Do You Have To Be Musical To Lead Worship?

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Permalink Reply by Amy on 17 October 2007 at 10:03pm

Interesting question...and I think it depends. You have to have some degree of musicality to be a worship leader. Anyone can and should worship, but to lead worship in a music setting, I think you definitely need to be musical, even if you've had no official training or done any exams. A worship leader has to lead a congregation so they can worship too, and if they can't do it, the congregation have no hope.

However, you're right in saying people can 'lead' in the way they live their lives. I know lots of people who aren't musical in the slightest and do not even pretend to be so, but have such a sense of the holy spirit in them and so much of God that you are drawn to them and drawn to worship by them. First example I can think of is mike Pilivachi (someone that everyone knows) but there are people in my church and life like that too that encourage and lead us in the worship of our lives.
And then there are the people who aren't the greatest singers/instrumentalists but sing/play with such a passion people follow their lead and worship too. Always remembering we're atracted to Jesus in the person, not the person themselves.
So we definitely class worship leaders as musicians way too often, but as it's come to be a term generally associated with that, the other meaning is lost.

To be a worship leader in a worship band setting you have to be musical. But to lead worship you just have to have a heart for God.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Atkins on 17 October 2007 at 10:29pm

I'm not going to cover all of the issues, as a lot of it kinda links into the "musical ability or heart" thread. However I think it is vital for us as people who are up 'on stage' at church to be living lives of worship, effectively 'leading worship' with our lives as well. I'm not saying that people should follow us etc, but I think in one of his letters, Paul talks about how we should imitate him as he is an imitator of Christ (do correct me if im wrong though, I havent got the passage out infront of me!). I am only going to look at this in one sense of things, as there are many.

I think your final question relies on the term 'worship leader'. It was obviously created as a term for the person who 'leads' the congregational times of corporate worship - now commonly known as the "worship" time/ministry of the church. However, in its proper meaning - 'worship' being what we do with our whole lives, not just the congregational act of corporate worship, should be one of setting example to others, possible what Paul was talking about as I mentioned above - imitating Christ in all that we say and do, so as to lead people to Him and into His presence.

From a musical-worship-leader perspective...

Without going to deeply, I think this does link in with the practical factor that alot of people may well be looking at us in our day to day life (if they are around us outside of church times) to see the lives that we lead, whether consciously or not. Or at least, it will register in their minds if they see someone who 'leads the worship' at church on a weekday hanging around on a street corner intoxicated and intimidating people (going to slight extremes but you get the picture...) - I know for a fact that alot of younger boys in my church do look up to me because I am the only bloke in the 13-18 age range at my church, and because one of the ways in which I serve God at church is infront of everyone - so they see me around church and alot of their parents have said how I've become a role model to some of them. Ultimately, I think this is not a good thing as we should be modelling ourselves on Christ and I am far from perfect, but it does definately mean that I am, or at least should be, setting at example for the younger boys, and therefore effectively 'leading worship' with my whole life whether I like it or not. How would it affect the people who may look to me as a role model if they bumped into me in kingston whilst I was smoking/being a lout/drunk?

I mean, we should be doing living complete lives of worship anyway, but things like this - to me - kinda demonstrate the actual social effects/practical side of leading worship with our lives.

In effect, I think that actually we all have to be 'worship leaders' in our church community. Not just people who are in a public position of service but everyone. We are all called to encourage eachother and to lead eachother to Christ. There are people who, in the suggested case, would be classed as 'worship leaders' straight away - the elders of your church, the pastors or whatever. A passage from timothy has just sprung to mind. 1 Timothy chapter 3 I think.

I will probably end up changing my mind/thinking more on this tomorrow when I am less tired. I'm not great at speaking my mind either, so I probably haven't said quite what I meant to, but I hope I have...

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Permalink Reply by David Judkins on 18 October 2007 at 2:05pm

Ben, thanks for your thoughts, particularly about all being 'worship leaders' in our church community. I would go even further, saying we should be worship leaders in our community full-stop. Pointing people around us to worshipping God!

Just to follow on also about your point about it not being a good thing if we become role models. I know where you're coming from, but we talked about this recently in a leadership forum. Paul said to some of his church folk: imitate me, as I imitate Christ. Now clearly, we may feel there's a difference between us and Paul, but we all have someone who looks up to us, who's just a little bit farther back on their journey with Christ, so I think it's right and proper that those of us who a little further forward model ourselves on others who imitate Christ, and in turn, model Christ to others around us. Seems to me that that's what the church is for (in part!), to demonstrate, model God's manifold wisdom to others (eph 3:10?). That's our responsibility (eeeks!), but priviege (yeh!) as leaders...

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Permalink Reply by David Judkins on 18 October 2007 at 1:59pm

Good question, Phil! Clearly in the very narrow 'worship-through-song-leading-congregations-at-a-Sunday-service' Leader, then some form of musical gifting or sensitivity is key, although it should be secondary to the person's heart for worshipping God (whole-life worship).

I do often come up against that old-age struggle about worship being more than just singing and music, and long to see a greater creativity released in the church, for worship to seen as 'whole-life' and celebrated as such. It's just the practicality of seeing it worked out that challenges me. It's far easier to plan a service with a given structure, focussing mainly on prayer, sung-worship, sermon with a few additional differences.

As a church leader, I only have myself to blame for not making our church life more of a celebration of creativtiy, but getting out of the mould (some would say rut!) is a huge ask that seems to require superhuman strength (or time, or more people). It's difficult to stop long enough to think differently, or to give yourself the space and time to generate a new momentum --- oops, better stop here, as it's turning into a bit of a soul-bearing ----! Thanks for raising the question, though :-)

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Permalink Reply by Robert Waygood on 24 October 2007 at 3:47pm

Worship can be done in so many ways, even whilst painting a wall, but to lead people in worship, yes I quite agree that when leading any form of worship, one has to lead by example, Augustus once said, "preach the good news often, and only if neccessary use words"
I do agree, however that when leading worship if it is through drama, dance, poetry, story telling, or music, yes, one has to be at a certain level of competancy in those sorts of subjects in order to portray and communicate what God has led you to communicate to other people.
I have a classical music background which I can use effectively when playing keyboard in our worship group, we use all the modern songs with guitar and drums, and I can play any style of music to suit any style of worship, but would not feel able to do that without reaching a certain level of competancy in music.

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Permalink Reply by Cheryl Weston on 25 October 2007 at 1:06pm

Hi I'm kinda new to this page, but just wanted to leave a thought....

I am a worship leader in our church, on a rota with 2 older men who also lead, and who have the ability to play guitar. Other than singing I have no musical ability whatsoever, although I have a strong team of people who all play instruments and I just kinda co-ordinate them and try to lead them wherever the Holy Spirit is leading me. Basically I don't think you need necessarily to be able to play an instrument, although it helps, but I think you should be musical in some way for eg if you only sing, then you need to be able to carry a tune, and have good pitching etc etc. I'm not saying that you need to be the best singer in the world, as I believe that God will also annoint your gift, but to have the basics is good. You also need to have a heart of worship, by how you live, the example you are to others, and a desire to further God's kingdom above your own hopes/dreams...... to serve others, to place others higher than yourself, to be humble and to reflect the glory of God in everything you do.

We have a term in our church where some people have been called to be the 'worship leaders' ie those at the front leading the worship, but we also have 'lead worshippers' ie those people who love to worship, and adore their King. They have not been 'called' as worship leaders, but lead worship nonetheless by their example as part of the congregation. In our church a lot of the lead worshippers show more of the outward signs of a heart at worship for example lifting hands, clapping, waving flags, kneeling etc and generally by how they also live. By their outward example, whether they are aware of their 'job' or not, they lead by example and encourage the rest of the congregation.

My husband and I are going to Hillsong College in Australia for 2 years to study a Diploma in Ministry, and although we feel that God has called us to leave our careers, home, family and to lift his cross and follow, I am becoming more acutely aware of how 'useful' a musical ability will be. For me personally, although I have never felt hindered in my worship leading by not also playing an instrument, I now see it's importance as I would like to put music to some of the words that God has given me and am really struggling!!

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Permalink Reply by David Bull on 2 December 2008 at 9:48pm

I remember many years ago watching part of a service on TV, is was from a deaf and dumb church.

The minister lead the congregation in signing the hymns, I don't think he was very musical but he lead worship.

David Bull.

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Permalink Reply by Eric on 2 December 2008 at 11:05pm

So if I can't sing, and I can't play an instrument, does that mean I can't worship !

Or has the person who says the worship was so good today - why - because we sang all my favourite hymns, hit upon the true meaning of worship !

Does that mean we can't worship God as part of a prayer meeting !

Or do all prayer meetings have to have several songs at the beginning to make it an act of worship !

What about the people who spend time making a banner is that not worship !

Or is writing a song not worship until some plays it on a musical instrument ! Or can reading a hymn be worship.

Does that mean that a tone deaf clergyman who leads the whole service, but relies on an organist, pianist or guitar player to help the congregation sing is not leading worship ! Or that no worship took place because the person leading the whole service has no musical ability at all.

I think we tend to define worship far too much as having a jolly good sing along !

But hey - that’s not such a bad idea, go to the pub, sing karaoke and have a pint or 6. – worship every night of the week, and stagger home – sounds good to me.

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Permalink Reply by Rob Mason on 3 December 2008 at 7:28am

Leadership is a gift. (Eph 4)
If his gift [from God] is leading, let him lead.

If Worship is also preaching, then they should be gifted in preaching
If Worship is also serving, then they should be gifted in serving
etc etc.

But what about the sung component. - can someone who can't sing lead singing? Probably not.
BUT, they can encourage us to sing. they can point us to God, they can organise a song list, they can work with a band, they can be prompted by the spirit, they can LEAD.

If someone is so gifted, then they will find their natural place in leading worship, and it behoves all leaders and bands to work with anyone who professes a calling to determine how they can work their calling out.

So I submit to you that they are not attempting to lead Music (unless that is the limited mold they are being forced into) but instead attempting to point hearts towards God in a part of the meeting they have been delegated responsibility for.

There is also something buzzing around the back of my head about the role of leaders and elders in all of this. - I'm not sure I can formalise the thought sufficiently to explain myself, but something about co-ordinating worship being a delegated elder function, where responsibility is held and maintained by those given responsibility by God, and released to those with gifting to serve. I throw it in because so often we take the responsibility to be ours way too much, and forget that it is as much to serve the leaders as well as to lead the body.

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Permalink Reply by Wulf Forrester-Barker on 3 December 2008 at 7:58am

If someone is not at all musical I would prefer them to look for non-musical ways to lead worship or, at very least, make sure they work with some musicians in advance. Often though, that doesn't seem to be the way it is done, which leads to some very poor music and doesn't inspire those with some musical talents to aspire to improve.

Of course, the church shouldn't be like an old-fashioned trade union, where people have very strict demarcations between their jobs. There will be plenty of exceptions and lots of grace. However, if a church wants a skilled group of musicians and to make the most of them in musical sessions of corporate worship I would expect that those with musical skills often lead and those who lead work to develop some musical skills and understanding.

Wulf

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Permalink Reply by Rob Mason on 3 December 2008 at 8:36am

I don't disagree.
If the church wants talent musicians to lead musical components then it must look for those who are gifted and called to lead them.

However, a non musician can still lead musical components if supported by a competent band

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Permalink Reply by Kieran Metcalfe on 3 December 2008 at 8:29am

This is an interesting one, and there's been a lot already said, so I'll try to avoid rambling for too long.

We have a range of people who lead the services at our church, but who have been commissioned to do so under the title of 'worship leader'.

Not all of them are musical. In fact, as many as a third of our worship leaders aren't. They focus on planning the service, introducing the songs, leading the prayers and drawing the service togther. It's down to the lead musician for the service to handle the musical side on the day, but to the instructions of the worship leader. To be fair, the services in question aren't where you'd find much in the way of spontaneous singing, or ad-hoc repeats etc. Everything's pretty much down the line.

But, at the same time, these guys have a calling to lead the church an act of worship, which has been tested and affirmed by the church. Yet they're not musical....

Maybe that's a nomenclature thing - maybe they would be 'service leaders' in other circles, but I think that, to rob them of the title 'worship leader' just because they're not musical would reveal some interesting things - by which I mean "bad/worrying" things - about what the core of our worship is.....

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