themselves inadequate musically (“I can’t carry a tune in a wet paper bag!”). The Worship Leader accepts the role—even the responsibility—of being an encourager of worship.
There is another subtle difference between a Worship Leader and a Lead Worshiper that I should mention. An unintended consequence of being a Lead Worshiper is the increased possibility that more members of a congregation will be content to be spectators of a “worship performance,” rather than participants in the act of worship. A Worship Leader works hard to encourage participation…you will rarely hear a solo or a feature vocalist—it’s more about God’s people lifting their voices together! I spent part of the summer of 2009 teaching a university class in England. While I was there, I visited a dynamic, growing church that featured contemporary praise and worship…full band, great sound system, the whole thing. But, here’s what impressed me most: I could hear the congregation singing above all the amplified sound! It was powerful. It was pure worship. Their leader was a Worship Leader, not a Lead Worshiper.
Make no mistake. There is a place for great performances of worship music. And people can be blessed as spectators of those great performances. But I believe a congregation’s highest expression of praise occurs God’s people enter His Presence in participative worship.
Tags: Worship
My church (I am the Church Secretary) is struggling with the ‘Lead Worshiper’ and ‘Worship Leader’ issue. The present Lead Worshippers have the belief that the Spirit gives them what is needed for their role and that the congregation ‘goes along’ – or should, in their opinion. Little regard is given to the individual worshippers, what they need to worship and the simple fact that each one is as in tune with the Spirit as are they, the Leaders. I have read that we should ‘contextualise’ worship to the ‘mix’ in the congregation so that all might worship as one body.
Thank you for the insight.